The water in lake Teletskoye is chilly. Siberians swim there for 20 minutes, claiming that they know what the real cold feels like. But the closer to the South, the warmer the water is. In shallow water, where Chulyshman flows into the lake, the water temperature reaches + 25 in the summertime.

Siberians swim there for 20 minutes, claiming that they know what the real cold feels like

The lake never freezes entirely. It is surrounded by the mountains up to 2500 meters high, which is why the winds blow over the surface of the lake, raising a wave. The highest wave reached six meters. In the morning, if you sleep in a tent on the beach, you will wake up without an alarm. By lunch, the water freezes, warmed in the sun, and a person from the middle lane can swim for a short time to freshen up.

There are 70 rivers that flow into the lake, and one that flows out - it is Biya. Flowing down from the mountains, they form picturesque waterfalls. It is impossible to bypass the lake. The coast here is steep and rocky. There are several bays, which can be accessed from the water only.

Text and photo: Dmitriy Strakhov