Back to the water is still the most popular choice for a vacation. At the same time, tours with fishing and kayaking are becoming more and more popular, since the reservoirs of Russia allow this. For sophisticated tourists who have experience of descending on rivers of various levels of complexity, little-known places are most attractive.
These include Zhizdra - a river in the Kaluga region. But not only an experienced tourist will enjoy the rest on its shores and waters. For beginners, both rafters and fishermen, there will be something to learn, surprise and rejoice here.
Description of Zhizdra
The Zhizdra River has a length of 223 km, along the whole way it “wags” and turns every now and then. This left tributary of the Oka is most popular with those who prefer direct contact with nature, without the intermediary services of camp sites and holiday homes.
The Zhizdra River (Kaluga Region) originates in a small swampnear the town of Lyudinovo, then crosses part of the Central Russian Upland and flows into the Oka near Przemysl. Although this river is small by Russian standards, it is nevertheless fed by 129 tributaries, one of which is the Resseta, a favorite place for kayakers and raft owners.
Recreation on the Zhizdra River is mostly tented, so the impression of it often depends on the shore.
The most picturesque and convenient places for spending leisure time start behind Kozelsk, the largest settlement in this area.
If you go on a trip along this river, you should be aware of the customs of local fishermen and take them into account. On a fairly large area, they put dams for fishing, so you should be extremely careful and not raft at night. Experienced rafters dismantle part of the barrier to continue their journey.
Climate
The climate of the Kaluga region favors both summer recreation on the water and winter fishing. There is a distinct change of seasons here. Summers are moderately hot and humid, while winters are moderately cold with persistent snow cover and an average temperature of -9 degrees below zero.
All this contributes to the Zhizdra (river) becoming an object of interest for travel agencies working with weekend programs. According to statistics, today such tours are the most popular among Russians. Not far behind in this and the Kaluga region.
The absence of sweltering heat, reserved places, reservoirs with clean water, holy springs - all this attracts lovers of pristine nature to the riverLife.
It's important to remember: this region belongs to the area of sufficient moisture in terms of rainfall, so raincoats and waterproof tents are essential equipment for traveling along the river.
Holy places
The Zhizdra River has become a haven for the stauropegial monastery of the Vvedenskaya Optina Pustyn. According to legend, it was founded at the end of the 14th century by Optius, a robber who repented of his atrocities. After being tonsured, Optius received the name Macarius, and the monastery built by him and his fellow monks began to serve as a haven not only for pilgrims, but also for the elders and old women who took the tonsure.
For the first time in the annals, the monastery is mentioned during the time of Boris Godunov, over the years it has turned from a small wooden monastery into a strong fortress with walls and stone cathedrals and churches.
Those who are attracted by the Zhizdra River as a place of rest are advised to visit these ancient walls, touch their history and draw water from a holy spring, since the monastery is located on the very shore. The beautiful architecture and the special atmosphere of this place will remain in the memories of rafting on this river for a long time.
Localities
The Zhizdra River owes its name to the Lithuanian tribe of golyad, who once lived on its banks. Translated from their language, it means "coarse sand", which is true, although there is another legend about this unusual name for the Russian ear. They say that the words "alive" and "he althy" echoed the boatmen withdifferent banks of the river, greeting each other in the morning.
These places cannot be called densely populated: there are only a few cities here, the largest of which are Zhizdra (the river divides it in half) and Kozelsk. These are truly provincial cities that have preserved the unhurried flow of time characteristic of the settlements of the 17th-19th centuries.
There are not so many villages and settlements directly facing the river, so it is better for rafters to stock up on food and everything necessary in advance. But such a vacation can really be called "wild", since there are no sounds of transport, no noise typical of city life here. Only birds, rustling trees and splashing fish in the water.
Features of the natural world
Since the Zhizdra (river) does not flow near large industrial centers, the pristine nature is perfectly preserved here. It is here that the famous Kaluzhskaya Zaseka nature reserve is located, thanks to which oaks that are 250 years old and older have been preserved.
Over 50 species of mammals, about 170 species of birds, 5 species of reptiles, about 10 species of amphibians, and 16 species of fish live in the ancient oak forest.
This protected park is also considered historical, because, in addition to the fact that its territory is 65% covered with forests and reservoirs, it has 20 natural monuments, 4 of which are unique.
A part of the reserve along Zhizdra are oxbow lakes - the main attraction of these places. On their shoresthe Russian muskrat, which has already become a rarity, lives.
Fishing
Clean water is another feature that the Zhizdra River has. Fishing here is a real pleasure, but it is important to know exactly where the fish are found. The best place is considered to be a part of the reservoir, starting behind Kozelsk. In addition to the river itself, its tributaries are very popular with fishermen, especially Sandy, Yasenok, Bryn and Resseta.
In Zhizdra itself you can catch chub, pike, perch, ide, dace, asp and other fish. Sandy shores are conducive to a long stay, and the pine-oak-linden forest growing on them will become a source of firewood and berries. Especially popular among fishermen is pike fishing, as you know, the most intelligent and cunning fish. The only condition for successful fishing is silence, as for many kilometers only birds and the sound of the river can be heard here.
Kayaking
Rafting on the Zhizdra River in the Kaluga region can be carried out both on kayaks and on homemade rafts. Most of the river is quite calm, but winding. The most popular is the site in front of the Chernysheno village. Rapid rifts appear here, and the river narrows to 20 m.
Tour operators working with river rafting programs have long chosen Zhizdra. As a rule, they offer weekend tours during which:
- the first day is a trip to the rafting site to the village of Dretovo, where a tent camp is set up and a late dinner is prepared;
- second day – training camp immediately afterbreakfast and the start of the rafting with a stop for lunch on one of the gently sloping shores with further swimming to a place where it is convenient to set up camp for dinner and overnight;
- third day - after breakfast, the next stage of the rafting to the village of Berezichi, where lunch and collection of things take place in the field.
The Zhizdra River offers such a rich holiday. The rafting is carried out with an instructor, while even beginners can easily overcome 20 km per day. The cost of such a holiday is not high, but the impressions of beautiful nature, daily fishing and swimming in clear water will remain for a long time.
It is quite common to meet rafters on homemade rafts who prefer not to depend on deadlines and instructions.
Parking spaces
Before Kozelska Zhizdra (river) is hardly suitable for recreation on the water, since it is almost impossible to choose a parking place here and you will have to sleep on a boat. The shores in this area are clayey, high and steep. Just outside the city, they begin to gradually decrease until they turn into gently sloping beaches with clean and coarse sand.
There are no specialized bases where you can comfortably relax, but there are no signs saying "no parking" either, so everyone is free to choose the coast that he likes more and stay on it as long as he wants.
It is a pleasant fact that every self-respecting tourist carefully cleans up the garbage after himself before leaving the parking lot, so there is no problem in choosing a clean place on the Zhizdra River.
Zhizdratoday
Perhaps this river and its surrounding area is a pleasant exception when you can be glad that civilization with its buildings, moorings and prohibitions has not yet reached here. Along the coast there are small settlements where you can buy milk, honey and vegetables from the gardens of local residents, but they are few.
Otherwise, this is a wild land with clear clear water, dense forests and the sounds of nature. Exactly what a city dweller needs for a good rest.
