Lake Svetloyar, Nizhny Novgorod region. Photos of the lake

There are a lot of large lakes in Russia. But there are some that are of particular interest to travelers. Lake Svetloyar is one of the most mysterious places in Russia. Until now, scientists are pondering the mystery of the origin of this reservoir. And historians are all trying to find evidence of the existence of the mystical city of Kitezh, which is supposedly located at the bottom of the lake. Ufologists constantly note the occurrence of inexplicable phenomena in the area of ​​Lake Svetloyar, and travelers and vacationers speak positively about the incredible properties of water and the amazing beauty of nature in these places.

Location

Lake Svetloyar is located in the Nizhny Novgorod region of Russia. The nearest settlement, from which only walking routes lead to it, is the village of Vladimirskoye, Voskresensky district. This reservoir is located 130 km from Nizhny Novgorod. The lake is located on the territory of the natural park of regional significance "Voskresenskoye Povetluzhye".

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Lake Svetloyar has a regular oval shape and is considered one of the deepest lakes in the Nizhny Novgorod region. That is why many scientists believe that this is a crater from a long-fallen meteorite, while other experts consider it to be karst. The water in the reservoir is very clean and transparent, characterized by a hydrocarbonate-calcium composition. Bottom springs feed the lake, making the water of the reservoir cool and fresh even on the hottest days. There is a version about deep underground rivers that connect Svetloyar with Baikal itself. The area of ​​the lake is about 12 hectares, length - 470 m, width - 350 m. Depth in some places can reach up to 40 m.

legends

There are a lot of secrets and mysteries about Lake Svetloyar. On the shore of the reservoir, 29 species of plants were observed, which do not grow anywhere else in this area. The water of the lake has healing properties and is almost holy. Orthodox pilgrims come here to heal spiritual and bodily wounds, to remove damage. And incredible cases of recovery are noted every year. Psychics consider Svetloyar a strong place that draws energy from space.

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The most amazing story of Lake Svetloyar is the legend of the invisible city of Kitezh. This is a belief about the real Russian Atlantis - the city that plunged the bell alarm into the abyss of the Svetloyarsk waters. Its inhabitants did not want to be captured by the Mongol-Tatars and their prayers were heard: the reservoir overflowed and swallowed the hail into its abyss.

According to the legend, Prince Yuri Vsevolodovich, who sailed along the Volga, decided to build a city (now it is Gorodets). After he crossed the rivers Uzola, Sandu and Kerzhenets, he saw Lake Svetloyar. Enraptured by his charm, the prince ordered the construction of the city of Bolshoy Kitezh on the shores of the lake. For three years (1165-1168) it was erected, so a stone city appeared with many Orthodox churches.

When Batu's troops began to advance on Kitezh, people began to pray for salvation. At some point, springs began to gush out of the ground and flood Kitezh. So the city plunged under water like Atlantis, only one cathedral dome was visible above the surface of the lake, but it soon disappeared.

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According to beliefs, in calm and clear weather, especially righteous and pure-hearted people can hear on the shore of Lake Svetloyar the ringing of the bells of the churches of the city of Kitezh and the drawn-out sad singing of people flying from the depths of the reservoir. They say that in the clear lake water you can see the tops of monasteries and churches.

Attractions

Svetloyar is a natural monument in the reserve, which is protected by UNESCO. It is forbidden to set up tents and kindle fires on its territory. Those who are going to spend time in these places can visit the unique wooden church of the Kazan Mother of God located on the territory of the reserve, there is also a stone with a trace of a stack of the Virgin. The village of Vladimirskoye is famous for the ancient wooden church of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God. There is also a historical and art museum "Kitezh" and a museum of local ceramics "City of Light".

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Fans of walks in the forest can visit the Kibelek spring, which is located near Lake Svetloyar. The water in this spring is considered holy. There is also the grave of three saints, in which, according to legend, Russian heroes are buried who defended the land from Batu Khan.

Lake Svetloyar attracts with its rich nature and pristine beauty. There is excellent fishing and hunting, against the backdrop of beautiful landscapes, wonderful photographs are obtained. The lake itself and the legends about it served as an inspiration for many composers, artists and writers. For those who are going around the area, it is worth grabbing a map so as not to get lost.

