Lake Elton
| Lake Elton Эльтон | |
|---|---|
 The shores of Lake Elton | |
  Lake Elton Эльтон Location within Russia  Lake Elton Эльтон Lake Elton Эльтон (Volgograd Oblast)  Lake Elton Эльтон Lake Elton Эльтон (Continental Asia) | |
| Location | Volgograd Oblast |
| Coordinates | 49°8′0″N 46°40′0″E / 49.13333°N 46.66667°E |
| Type | Hypersaline lake |
| Basin countries | Russia |
| Surface area | 150 km2 (58 sq mi) |
| Max. depth | 0.6 m (2 ft 0 in) |
| Surface elevation | −18 m (−59 ft) |
Lake Elton (Russian: Эльтон; Kazakh: Эльтон, romanized: Elton) is a salt lake in Volgograd Oblast, Russia, near the border with Kazakhstan. It has an area of 152 km2 and is about 0.1 m deep (in spring 0.7 to 0.8 m). Its surface is 18 m below sea level.[1] The lake's name originates from the Mongol language: “Altyn-Nor” (Golden Bottom). Long ago local nomads used the lake's mineral-rich mud for skin and respiratory treatments.[2] For centuries, Lake Elton was a favorite location for Russian rulers and nobles. One can still see remnants of Empress Yekaterina II's “bath” there.[2]
It is the largest mineral lake in Europe and one of the most mineralized in the world. The lake is filled with a saturated salt solution. Mineralization is 200–500 g/L. Salt, extracted from the lake since the early 18th century, is used for the production of magnesium chloride.[3] The water contains Dunaliella salina algae that give a reddish shade to the lake. At the bottom of the lake are salt deposits (mainly NaCl, KCl) and beneath them, a layer of mineral hydrogen sulfide mud.
Transportation
[edit]A bus ride can be taken from Volgograd (6 hours mostly because of long stops in rural towns) and also by train from Saratov and Astrakhan (also 6 hours) can lead travelers to the area.
History
[edit]Salt was excavated from Elton beginning in the early eighteenth century.[4] Before 1865 the government was the excavator; from 1865 to 1882 the lake was heavily used by private businesses.
A spa resort has been located near the lake since 1910 and a sanatorium since 1945. Sulfide silt mud and brine from Elton are claimed to have anti-inflammatory, detoxifying, analgesic, relaxing and revitalizing properties.[5]
Elton Ultra Trail Run
[edit]The Elton Ultra Trail is one of Russia's toughest races. There are two distances of 38 km and 160 km. It was first organised in 2014.
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References
[edit]- ^ Эльтон (озеро), Great Soviet Encyclopedia
- ^ a b Egorov, Boris (2018-10-11). "Why did Russia's tsars love Lake Elton?". www.rbth.com. Retrieved 2021-07-09.
- ^ "Lake Elton | lake, Russia". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 2021-07-09.
- ^ "Lake Elton". Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 2013-10-18.
- ^ "Elton sanatorium".
External links
[edit]
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