An ancient city on the banks of the nero. Lake Nero: photos and reviews of tourists

The largest lake in terms of water surface (51.7 sq. Km) in the Yaroslavl region. The outline of its heart-shaped shape. The lake is stretched to the north, where there is the only drain from the lake - the Vyoksa River, which connects the reservoir with the Kotorosl River and further the Volga. The length of the lake from north to south is 13 km, width from west to east is 8 km. The lake is shallow - its average depth is just over 1 meter, the maximum depth does not reach 4 meters.
The northwestern shore of the lake is occupied by the city of Rostov, for which the lake is sometimes also called Rostov. Other major settlements on the lake: Ugodichi (on the eastern coast), Porechye-Rybnoe (on the southern). The shore of the lake, which is about 500 thousand years old, was formed by a glacier that melted here, according to some sources, 60 thousand, according to others 20 thousand years ago.
The modern size and shape took shape about 5 thousand years ago. The lake is fed by 17 rivers and streams. The largest river flowing into the lake is Sarah. Despite the fact that the lake is flowing, in summer most of it is overgrown with algae, which are called "tarnava" here. The shores of the lake are low-lying, swampy. In this regard, there is an expressive statement about the properties of the Rostov area: “The earth is damp, the water is rotten. The people are like an oak. "
There are two islands on the lake - Lvovsky in the southern part and Gorodskaya (Rozhdestvensky) - in the central one, near Rostov. At the heart of the City Island lies a glacial boulder, which in ancient times was revered by the inhabitants of the lake shores as a cult one.
The first settlers, known from written documents, were the Finno-Ugric tribe Merya, who lived here at least from the 6th century. There are several versions regarding the origin of the name of the lake, but almost all of them agree that it has Meryan roots. According to one of the versions, the word means a swamp, a swampy area; on the other, the word "ner" means water. Not without more original versions. According to one of them, the name of the lake encodes the denial of the name of the city - not Rostov. Allegedly, the stranger wandered in the local forests in search of Rostov; going out to the shore of the lake and seeing the city, he wanted to say that it was “not Rostov,” but did not have time to say the whole phrase, since the arrow of the Rostovite had stuck into him.
Presumably in the 9th century, the Eastern Slavs came to the shores of the lake, who founded the city of Rostov on its shores. Until 1917 the lake did not belong to Rostov. IN different times it was owned by: the State Treasury, landowners, and later - the peasants of the lakeside villages of Ugodichi and Porechye-Rybnoye. In Rostov itself, until the end of the 17th century. there was a Rybolovnaya settlement, the inhabitants of which were obliged to supply fish: pikes, tench, carpenters, perches to the tsar's table. The rest of the inhabitants had the right to fish only "milk" - a fishing rod. Every year in spring, the lake, overflowing with melt water, threw silt-sapropel onto its shores. Such natural fertilization of soils led to the fact that the peasants of the lakeside villages began to engage in market gardening, growing onions, peas, cabbage, and herbs for sale. This became the reason for the emergence of the second in terms of trade turnover fair in Central Russia - Rostov and the wealth of local peasants, which can now be judged by the interesting examples of rural architecture of the lakeside villages.
Despite its shallow depth, the lake is navigable. The first steamer was launched on it in 1883 and it was called "Emelyan". Passengers of "Yemelyan" who traveled on the lake in those years, as well as those who now go to Nero by boat or pleasure boat, have an amazing view of the main attractions of Rostov the Great - the Rostov Kremlin, the Spaso-Yakovlevsky Dmitriev Monastery and the Epiphany Abraham Monastery, the most the highest rural bell tower in Russia - the bell tower in the village of Porechye-Rybnoye.
The lake is used for industrial purposes - extraction of sapropel silt (for the cosmetic industry) and peat for south bank... Considering medicinal properties sapropel, there are prospects for the use of Lake Nero for therapeutic and recreational purposes.
Use of the facility for tourist purposes: bus excursions (Rostov, highway M8); sightseeing and recreational walks on the lake (from Rostov); summer and winter fishing; bike rides around the lake (Rostov - Lions - Porechye-Rybnoe - Vyoksitsy - Vorzha - Ugodichi - Sulos - Belogostitsy - Rostov). The popular rafting route "Nero-Vyoksa-Kotorosl" begins from Rostov on Lake Nero. The best vantage point on the lake is the tower of the Spaso-Yakovlevsky Monastery. On the shore of the lake there is a tourist complex "Yaroslavna" (near the village of Pesochnoe).