Holidays on the lake

On the shore of the lake in ancient times, rituals were performed in honor of the Slavic god of the sun Yarila. This is where its name comes from - Svetly Yar. Today, as in the past, hundreds of pilgrims, both Orthodox and pagans, come to Lake Svetloyar.

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Every year on July 6, festive events are held on Lake Svetloyar. During the day in the village of Vladimirskoye, which is located a kilometer from the lake, the village day and the feast of the icon of Our Lady of Vladimir are celebrated. In the morning, a festive divine service takes place in the village, and then a procession around the lake takes place. On this day, pilgrims from all over the region and from other places in Russia come to Svetloyar.

In the afternoon, the City of Masters begins to operate in the village of Vladimirskoye, which gathers craftsmen and artisans not only from the Nizhny Novgorod region, but also from other regions of Russia. Everyone can take part in master classes, visit the Kitezh Museum in the village of Vladimirskoye. In the evening, the festival "City of Kitezh - the soul of Russia" begins.

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On the night of 6 to 7 July, i.e. on the night of Ivan Kupala, a pagan action takes place with bonfires, wreaths on the water and a procession around the lake with candles. According to legend, if you make a wish that night, light a candle and go around Lake Svetloyar three times with it, then the wish will come true. On the feast of Ivan Kupala, thousands of people visit Lake Svetloyar.

During the Great Patriotic War, women on Lake Svetloyar prayed that their husbands and sons, who were defending their homeland from the Nazis, would survive.

On these holidays, those who wish can come to Lake Svetloyar as a pilgrim, a pagan or just a vacationer. However, you can visit the lake on any other day. Every day, crowds of visitors from the Nizhny Novgorod region and nearby places come here. All guests are guaranteed an unforgettable experience of the lake and swimming in it.

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Unique and mysterious places, natural reserves, numerous sights are the wealth of Russia. Lake Svetloyar is an interesting place in the Nizhny Novgorod region, which is worth seeing, at least once out of curiosity. And it may be that lucky person who heard the amazing ringing of bells coming from the bottom of the reservoir. The clear waters of the lake hold many secrets and mysteries that are yet to be discovered in the future. Everyone who wants to come here to find out where is fiction and where is the truth, as well as enjoy the natural beauty and recharge with the energy of Lake Svetloyar.

Lake Svetloyar Nizhny Novgorod region (Nizhny Novgorod region, Russia) - detailed description, location, reviews, photos and video.

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Lake Svetloyar, full of mysteries and secrets, has been the holy lake of Rus' since ancient times, a small Russian Atlantis, spread 130 km from Nizhny Novgorod, on the edge of the village of Vladimirskoye. In ancient times, ceremonies were held on its banks in honor of the Slavic sun god Yarila. Hence the name - Svetly Yar.

Today, as in ancient times, hundreds of pilgrims, both Orthodox and pagans, come to Lake Svetloyar. Every year on July 6, around Svetloyar, on the feast of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God, Christians make a religious procession. And in the evening, a pagan action begins with bonfires, wreaths on the water and a bypass of Svetloyar with candles, because on the night of July 6-7, Ivan Kupala's holiday is celebrated.

According to legend, a wish made that night will come true if you go around the lake three times.

During the Great Patriotic War, mothers offered prayers here for the survival of their husbands and sons fighting at the front.

The legend of the city of Kitezh, told by the Old Believers, also tells about Svetloyar. Once upon a time, Prince Yuri Vsevolodovich was sailing on the mother Volga on a ship. And he built Small Kitezh. It is believed that this city is today's Gorodets. Then Yuri Vsevolodovich, who passed the rivers Uzola, Sandu and Kerzhenets, saw Lake Svetloyar. Captivated by his charm, the prince gave the order to build the wonderful city of Bolshoy Kitezh on the shores of the lake. Three years (1165-1168) it was built, and a stone city arose with many Orthodox churches.

In 1239, the troops of Khan Batu, godless and impious, went to Rus'. And they captured Small Kitezh. The prince, with his retinue, hid near Bolshoy Kitezh in the forests. But Grishka Kuterma, who was captured by Batu and could not stand the torture, betrayed him, showed the way to the wicked enemies to the great city. The hordes of Batu found the shelter of Yuri's squad and killed the prince. And on the eve of Batu's attack on Yuri Vsevolodovich in Kitezh, three heroes were on patrol, and for a long time they blocked the path of the Khan's army. And where they stood to death for their city of Kitezh, the holy spring of Kibelek still beats, next to which is the grave of three holy elders.

