Destination: Lake Lama.
Travel direction: Russia -> Trans-Siberian Railway -> Siberia -> Krasnoyarsk Krai -> Taimyr autonomous region -> Norilsk City -> Valek Wharf -> by a Friday regular boat through the Norilsk River, the Talaya River, Lake Melkoe, the Lama River -> Lake Lama.
This summer I met a Moscow independent traveller named Vladimir, who was on his long overland journey from Norilsk to Magadan. He said, “When back home, I’ll send you photographs of Lake Lama located 140 km east off the Taimyr city of Norilsk. It deserves to be at SiberianWonders as it is a wonder itself…” Weeks later I received a bunch of promised pictures. Find them below.
Lake Lama is a large freshwater lake located in the Taimyr autonomous region of Krasnoyarsk Krai, north-central part of Russia. If to be more precise, 140 km east off the city of Norilsk (see the post dedicated to Norilsk in winter). The GPS coordinates are 69.5172222°N 90.625°E :
Lake Lama Facts
Lama is a freshwater lake. It has tectonic origin.
It is 80 km long and max. 8 km wide. Its area is 318 sq km. Its depth varies from 300 to 600 m. Remarkable for clean and cold waters. Surrounded with mountains which height at 400-600 m and above.
It is connected with Lake Melkoye by the Lama River.
Water level rises in the time of ice melting. In the first half of June, there might be seen the start of ice floating. In the middle of July, water level reaches its maximum. In the early November the lake is freezing. Ice cover thickness might be from 80 cm to 1 m. Ice on Lake Lama stays for around 200 – 220 days.
Lama Lake Discovery
Historians say that it was mentioned by the Russian General staff on the map of Russian Asia in 1911 and known initially as Lake Davydovo.
But it was 1921, when it was officially marked as Lake Lama on a map by Nikolay Urvanzev and his colleague Bazanov.
The hydronym Lama
It is believed that the lake name “Lama” comes from Tudgusic word “laamu” where it means “sea” or “ocean”, or from the Evenk word “lamu” that means “sea, big water.”
Below are Lake Lama photographs taken by Nikolay Fomin and provided by Vladimir (you might see him in one of pictures.)
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