During the flowering of lotuses, many tourists make a trip to Astrakhan, where in the Volga Delta you can see this amazing miracle of nature with your own eyes. Lotus is one of the most wonderful plants on our planet, growing naturally in Russia right here. This is the northernmost place on earth where this plant can be found in the wild. In our country, a similar colorful picture can be observed in the Far East, and on a small scale - in the Krasnodar Territory.
You can learn about this fabulous phenomenon and the lotuses themselves, about when the lotus fields bloom in Astrakhan, and much more by reading this article.
General information
Lotus belongs to relic plants and has been known since the Cretaceous period. The Astrakhan (or Caspian) lotus is slightly different from a typical lotus, which is why it was singled out as a separate species.
Until now, scientists have not figured out how flowers, considered sacred in the East, got to these places. There are the following versions about their appearance in Russia -the seeds were carried by birds or brought by nomadic Kalmyks. But the main version is that seeds during the existence of the Great Silk Road were brought by trade caravans from China or India.
Lotus fields in Astrakhan: description of the valley
Located in the Volga Delta, the lotus valley extends over more than one thousand hectares, and it is considered the largest in the world. It’s just that it’s impossible to even imagine an endless sea of pale pink and white flowers blooming right on the water. This is truly a mesmerizing sight!
Thanks to favorable water and climatic factors for the lotus in these places, optimal conditions for growth and further distribution in such a huge water area have been created. Phenomena when the size of the leaves exceed one meter in diameter and the size of the flowers reach 0.6 meters are not rare here.
Blooming lotuses in Astrakhan are rightfully one of the main sights of the region. This is one of the most beautiful natural phenomena. Among the many rare species of plants that are rich in the Volga River Delta, the lotus fields in Astrakhan attract special attention.
Legends and myths about the lotus
There are many legends and myths about the sacred lotus flower, created in ancient times by the peoples of the East. This flower seems to be a symbol of all the best that exists on Earth - life, he alth, longevity, immortality, fertility and we alth, glory and purity.
Its roots are in the mud,and magnificent flowers are always located above the water and stretch towards the sun. It speaks of he alth and the desire for life. Leaves and petals, covered with a waxy thin coating, repel water, and dirt does not stick to them, that is, they have the ability to self-clean. It turns out that the lotus is a symbol of purity.
Symbolizes this plant and all existing times: present, past, future. Indeed, in this plant there are buds that have not yet opened, and flowers, and fruits. It has a lotus and a connection with all the elements: its rhizome is located in the earth, the stem is in the water, the leaves and flowers are in the air. In general, this plant represents the whole world. That is why people yearn for this sacred plant. Rest on the lotus fields in Astrakhan is very popular, as it brings undoubted benefits to a person (more on this below).
From the story of the lotus: interesting facts
These flowers were discovered by a scientific expedition in the lower reaches of the river at the beginning of the 20th century (1912). A group of scientists was engaged at that time in the study of the natural resources of the Volga Delta. At that time, this site was very small, occupying only more than 1/4 hectare. Since then, in order to preserve this rare plant, a biosphere reserve has been created here.
The area of lotus fields in Astrakhan in 1967 has already become 67 hectares. At some point, in connection with the launch of the Volga hydroelectric power station (there was a decrease in water flow), during periods of floods, the territory was overgrown with aquatic plants of various species, amongwhich was the lotus. Therefore, it was not without redistribution of thickets. In 1970, the field area was 200 hectares, and today it has reached 5,000 hectares and continues to grow. Now this plant, unique for Russia, grows in ilmens, bays, on the seashore and along the banks of the numerous channels of the Volga.
Lotus Description
Lotus fields in Astrakhan lure numerous tourists with their unique beauty. What is this amazing flower that attracts people so much?
On average, the plant grows to a height of 2 meters or more, flowers in diameter reach 15 cm. This unique flower has a very short flowering time - only two or three days, after which its petals fall off. However, this beauty lasts for a long time, seemingly endless, because every day new flowers open again and again.
After flowering ends, a capsule is formed in place of the flower, inside which lotus nuts ripen, first having milky ripeness with a green shell. The skin then hardens and turns brown. According to people who have tasted this fruit, it tastes like peanuts, but only birds eat them here.
It should be noted that lotus leaves have a unique quality called "lotus effect". What does it mean? Leaves stay dry because water rolls off them like mercury balls.
Flower season
Wishersto see with your own eyes an indescribable spectacle (one of the main attractions of Astrakhan) is certainly interesting when the lotus fields bloom in Astrakhan. This happens once a year - from July to September. Most often it can be observed from about July 10 to September 10. Moreover, this time is considered the best for a good rest in the lower reaches of the river, in connection with which tourists from all over Russia come here at this time.
In addition, during this period, travel agencies offer guests special sightseeing trips to the delta to demonstrate this amazing natural phenomenon - the blooming lotus fields of Astrakhan.
How to get there?
The easiest and most convenient way to go to the fabulous lotus valley is to arrange a trip through a travel agency. Modern comfortable buses depart from Volgograd and Astrakhan every weekend.
Travel agencies are developing special excursion programs that operate exactly at the moment when the lotus fields are blooming. Usually, tourists arriving at recreation centers use the services of two-hour boat trips along the lotus valley, during which there is an opportunity to learn more about the fauna and flora of the unique Volga delta. There is an opportunity to go fishing in these places.
You can also see the lotus fields of Astrakhan on the ship. It departs from the Astrakhan embankment. It is also possible to book a boat tour in the biosphere reserve. Those who come by their own cars can use the coastal camp sites, wherewe are pleased to provide escort services to the lotus fields. It should be noted that the most beautiful and largest thickets can be observed on the estuary coast of the river delta. But you will have to get there only by motor boats for two hours.
Benefit
Trips to the lotus fields from Astrakhan can also bring he alth benefits. There are many references to the miraculous abilities of the lotus. They are found in Tibetan medical records, as well as in the medical books of Southeast Asia. This flower is also called the “flower of the Buddha.”
In Thailand, lotus fruits have been used in cooking for a long time to increase the protein content in the body. There are opinions that the lotus is a universal affordable remedy for various ailments. Others believe that being close to a person calms the nervous system, stabilizes the entire immune system of the body, promotes rejuvenation of the body, and also relieves stress.
Thai and Laotian monks believed that lotus fruits increased the activity of the human brain, so they chewed them. There is also a rumor that aromatic lotus procedures and water baths contribute to the achievement of tone in the whole body. A person who has spent about three days in a place where lotuses bloom and breathes their aromas, as well as bathing in water with numerous flowers, can acquire a great boost of energy and vigor, strengthen immunity and get rid of depression.
It is worth at least once to relax in these beautiful places andjust see the lotus fields in Astrakhan. Prices for such pleasure range from 900 rubles for adults (450 rubles for children) and more, depending on how many people are in the group and the amount of time spent on the spot.
Conclusion
It is important to note that the Caspian lotus is protected by the state (listed in the Red Book), since, according to scientists, it is impossible to predict what area these amazing plants will occupy in a given summer. It is impossible to exclude the fact that this plant will begin to disappear as rapidly as it grew. It is also important to note that it is strictly forbidden to pluck lotus flowers.