Three heroes of the inhabitants of Kitezh warned about the attack, but they could not defend themselves from the cruel enemy, but turned with a fiery prayer to the Lord God not to give them the opportunity to enslave them and terrible murder. And God heard them. As soon as Batu's troops rushed to the offensive, suddenly numerous springs gushed out of the ground and began to flood the city of Kitezh. And the Tatar-Mongols retreated in horror. And the city of Kitezh plunged under water, like Atlantis, only one dome of the cathedral was visible above the surface of the lake, but it soon disappeared.

They say that in calm, clear weather, the especially righteous can hear the ringing of bells flying from the depths of Svetloyar and the drawn-out sad singing of people.

And in the clear lake water you can see the domes of monasteries and churches.

A huge number of unsolved mysteries and mysteries contains Lake Svetloyar, the water of which has healing properties. Countless pilgrims come here to recover physically and spiritually, to remove damage. Indeed, miraculous inexplicable cases of recovery have been recorded here. Many psychics claim that the lake is a strong place, drawing its energy from space. On the shore of the reservoir, scientists found such plant species (about 29) that do not grow anywhere else in this area.

This ideal oval-shaped lake is the largest (length - 410 m, width - 315 m) and deep (maximum depth - about 36 m) in the Nizhny Novgorod region. Its area is approximately twelve hectares. The water in Svetloyar is very clean, not overgrown with mud, it can be kept in vessels for years, while maintaining its purity, transparency and taste.

Svetloyar is a natural monument in the reserve of the same name, protected by UNESCO, where it is strictly forbidden to set up tents (there is a special tent camp nearby) and kindle a fire.

Many different unusual and inexplicable stories are told by local residents. Those who visit these places listen and believe in them. If you want to figure out where is the truth and where is fiction, come here, enjoy the beauty of the surroundings of the lake and recharge with its energy.

How to get to Lake Svetloyar

You can get to Lake Svetloyar by bus from the Kanavinskaya station (Nizhny Novgorod) to the village of Vladimirskoye or by electric train from Nizhny Novgorod to the city of Semenov with a transfer to a regular bus. By car, you can get along the Kirovskaya highway to the station "Bokovaya", passing Semenov, then to the right, following the sign, go to the village of Vladimirskoye, and through it - to the parking lot. Well, then walk along the birch alley.

This miracle of nature is located in the Nizhny Novgorod region near the village of Voskresenskoye. For many years it has officially been a natural monument of federal significance and pilgrims from all over the country come here. In the near future, they plan to make it an object of cultural significance in Russia.

Legend of Lake Svetloyar

The story of the city of Kitezh is still under a detailed study of its authenticity, there are many skeptics, but all of them, faced with its uniqueness, are in a stupor and often change their minds.

Great Yuri Vsevolodovich first built Small Kitezh on the banks of the Volga, struck by the beauty of the local nature, after which he ordered the construction of the city of Big Kitezh. The result was a large and majestic city with a large number of temples.

We know from history that in 1239 Khan Batu decided to attack Rus' and soon his horde captured Small Kitezh, and Prince Yuri Vsevolodovich himself took refuge in the forests. Many prisoners were at the mercy of the unholy horde, and one of them, under severe torture, betrayed the place where the prince was hiding and indicated a fast path to Big Kitezh. Soon Khan Batu with his army attacked and killed the Grand Duke.

And in this place, history is closely intertwined with legend, which causes numerous controversies of contemporaries. After all, Yuri Vsevolodovich really died in an unequal battle with the Tatar-Mongol yoke. It follows from the legend that on the eve of the attack, the sentinels warned the inhabitants of the city about the possible danger of an attack. In the morning, many civilians fell under the arms of the Tatar-Mongols.

The first to fall were three sentinels who fought bravely and tried to defend the city. At the place of their death, the holy source of Kibelek suddenly appeared. Holy water from it still exists and people come to drink and take it with them. The inhabitants of the city did not prepare for war and did not even erect any fortifications, sincere prayer to God became the only means of their protection.

Legend of Lake Svetloyar

They begged to save them and not let the horde through. It follows from the legend that God heard their prayers at the moment when the soldiers had already broken into the city, and at that moment springs began to break out of nowhere from the ground, which instantly flooded the city. Frightened opponents fled in horror from the city. In a matter of minutes, the city, along with all the buildings and local residents, went under water, as if it had not been there at all. For a long time, in the middle of the lake, the dome of the cathedral was visible, which after a while also disappeared, and sometimes even the bell ringing was heard.

