Baikal is popular for tourists and vacationers. Where, if not here, you can relieve the fatigue of civilization and enjoy the eternal beauty of nature. Baikal is very interesting from the point of view of scientific research. There are many endemics in its range. Representatives of flora and fauna, which are not found anywhere else in the world, are distributed throughout the lake. Among them is a local celebrity - the Baikal seal.
You can admire cute smart seals on the shores of the Siberian ice-clear lake-sea in the Listvyanka seal garden. The schedule of bus and water services provides for a comfortable delivery of everyone to this wonderful place. The unique location of the village makes it popular from the beginning.
Address of the Listvyanka seal: Gorky street, 101-a.
Baikal visiting card
Arriving at Listvyanka's nerpinary, you can see where the source of the beautiful Angara is located. This is the only river flowing from Baikal. its origin,one kilometer wide, recognized as the largest in the world.
Stretching along the shore of the lake for five kilometers, Listvyanka is getting more and more comfortable every year, acquiring the appearance of a resort area. Wooden huts are being replaced by prefabricated cottages, the infrastructure is being filled with numerous bars and cafes.
Local Attractions
20 km from the village, on the way from Irkutsk along the Baikal highway, there is an ethnographic museum "T altsy". This is a Siberian village of the 17th-19th centuries, unpretentiously spread out right on an open beautiful area. In addition to the nerpinaria, Listvyanka has other attractions:
- Shaman-stone at the source of the Angara.
- Museum of Lake Baikal with expositions entirely dedicated to the wonderful lake.
- Dendrological park, where rare plants grow, delighting visitors all year round with walks along picturesque trails.
- A chairlift leading up the mountain. There, from the Chersky Stone, you can see the entire source of the Angara.
- Museum "Soviet Childhood Dolls" by Oksana Tokmakova.
- Baikal zoo, located in the estate "At the Bears".
- Vacuum telescope - the largest in Russia and others.
Nerpinary in Listvyanka
Nerpinarium is the only man-made place where Baikal seals live under supervision. They cannot be taken away from their native places. And see it naturallymammal is difficult. Seals are very shy and secretive.
Very often, a man-made dwelling becomes a shelter for weakened animals or for seal cubs left without a mother-seal. Favorable conditions have been created in the nerpinaria for their nursing and treatment. That's just the will of the strengthened animals then it is no longer possible. An animal tamed by man will simply die. Employees of the nerpinaria thought about this situation and decided to create an attraction. The result of successful training of seals was a fascinating performance of dancing, singing, drawing and playing animals.
Spectacle show of Baikal seals
Everyone can visit this show in Listvyanka's nerpinaria. The mode of operation is somewhat different in winter and summer. In winter, the facility operates according to the schedule:
- Tuesday-Friday: 11:00 – 17:00;
- Saturday, Sunday: 11:00 – 18:00;
- Monday is a day off.
The gap between sessions is no more than an hour, the duration is 35 minutes. In the process of performances, seals count, paint with watercolors, play music on children's musical instruments, sing, play role-playing games (“rescuers”) and simply delight the audience with their charm. The watercolor masterpieces of the seals are sold immediately, in the order of the auction. Photo and video filming is prohibited. You can shoot at the end of the performance for a fee.
Cost of visiting Listvyanka's nerpinarium:
- adults - 500 rubles;
- children aged 2 to 12 - 400rubles.
The performance fee may seem high, but the show is worth it. These cute animals will cheer up everyone who watches them. Both children and their parents remain delighted for a long time. Many who have been here speak with gratitude about the work of the nerpinaria on the Internet.
Interesting facts from the life of seals
The main habitat of the Baikal seal is the Ushkany Islands, where there is a lot of food and deserted. Humans pose the main danger to these animals, especially seals.
On May 25, the region hosts an ecological holiday dedicated to the protection of seal cubs - seal day. Despite the fact that the status of the children's and youth holiday is not international, many people are sympathetic to the issue of protecting the unique freshwater seal.
A lot of interesting facts are connected with the life of the seal:
- Seal is the only mammal in Baikal.
- The story of its appearance in Baikal waters is a mystery for scientists.
- Speed of dispersal of seals under water - 25 km/h;
- Dive depth - up to 200 meters, stay under water up to 20 - 25 minutes.
- Nerpa is able to slow down pregnancy, due to the stay of the embryo in a kind of suspended animation until the next conception. Then a couple of babies are born at once.
- Seal bears a baby for eleven months.
- Her fat milk, about 60%.
- The seal builds houses, scraping holes in the water under the ice. A cap of snow on top serves as protection.
- Fifty seals livesix years.
To communicate with unique and cautious animals in nature, you need to come to Listvyanka's nerpinarium. You can check the opening hours on the website before visiting. The nerpinarium is located next to the souvenir market, a hundred meters from the Listvyanka pier.
Seals are very positive animals, their joy is enough for everyone. They are waiting for you in Listvyanka!