We live in a very unusual world... It seems to us that somewhere far away the tea tastes better, the girls are prettier, and the grass is greener. Looking into the distance, squinting, trying to see better life, and at the same time we diligently ignore the treasures in our hands. We are happy to listen to tales of the Loch Ness monster, but we don't even know that we have our own near us. Today we'll talk about the monster ancient lake Nero, treasures hidden in it and an ancient pagan altar hidden on one of the islands ...

Ready? Then we go to Rostov the Great, to the ancient sacred lake Nero

In the Yaroslavl region, at a distance of a little over a hundred kilometers from Ivanovo, on the shore of the ancient lake Nero, there is the city of Rostov the Great (I will tell you about the city and its Kremlin in the next posts).

Nero is the largest natural reservoir in the Yaroslavl Volga region. Its area is about 58 sq. km. And the maximum depth is just over 3 meters. Most often, the depth is less than 1.5 m.

In hoary antiquity, this land and lake was chosen by the Finno-Ugric tribe Merya. It is to them that we should be grateful for the name of the lake (and not only for this name, in our area there is a lot left in the memory of them). To this day, disputes about the meaning of this name do not subside. Some believe that "Nero" means "swampy", while for others the translation is "water near a hill", there is even an opinion that the literal translation is "high water".

The lake appeared in the preglacial period, and this is its rarity. And already 6 thousand years ago it was inhabited by people.

For the Meryans, one of the islands in the lake was sacred. Now it is called Rozhdestvensky. Even before the baptism of Rus there was an altar revered by the tribes. If you want to visit there and try to feel the ancient energy, you can negotiate with the boatmen for little money, of which there are a lot on the shores.

The most interesting thing about this place is that it literally attracts representatives of different confessions. Rostov the Great has been an important religious center for centuries (it is thanks to this that the bishop's residence appeared there, now the Rostov Kremlin)

Two years ago, a worship cross was erected on the shore of the lake, in memory of the baptism of Rus in Rostov the Great by the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Prince Vladimir in 991. Eastern Russia. Only in the 16-17th centuries, in the later annals, it was indicated that allegedly Vladimir in 991 visited Rostov.

In Rostov, resistance to the introduction of Christianity continued until the 12th century, the first two bishops sent to Rostov were expelled. Finally, the Rostovites were baptized only by Bishop Isaiah, after 1078 (almost a hundred years after the event in honor of which the cross was erected). And by that time there were plenty of temples on the land of Rostov ...

And the history of the lake is closely connected with the existence of a relic monster in it. Which for decades and centuries has been eating fishermen and ordinary residents of the city. They call him the Nersky monster. It allegedly lives in silt, in the central part of the lake. It rarely comes up, but always takes a bloody victim. It is covered in scales and looks creepy. (there is a truth and another version, supposedly it is kind and generally cleans the lake, but judging by the amount of silt, it does not work out well for it)

No matter how hard I tried, I did not see it, and although the lake is very shallow, suddenly a miracle Yudo penetrates into our space from some wormholes of parallel reality ...

Even in sunny weather, the locals do not bathe in the lake, and if such a prohibition sign does not work well for me, then they do not need it at all. With their mother's milk, they absorb the fear of the mud of the lake. Sapropel (lake silt) is located under a small layer of water, and can reach a size of tens of meters deep. So it is quite possible to assume that this silt and "took away" those who like to swim.