From the legend it follows that to this day in sunny weather one can hear the singing of people and the sound of bells.

Annual celebration on Lake Svetloyar

The lake is considered sacred. Celebrations on it were arranged by the pagans in honor of their sun god Yarila. This is where the name Svetly Yar came from. This is an international center of pilgrimage for Orthodox people from all over the world, pagans also organize their trips to the holy place.

lake Svetloyar

On the night of July 6, the Yanka Kupala holiday is celebrated, it is on it that processions and gatherings of pilgrims are organized. A huge number of Christians carry out a religious procession around Lake Svetloyar, it is also timed to coincide with the holiday dedicated to the Holy Icon of the Vladimir Mother of God. Immediately after the procession, young girls throw wreaths on the water and bonfires are lit, through which not only young people jump.

There is an opinion, and many believers constantly confirm it, that if you make a sincere wish from a pure heart while walking around the lake three times with a lit candle, then it will certainly come true. During the Great Patriotic War, local women performed this ritual several times a year, with an appeal to the Lord to save the lives of their loved ones who were at the front.

Temple and footprint of the Virgin on the holy lake

Nearby is an old temple, services are rarely held in it, only taking into account holidays and a special schedule. On the way to it, you will see two large stones, the so-called “stops”:

1. On the first of which, following the tradition, there is a trace of the Most Holy Theotokos;
2. The second stone for kneeling in prayer was used by Seraphim of Sarov.

At first glance, it may even seem that the ministers of the church are skeptical about such a relic, because they are absolutely not protected in any way and look quite ordinary. However, the pilgrims firmly believe in the plausibility of the legend and pray, bowing before the shrine. Everyone who comes to the lake must put a candle there and ask for help. It is customary to turn to “stopoviks” with a prayer for the health of seriously ill loved ones, and church ministers vying with each other can tell you real stories from life, where after a short period of time people were healed.

The wonderful power of Lake Svetloyar. Feedback from those who have experienced it

People in desperate situations often believe in any means of salvation, a trip to Lake Svetloyar is no exception. It is believed that the lake itself has the right to choose when you can let yourself in.

Pilgrimage on Lake Svetloyar

After all, it is not for nothing that, despite their easy accessibility, many people drive in circles and cannot notice the lake, although its diameter is of considerable size.

From a letter from our reader:

“Once, while visiting the lake, my father saw a woman crawling on her knees three circles around the lake. Later, he learned that she was seriously ill and simply could not walk for so long, but she did not want her children to do it for her alone, but wanted to contribute. At that time, she was already very exhausted by the disease, but according to her, she did not lose hope for healing. And what was his surprise when, a year later, he saw her on the same lake, but already on her feet and noticeably stronger. Is it really a miracle? Since then, our whole family has believed that the lake really has healing properties.”

This is just one of the stories, having arrived at the lake one day you will see with your own eyes people who will gladly tell you about how the procession and prayers at Svetloyar changed their lives.

How to get to Svetloyar

It will not be difficult to get to the lake, every resident of the northern part of the Nizhny Novgorod region will be able to show the way literally on his fingers. In modern navigators, the exact route to the lake has long been laid down.

The territorial location is the village of Vladimirskoye, Voskresensky district, Nizhny Novgorod region, approximately 200 kilometers from the city. The average travel time from the city center is 2 hours, and special shuttle buses even depart from the bus stations.

If you are going to travel by train, then there is no direct route here and you will have to travel with transfers to Semenov, and then change to a bus to the village of Voskresenskoye.

It should be noted that it will be very easy to make a walk around the lake, thanks to the built wooden paths running along Svetloyar, but there may be problems with car parking if you choose a day for your trip that coincides with an Orthodox holiday.

Video: Lake Svetloyar

It is located 130 km from Nizhny Novgorod, not far from the village of Vladimirskoye, in the Nizhny Novgorod Trans-Volga region, between the rivers Vetluga and Kerzhenets. Recognized as a natural monument of federal significance. The lake has an oval shape (a thermonuclear explosion that wiped out another city from the face of the earth?), Small in size - about 500 meters long and wide. But at the same time, it differs from neighboring lakes in its great depth, reaching 34 meters.

