Yalchik Lake

deep.

Greater Yalchik has a complex shape and many bays, whereas Smaller Yalchik has an elongated shape. Smaller Yalchik has two little brooks as inflows, but the Greater Yalchik has none.

Etymology

The word "Yalchik" itself is a rendering of the Chuvash word Елчěк (Yälçek), which means a 'little village'. The village, which gave its name to the lake, was founded by the settlers from the modern Yalchiksky District of neighboring Chuvashia. Yalchik is an only major lake of the Marii Chodra, which name has Turkic roots, as the most of the lakes have the Mari names, and often have "jär/yer" endings, Mari for "a lake".

Recreation

Being popular for its unique nature, Yalchik attracts many tourists, mostly from Kazan. However, there are no beaches at the lake, and the most of its coastline is covered with reed. Many tourists reach Yalchik by own cars, but a significant number of them use a railway. The closest station to Yalchik is in the settlement of Yalchevsky.

Some Mari and Tatarstan universities sometimes arrange science conferences at the Yalchik's rest home.

References

* [http://www.mirrabot.com/work/work_65797.html Экология фитопланктона карстовых озёр Среднего Поволжья]
* [http://fromzd.narod.ru/yal.html]