On the one hand, silt is dangerous for those who like to dabble in the water, and on the other hand, sapropel has been feeding people on this land for centuries. Back in the 19th century, peasants became rich by selling it as fertilizer.

Love for different tablets in the blood of Rostov residents. I constantly met various unusual inscriptions there. Some could not help but photograph.

But back to history. Let's talk about treasures. In archaeological terms, the lake itself is wildly fruitful, it's a pity only the sapropel does not allow you to extract everything from there (although sometimes the lake presents gifts, and elements of ancient utensils and coins are thrown onto the shore)

According to numerous legends, there are several especially valuable treasures in the waters of Nero, from the Golden Gate to chests with coins and precious stones.

From the time of the Mongol-Tatars to the Polish invasion, according to legends, local residents saved their treasures from the conquerors in the waters of the lake. If someday the lake begins to be cleaned or sapropel is industrially mined, we will see ancient gold ...

The place is also interesting for fishermen. Pike, bream, perch, walleye, and many other fish are found in its waters. And in winter the fish literally jumps out of the holes into the hands of the fishermen - there is not enough oxygen, and as in a fairy tale the pike emerges and "breathes" ...

According to legend, from the temples go underground passages to one of the islands on the river. Allegedly, many residents saw the entrances there. But with a friend I can imagine the depth of such a course, if under a meter of water there are ten-meter layers (and sometimes thirty-meter) of sapropel.

But the most important legend says that there is a sunken city in the lake itself. The first mention of the city in chronicles indicates the year 862, but archaeologists cannot find evidence (all finds made during excavations in the vicinity are much younger.).

It is believed that the city itself sank into the waters of the lake. Reminds of the legend about the city of Kitezh.

Flooding evidence ancient city no. Many scientists laugh at this version. Perhaps someday we will learn another of the ancient secrets of Lake Nero ...

If you are going to Rostov the Great, be sure to take a ride on the lake. The price tag is normal, and bargaining with ordinary boatmen can be even cheaper.

In terms of energy, the place is very calm, if you want to meditate or think about what is primarily spirit or matter - be sure to do it on the banks of the Nero.

And in the next part we will go to the Rostov Kremlin and even live there for a couple of days ...

Nero (Rostov Lake) is a freshwater lake in the south-west of the Yaroslavl region of Russia.
The area is about 51.7 km². Length 13 km, width 8 km, depth - up to 3.6 m.

The lake is shallow. The banks are low.
The bottom is covered with a thick layer of sapropel. The lake freezes in November, opens up in April.
The food is mixed, with a predominance of snow.

In ancient times, the shores of the lake were inhabited.

legendary lake Nero at the walls

The lake is estimated to be about 500 thousand years old. It is one of the few preglacial lakes in central Russia. The etymology of the name Nero goes back to the ancient lake-river term ner-, from the same root the river Nerl is called.

The first people settled on the lake about 6 thousand years ago. According to a number of researchers, there was a capital in the Sarsk settlement on the southern shore of the lake. Merya settlements were also on small rivers in the vicinity of Lake Nero.
In the 9th century, Eastern Slavs settled near the lake. They named the lake Rostov.

There are several islands on Nero: Lvovsky ("Forest Island"), Rozhdestvensky (City, this island formed into a monolith in the preglacial period), as well as several unnamed islands at the source of the Veksa River. Eight tributaries flow into Lake Nero: Sara, Ishnya, Kuchebesh, Mazikha, Varus, Chucherka, Unitsa, Sula. The river Veksa flows out.
Fishing: bream, perch, pike, etc.
The city of Rostov (on the western shore), the urban-type settlement Porechye-Rybnoye, the villages of Ugodichi, Vorzha, Lvy are located on Lake Nero.
The first steamer "Emelyan" appeared on the lake in 1883.