The water in Svetloyar is crystal clear, transparent, coming from a deep fault in its bottom. And due to the fact that the lake is fed by numerous bottom springs, the water is cold.

For several centuries, the most incredible legends and rumors have been composed about Svetloyar. After all, how many unseen miracles are performed on its shores and how many secrets it keeps in itself!

So, let's look at what amazes and surprises Svetloyar, what secrets and mysteries it keeps around itself:

It surprises with unusual relief forms: from a bird's eye view, the lake looks like a round coin, and in cross section it resembles the profile of a huge diamond;

The amazing transparency of the water is striking, and its mirror surface reflects the sky, trees and churches. The healing properties of water are also unique;

The plant world is interesting here: about 30 species of plants grow on the shores, which in turn is not typical for this high latitude. Also here you can find such a rare type of flowers as the southern orchid;

An interesting fact is that until now, scientists have not been able to come to a unanimous opinion about the history of the emergence of Svetloyar. At different times, researchers expressed various hypotheses of its origin: meteorite, karst, glacial, volcanic, oxbow, space. And of all the hypotheses, the meteoritic one has been confirmed by a number of studies. What is most interesting, there are thousands of such cities around the world in which a meteorite accidentally fell and formed a round and deep lake.

On old maps, the city of Kitezh stood at this place

The bottom of Lake Svetloyar. Part 1

like any strange place, it will always be protected by the state and will turn into a natural park or reserve, where any archaeological excavations will be prohibited.

To sum up, Lake Svetloyar Nizhny Novgorod region is one of the most beautiful places on earth, a real pearl of Russian nature. It is considered one of the most legendary and mysterious lakes in our country. And not without reason the lake is called a small Russian Atlantis! Its mystery and extraordinary beauty attract millions of tourists!

Writes (I am a female wave)

The mystery of Lake Svetloyar. Nizhny Novgorod Region

“Once upon a time, even before the advent of the Tatars, the city of Kitezh stood on the site of Lake Svetloyar. Six domes of churches towered in the center of the city.

Arriving in Rus' and conquering many of our lands, Batu heard about the glorious Kitezh-grad and rushed to him with his hordes ...

The Tatars surrounded the city with a thundercloud and wanted to take it by force, but when they broke through to its walls, they were amazed. The inhabitants of the city not only did not build any fortifications, but were not even going to defend themselves. Only the church bells reached the Tatars. The inhabitants prayed for salvation, since nothing good could be expected from the Tatars.

When the noise of the springs subsided, there were only waves in the place of the city. In the distance glimmered the lonely dome of the cathedral with a cross shining in the middle. She slowly sank into the water. The cross soon disappeared. “And until now that city stands invisible, it will open before the terrible Judgment Seat of Christ,” says the Chronicler.

And as soon as the Tatars rushed to the city, high-water springs suddenly burst out of the ground, and the Tatars retreated in fear. And the water kept running and running.

(V.L. Komarovich "Kitezh legend", 1936)

Little Russian Atlantis

In the very center of Russia, the Nizhny Novgorod Territory, there is Lake Svetloyar - the pearl of Russian nature. The dimensions of the lake are modest - half a kilometer in length, a little more in width. And the depth is great - 39 m, the largest in the region. And the water is crystal clear and cold - it comes from a deep rift in the bottom of the lake. This lake is sometimes called a small Russian Atlantis: its history is covered with legends. The most incredible rumors have been circulating about this lake for more than one century. How many secrets Svetloyar keeps, how many miracles take place on its shores!

Everything on Svetloyar surprises: the transparency of water, incomprehensible to scientists; its unique healing properties, collected in a vessel, it does not deteriorate for several years. On the shores of the lake grow 27 species of plants that are not typical for this high latitude. Even a rare species of southern orchid grows. Another feature is the unusual relief of the lake. From a bird's eye view, Svetloyar looks like a round coin. The cross section of the lake resembles the profile of a giant cabochon diamond. The bottom from the center to the sides diverges almost evenly and ends like a compass drawn by the coast.

Absolutely incredible cases of miraculous healings occur on the lake every year. Orthodox pilgrims, for many centuries now, have been going to this holy place to pray, ... and through their prayers, sometimes miracles are performed. It is believed that this ordinary-looking body of water has great spiritual power; it heals human ailments, removes damage and even prolongs life.