view of the lake from the Kremlin's Water Tower Lake Nero

INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT LAKE NERO
This reservoir is already 500,000 years old. It was finally formed 60,000 years ago under the influence of a receding glacier. Then its area was about 25 times larger.
Now it is the largest lake in the Yaroslavl region measuring 12 by 8 km, with an area of ​​54 sq. km and with a 48-kilometer coastline.
The average depth is 1 meter, the maximum is 4m, at its bottom there is silt deposits up to 20m thick.
Lake Nero in Rostov is flowing, it feeds on 8 rivers with names in the language: Sara, Ishnya, Varus ... The powerful river Veksa flows out, which then merges with the river at the mouth of Kotorosl and flows into the Volga.
There are four large bays (Makarikha, Bateevo, Klyuchi, Varus) and two large islands - Lesnoy and Gorodskaya. The city island lies on a 20 m high stone monolith, once brought by a glacier.
The city keeps legends that the Rostov Lake keeps at its bottom rich treasures left by local residents during the invasion of the Tatar-Mongols.
They still catch fish on the lake - bream, perch, pike, pike perch, ide, rudd, roach.
Lake Nero is a quiet and ecologically clean place, since the industry has never been particularly developed here, and in recent years has almost disappeared, which has a very good effect on the amount of fish. It is not for nothing that these places are included in the Golden Ring of Russia.
The Avraamiev and Dimitriev monasteries open from the lake. One of the most popular Soviet films, Ivan Vasilyevich Changes His Profession, was filmed in the Rostov Kremlin.

view of the lake from the walls

ARTICLE ABOUT LAKE NERO
An ancient Greek saying says: "You cannot enter the same river twice." But why only to the river? To the lake - too. After all, it is also constantly changeable in its endless movement and carries its waters, filled with life, through time.
Rostovites cannot imagine themselves or their city without a lake. And even though several of his names have changed over the last thousand years, for the inhabitants of Rostov and coastal villages it was and is the Lake, the beginning of beginnings, the source of everything around.
The shores of the Lake, whose age is about 500 thousand years, was formed by a glacier, which melted here, according to some information 60, according to others 20 thousand years ago. Oh, how huge and deep it was in those days! The lake filled the entire current lakeside basin and occupied 750 sq. km. Its modern size and shape took shape about 5 thousand years ago.
And today this is the most big lake Yaroslavl region. Its length coastline- about 48 km, maximum width - 8 km, maximum length - 12 km, area - 54 sq. km. But the greatest depth is only 4 m, with an average slightly more than 1 m. The bottom of the Lake is multi-meter (up to 20 m) muddy deposits.
The lake shores are swampy and low, abundantly overgrown with cattail, bush, teloperez, reed, reed, willow.

Despite the fact that the lake is flowing, in summer most of it is overgrown with algae, which are called "tarnava" here. Perhaps that is why the water from the Lake is tasteless and not very drinkable. Although until the end of the XIX century. most residents of Rostov were forced to use it. There is an extremely expressive statement about the properties of the Rostov area: “The earth is damp, the water is rotten. The people are like an oak. "
The lake is fed by 17 rivers and rivulets, the names of which remind of the people of Mary who once lived here: Ishnya, Kuchibosh, Varus, Mazikha, Chucherka, Unitsa, Suda ... The largest of the rivers flowing into it is Sarah, in its lower reaches it is called Gda ... Its powerful stream (local name - "sastruga") passes through the entire Lake and flows out of it by the Veksa River, which, joining the Ustye River, forms the Kotorosl River (formerly - Kotorost). In Yaroslavl, it flows into the Volga.
In its southwestern part, the lake forms several bays - Varus, Klyuchi, Makarikha, Bateevo. Levsky Island is located near Varus. The second island is located opposite Rostov and is called City. They are both low, boggy, flooded during the spring flood. At the base of the City Island lies a huge stone monolith delivered here by a glacier, the height of which is 20 m.

The first people in the Lake Basin appeared 6 thousand years ago. This is evidenced by numerous archaeological finds - Neolithic stone and bone tools, pottery fragments.
The first local inhabitants, whose name was brought to our time by the ancient Russian chronicles, was the Ugrofin tribe of Meri (VII-XI centuries). Obviously, the first two names of the Lake - Kaovo and Nero - were given to him by them. Modern linguistics gives the following interpretations of these names: Kaovo - "a place where seagulls live" (and indeed, they still live here), Nero - "a muddy, swampy place", which also corresponds to reality.

Later (and very long time!) The lake was officially called simply "Rostov" - by the name that arose on its northern shore and was first mentioned in the chronicle under 862. And since that time, the City and the Lake are united and inseparable.
Paradoxically, until 1917 Rostov did not own the lake. At different times it was owned by: the State Treasury, landowners, and later - peasants of the lakeside villages of Ugodichi and Porechye-Rybnoye.

The lake was full of fish. An old song says about it:
"Oh you, goy thou, muddy sea,
The sea is muddy, you are a stranger,
Why is your name lake?
That's why they call me the lake
That there is no sand in me on the bottom,
And that there are no overseas fish in me,
Only a ruff with a pike live in me,
Small carp with crucian carp,
Red-finned perch with burbot,
Another catfish-fish when it rewards,
From the fast Volga river,
With ide, fish and bream. "

Note that fishing on the Lake was clearly distributed and regulated by decrees.
Until the end of the 17th century. in Rostov there was a Rybolovnaya settlement, the inhabitants of which were obliged to supply fish: pikes, tench, carpenters, perches to the tsar's table. The rest of the inhabitants had the right to fish only "milk" - a fishing rod).
The peasants of the village had the exclusive right to transport goods and people. Pleasure. For a fee, they delivered passengers from one coast to another on large rowing and sailing boats - "somina".
Steamship traffic on the Lake opened on April 23, 1883. The owner of the first steamer was the Rybinsk merchant Yemelyanov, who paid the peasants for the right to carry it. Give me a certain amount.

But the Rostovites were never forbidden to ride on the Lake in their boats; boat trips were their favorite pastime. Rostov is amazingly beautiful from Lake.
Its numerous domes soar above the water, folding into a fabulous necklace: in the east you can see the oldest in Russia Avraamiev Monastery of the Epiphany (XVI-XIX centuries), in the center - the Nativity Maiden Monastery (XVII-XIX centuries), and the majestic Kremlin ensemble (XVI-XIX centuries) XVIII centuries), in the west - the most famous of the Rostov monasteries - the Spaso-Yakovlevsky Dimitriev monastery (XVII - XIX centuries).
In addition to Rostov, on the shores of the Lake there are ancient villages: Vorzha, Ugodichi, Porechye-Rybnoe, Lions, etc.
From the Rostov coast in clear weather the village of Ugodichi (in ancient times Ugozh) is clearly visible - one of the oldest villages, equal to Rostov in age, the traditional center of Rostov truck farming. The bell tower of the Epiphany Church and the Nikolsky Church (18th century) have been preserved here to this day.
To the right, on the same bank, the famous "Poretskaya Tower" rises - the bell tower of the church of St. Nikita Martyr s. Porechye. The five-tiered structure is easily thrown upward, and its expressive silhouette is visible for many kilometers. The bell tower was built in 1772-79. local self-taught architect A.S. Kozlov. Its height is 94 m, which is 6 m higher than the famous Ivan the Great Bell Tower in the Moscow Kremlin.

“And the bell tower is like a tsar's bride!
Will the Almighty not hear her bells?
I will not say that there is no better place in the world,
But there is no slimmer. And there is no higher
Throughout Holy Russia. Well, how not to be amazed ?!
And I suppose that this take-off was needed,
Not to belittle the dignity of the capital,
But to show that, they say, we are not worse! "