The belief is still alive that life's well-being will return if the lake is slid three times. And there were cases when believers crawled Svetloyar on their knees, trying to get at least a small piece of his holiness.

As one local resident said, during the Great Patriotic War, several women managed to perform such a kneeling ceremony, praying for the preservation of the lives of their husbands and sons. He assures that it helped - all their men returned home safe and sound. And today, local schoolchildren and students, hoping for a good mark, take walks around the lake on the eve of exams.

Locals say that a mere mortal is never destined to know its secrets. You just have to believe in the Svetloyarsk miracle.

Psychics say that the lake draws energy from space and shares it with people who come here.

Scientists tried to explain the mysteries of the lake by earthly standards, but who would believe them. They say that the lake is quite ordinary, of karst origin, and there are thousands of such lakes on earth. There are even nearby lakes. One can agree with these arguments, but why on those lakes, except for fishermen, you will not see anyone, but here ...

If, say, a memorial sign is installed on the lake, which we like to put in and out of business, then the names of dozens of famous and not so famous writers, poets, artists, composers will be carved on it. For example, Maxim Gorky, Pavel Melnikov (A. Pechersky), Mikhail Prishvin, Vladimir Korolenko, Dmitry Merezhkovsky, Zinaida Gippius.

Someone went here out of simple curiosity, but for someone the trip to Svetloyar was a milestone in life.

So, Mikhail Prishvin wrote in his diary: “I am thinking about that Trans-Volga region unknown to me, where I have to go in the summer. It's decided, I'm going there. Let everything there be studied, let everything be known, but I know almost nothing. And almost no one knows me in the world. I will tear off a piece of the big mysterious world and tell other people in my own way.”

“Acquainted with the wonderful lake, after that I came to him more than once with a stick in my hands and a knapsack over my shoulders, so that, mixing with the crowd, I could watch, listen and catch the live stream of folk poetry amid the colorful flickering and noise.” And these are the lines of Vladimir Galaktionovich Korolenko.

The composer Rimsky-Korsakov expressed his impressions by writing the opera The Tale of the City of Kitezh and the Maiden Fevronia.

And the Latvian writer Rihards Rudzitis in his book "The Brotherhood of the Grail" drew a parallel between different legends of the world: the sacred country of Shambhala, the brotherhood of the Grail, the mysterious country of Belovodie and, of course, the city of Kitezh near the village of Vladimirskoye.

So what happened on the shores of the lake, to which people aspired?

Traditions of antiquity deep

The main Svetnoyarsk legend is about the invisible city of Kitezh. The legend says: there is a lake in the Vetluzh forests. It is located in the forest thicket. The blue waters of the lake lie still day and night. Only occasionally a light swell runs through them. There are days when long-drawn-out singing reaches the quiet shores, and distant bells are heard.

The history of the emergence of the main legend of Svetloyar - about the glorious city of Kitezh - is rooted in the XII-XIII centuries of our era, when internecine princely wars raged in Rus' and the Tatar-Mongols began to raid. Ancient chronicles testify that the small and large cities of Kitezh on the banks of the Volga, in the area of ​​present-day Gorodets and on Lake Svetloyar, were built by Grand Duke Georgy Vsevolodovich, the great-grandson of Vladimir the Red Sun himself.

According to legend, Batu Khan, having conquered Suzdal Rus, sent his troops to Kitezh Rus. On the Volga, the first battle of the prince with the army of the khan took place. “There was a great slaughter and bloodshed,” wrote the Kitezh chronicler. “Then the noble prince George had few soldiers, and the prince retreated from the impious king Batu down the Volga to his Little Kitezh.”

It all ended with the fact that Georgy Vsevolodovich jumped on a horse and secretly decided to move to Svetloyar. There was a chase after him, and, according to another beautiful legend, the prince's horse stumbled in the forest, and a fountain of water suddenly gushed out from under the hoof. The Khan took this as a bad sign and turned his men back with the words: "Cursed land!"

The place where the horse stumbled is still considered holy and is called the Kibelek key of holy water. Near it there are three graves with crosses. Some say that three bogatyrs from the army of Prince George are buried there, others claim that these are monks-schemniks. But, one way or another, it is customary to go around these graves three times with a prayer, and only after that draw water from the spring, which is located one and a half kilometers from Svetloyar.