Both of these villages - Ugodichi and Porechye - have long been arguing for the right to be called "the homeland of Rostov gardening." Growing (or, as they said here, "raising") vegetables was the main occupation of the peasants of the entire lake basin, the lands of which are distinguished by high fertility and in the old days were even called "Rostov scrofula".
The "arrogant Rostovites" did not disdain gardening either. There is an expression that came to us from the Census Books of the 17th century. And who became winged - "... plows garlic onions, so he feeds." That is, the cultivation of vegetables here had a truly commercial character. It is not for nothing that local gardeners still call all the vegetables they grow for sale simply "commodities." But the famous Rostov onion brought special glory to the local gardening. The technology of its cultivation has been worked out for centuries. And only in Rostov, onion seeds are called "nigella", the onion of the first field (year) - "senchik", and subsequent years - "sample". Rostov onion is still considered one of the best varieties for middle lane Russia, since its main merit is "multi-family", i.e. up to eight can be obtained from one onion sample. It's funny that in the old days a rich bride was called “Rostov onion” here. It is amazing the ability of the people to poeticize the most ordinary things and phenomena! The Lake itself is covered with many fairy tales, legends and legends.

Avraamiev Epiphany Monastery Lake Nero

TRADITIONS AND LEGENDS OF THE LAKE
Even before there was a scientific interpretation of the name "Nero", explaining it. According to one of them, during the enemy raid Rostov was destroyed to the ground, and its inhabitants fled.
Time passed, the city rose from the ashes, but the enemies did not know about it. And when they again moved to the Russian land under the leadership of the old warrior and came out of the thicket to the shore of the lake, they suddenly saw a beautiful city over its surface.
The old warrior was so amazed that the words involuntarily escaped him: "This is not Ro ..." - he wanted to say "this is not Rostov." But he did not have time: an arrow shot from the fortress wall pierced his throat, and he collapsed on the shore of the lake. So it became known as Nero.

Another legend tells that Tsar Ivan the Terrible, angry with the Rostovites, decided to take the Lake from them and attribute it to the village. Please, your patrimony. He summoned the clerk and began to dictate a decree to him: "And henceforth, consider the lake not Rostov, but Ugodichesky." But suddenly he was struck by dumbness, and he managed to say only "And henceforth to count the lake is not Ro ...".

And there is a belief in Rostov: his master, Vodyanoy, lives at the bottom of the Lake in the thickets of the garnava. He collects tribute from the fishermen: he will not "close" or "open" the lake without human casualties.
Indeed, every year, in late autumn and early spring, people are still drowning in the lake, with all its shallow depth. Lake Nero

In the manuscript of the 18th century. the tale of Ruff Shchetinnikov has come down to us, folded in the same way as the old sneak (claim) court papers were written.
“Boyarsky son, Bream of Rostov Lake with his comrades beats the judges: Sturgeon, Beluga and White Rybitsa on Ruff Shchetinnikov, who impudently took possession of Rostov Lake, that he, Ruff, pricks them with bristles and drives them out of the hereditary Rostov Lake.
Ruff is a sneak (defendant), a lot of witnesses are called in his case, some of them in their testimony give an excellent description of the accused. The judges are interrogating Ruff. Ruff replies that the Rostov Lake was still behind his grandfathers, and that he himself is known for good man in Moscow and in other great cities, princes and boyars, stewards and nobles, clerks and clerks:
"They buy me," he says, "at a high price, and they boil me with pepper and saffron and put me in front of them honestly."
Bream exhibits Siga on the Narva River and Loduga in the Volkhov River as witnesses of his work.
And Ruff removes these witnesses: they, he says, are as rich people as Bream, and will keep his side. Then Bream points out another witness - Herring from Lake Pereyaslavl.
Ruff tried to divert this witness as well:
“Both Whitefish, Loduga, and Herring are akin and live in the neighborhood, eat and drink together,” but the judges nevertheless sent a bailiff-Okun for Herring to Lake Pereyaslavskoye with attesting witnesses - Burbot, Golovl and Yaz.
And Herring showed at the trial:
“Bream and his comrades know. Bream is a good man and a Christian of God, he lives by his own, and not by someone else's strength, but Ruff, gentlemen, is an evil person, Shchetinnik. " Judge Sturgeon said: he himself heard about Ruff, “that they will cook him in the ear, but they will not eat as much as they will spit it out,” and told how Ruff offended him: he deliberately took him into the net, and then laughed at him. And all the judges reasoned:
“To hand over that Ruff to the plaintiff Bream with his head and ordered to execute him with a commercial execution. The court case had: Catfish with a big mustache and the closer Karas, and the list of the court case was written by Vyun, and Cancer typed with his back claw, and Snyatok (Vandysh) Pereyaslavsky was sitting at the seal. Ruff listened to the court's decision and said:
“Lord of the judge! You were not judged by the truth, judged by the bribe. Bream and his comrades were sent off, but I was accused. " Ruff spat in the eyes of the judges and jumped into the brushwood; only that Ruff was seen. "

TREASURES OF THE LAKE
From generation to generation in Rostov, stories are passed about the supposedly untold treasures lying at the bottom of the lake - the golden gates, rich church utensils, jewelry, weapons, etc. True, so far no one has found even the smallest fraction of them.
But the lake attracted Rostovites and still attracts them not by its ghostly treasures. There is something inexplicably attractive in him. As the ancient pagans, it seems to us a living being, with which everything around is connected by invisible, but quite tangible threads. Capable in some incomprehensible way to influence the climate, nature, city, people, animals ...

Spaso-Yakovlevsky Monastery on the shores of Lake Nero

THE MYSTERY OF LAKE NERO
The great mystery of Lake Nero
In 1999, Mikhail Sudarushkin's book of local lore "Journey to the Origins" was published, in which he expressed his views on the initial history of Rostov. In the chapter "Where to look for ancient Rostov" he drew attention to the fact that the date of the first mention of the city in the chronicle - 862 - does not find archaeological confirmation because the most ancient part of Rostov is flooded by Lake Nero, which for some reason has spread its shores.
After Mikhail's death, his book "Stories about the Rostov History" was published, which included essays from the book "Journey to the Origins". A journalist, ethnographer and ecologist G.S. Zaletaev wrote a very good review of it. Having highly appreciated the content and nature of the presentation of Mikhail's essays on local history, Georgy Sergeevich, however, did not agree with the assumption that the lake could increase in size due to a geological fault, making the following remark: “The fact is that the very structure of the Russian platform on which Rostov is located, does not admit the hypothesis of a fault, since the platform is covered here by a huge layer of sedimentary rocks, in which there are simply no faults. It is interesting that a similar mistake was made by AA Titov, who wrote that about 5 thousand years ago a volcano was formed in the vicinity of Petrovsk.
But after all, Mikhail did not insist on the "geological fault", but wrote about the possibility of "some other catastrophe." In addition, he considered it possible that the increase in the size of the lake could occur gradually, respectively, and the city eventually moved further and further into westward... This option at least explained why there were no oral or written sources about the transfer of the city.
At the end of the chapter “Where to look for ancient Rostov” Mikhail wrote: “The version of the absorption of the original Rostov by Lake Nero sounds unexpected, it seems to be not mentioned anywhere, but at least it explains at least one riddle of Rostov: why the first chronicle evidence of it does not find archaeological confirmation ". Lake Nero