The second battle, as the chronicle says, took place in Bolshoy Kitezh. The way there was shown to the khan by Grishka Kuterma, who could not stand the torture, a man from the army of Prince George. When the enemies approached the city, the earth opened up, covering Kitezh together with the faithful elders who prayed for his salvation. Since then, according to legend, the city of Kitezh has become invisible. Now there is a path to the lake, which is called Batu's path. It can lead to the glorious city of Kitezh, but not everyone, but only those who are pure in heart and soul. But only the most enlightened people can hear the ringing of bells on Svetloyar, and see the reflection of temples and the lights of religious processions in the waters of the lake.

Two years ago, a teacher from a school in Nizhny Novgorod came with her class to Svetloyar for an excursion. In memory of the trip, the woman took several photographs. When the photographs were printed, a ghostly image of a church dome without a cross appeared on one of them.

The obvious is the incredible

In Soviet times, they tried to artificially consign the legend of the city of Kitezh to oblivion. There was no legend about Lake Svetloyar in any history textbook; a pioneer camp was built here, where cars and trucks passed freely. But no prohibitions could keep people from visiting the lake. During the Great Patriotic War, old people made pilgrimages around Svetloyar, praying for fellow countrymen who had gone to the front.

Russian and foreign scientists have repeatedly dived under the water of Svetloyar, drilled the land near the shore in search of traces of the city of Kitezh. But these attempts were unsuccessful. Moreover, serious troubles happened to some meticulous people.

About 20 years ago, Svetloyar wanted to investigate a visiting hydrobiologist. After several dives into the water, his temperature rose sharply. The man went to the doctors, but they could not even make a diagnosis: an unknown disease developed without any objective reasons. And only when the hydrobiologist left these places, the disease receded by itself.

Once, a resident of Nizhny Novgorod came to pick mushrooms in the vicinity of Svetloyar. He did not return home that day or the next. Relatives sounded the alarm. Search and rescue operations did not yield results. The man was put on the wanted list. A week later he returned home alive and unharmed. He answered all questions evasively: they say, he got lost, wandered through the forest. Then he generally said that he had a memory lapse. Only later did he confess to his friend, who specially made him drunk, that he was in the invisible city of Kitezh, where he was met by miraculous elders. "How can you prove it?" the friend asked. And then the mushroom picker took out a piece of bread, which he was treated to in Kitezh. However, in an instant, the bread turned into stone.

They also say that before the 1917 coup, one of the museums allegedly kept a letter in Old Slavonic, which was addressed from son to father. Its content boiled down to the following: a young man ended up in Kitezh thanks to some miracle and asks his parents not to bury him ahead of time.

What are divers hiding?

In the recent past, divers dived to the bottom of Svetloyar. The most interesting thing is that they do not tell anyone about the results of their research. According to rumors, they never found the bottom and were very frightened by this circumstance. The reservoir cannot be bottomless! There is a belief that the secrets of the lake are guarded by a miracle fish, a kind of Loch Ness monster, only in a Russian way.

Convinced materialists, in defiance of believers, say that the maximum depth of Svetloyar is 30 meters. Its origin is karst. There is another version. Its supporters claim that the lake was formed due to the fall of a meteorite. Indirect confirmation of this theory can be the correct shape of the bowl of the reservoir (circle), great depth and the presence of stones in the vicinity. By the way, about the stones. On one of them, again according to legend, the Mother of God left her mark. The print is quite clear and deep, but fits the size of a child's foot. A church has recently been built next to this holy stone, where visiting parishioners go to pray.

An even more fantastic legend about Lake Svetloyar is told by local residents. They say that the lake has an underground bottom and connects with the waters of Lake Baikal. And again, no confirmation of this was found. However, these popular beliefs were not refuted. And, as you know, just like that, from scratch, legends do not arise. And people have faith, and this is the most important thing.

By the way, ufologists from Moscow, who recently worked here, clearly recorded with their devices that the region of Lake Svetloyar is an anomalous zone. In their opinion, there is a certain energy pillar here, invisible to ordinary vision. It is also often called the subtle plane, the fourth dimension. And only believers, enlightened people can see it.

Recently, the Kerzhensky Reserve, on the territory of which Lake Svetloyar is located, which, according to legend, hides the “invisible city of Kitezh”, was included in the UNESCO World Heritage Register.