By chance, I had a conversation with a man who, as a child, lived in one of the villages on the shores of Lake Nero. He remembered the stories of old-timers, as in the years of the Great Patriotic War When private traders were prohibited from cutting down forests for firewood, the inhabitants of their villages went far into the lake through shallow water and uprooted the huge roots of age-old trees from the water. This means that, indeed, as Michael assumed, in ancient times, for some reason, Lake Nero spread its shores.
I tried to find confirmation of this story in the book published by the staff of the Rostov Kremlin Museum-Reserve, “There was a war ...” with the subtitle “Collection of documents and memoirs about Rostov during the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945”. Preparation of firewood for railroad, local enterprises and institutions were mentioned several times in the book, information was given about how severely they were punished for shirking this labor service, but unfortunately, it was not said how ordinary residents of the Rostov region solved the "fuel problem".
And only in the memoirs of Anna Dmitrievna Marinina, a native of the village of Porechye, I found indirect evidence that this problem was really very acute during the war. She wrote: “The streets of Porechye were clean during the war years. Summer houses have flowerbeds, flower beds. Why was there no trash? Why, every twig was selected to heat the stove.
An unexpected ally of Mikhail's version that Lake Nero in ancient times was smaller than it is now, I found in the person of a fisherman who knows the lake and its surroundings well. First, he talked about the existence of so-called troughs at the bottom of the lake, which are very deep, and local fishermen even have such an expression - to fish on troughs. Secondly, the same fisherman suggested that in ancient times the river Sara flowing into the lake and the Veksa flowing out of it constituted a single whole, and the troughs are the remains of the channel of that ancient river. He even showed me on a map how this river flowed approximately.
As for the location of ancient Rostov, my fisherman friend, like Mikhail, assumed that the city was not where it is now, but to the east, somewhere near Rozhdestvensky Island. This position of the city, in his opinion, explains why in ancient times the road to Rostov passed eastward: through Porechye, Ugodichi, Nikolo-Perevoz, Belogostitsky monastery, Priimkovo. Most likely, somewhere between Porechye and Ugodichi (or a little further Ugodichi) the road led to Rostov.
It seems that this assumption is quite logical, but let's not forget that this is only a version, there is no direct evidence. To find them, it is necessary to carry out archaeological excavations at the bottom of the lake, however, due to the large layer of silty sediments - sapropel - this is almost impossible.
By the way, it is interesting what exactly triggered the formation of such a huge amount of sapropel in Lake Nero and why there is no such amount, for example, in Lake Pleshcheyevo? Is the formation of sapropel associated with an increase in the area of ​​the lake?

Lake Nero, Rostov the Great

Why the lake spilled is another question that geologists (or biologists?) Should answer. The reasons may be very different, but the fact remains that for some reason Rostov was forced to move to a new place; as the archaeologist AE Leontiev wrote, "on an uncomfortable low stretch of the coast."
Thus, Mikhail's version is quite reasonable, or perhaps the only one that explains the discrepancy between the chronicle evidence and archaeological data. In any case, I think that when it comes to times and events that have not left written sources, versions have the right to exist, even if someone does not like them.
In connection with Mikhail's version, the legend of Kitezh-grad involuntarily comes to mind, here is its shortest retelling:
“There is a lake in the Vetluzhsky forests. It is located in the forest thicket. The blue waters of the lake lie motionless day and night. Only occasionally a slight swell runs over them. There are days when a lingering singing is heard to the quiet shores and distant bells are heard.
A long time ago, even before the coming of the Tatars, the Grand Duke Georgy Vsevolodovich built the city of Small Kitezh (present-day Gorodets) on the Volga, and then, “crossing the quiet and rusty rivers Uzola, Sanda and Kerzhenets”, went to Lyunda and Svetloyar on “very beautiful »The place where the city of Kitezh Bolshoi was placed. This is how the glorious Kitezh-grad appeared on the shore of the lake. In the center of the city there were six heads of churches.
Coming to Russia and conquering many of our lands, Batu heard about the glorious Kitezh-city and rushed to it with his hordes ... When the "evil Tatars" approached Kitezh Maliy and killed the prince's brother in a great battle, he himself disappeared into the newly built forest city ... Baty's prisoner, Grishka Kuterma, could not stand the torture and gave out secret paths to Svetloyar.
The Tatars surrounded the city with a thundercloud and wanted to take it by force, but when they broke through to its walls, they were amazed. The inhabitants of the city not only did not build any fortifications, but did not even intend to defend themselves. The inhabitants prayed for salvation, since they did not have to expect anything good from the Tatars. And as soon as the Tatars rushed to the city, high-water springs suddenly gushed out of the ground, and the Tatars retreated in fear. And the water kept running and running ...
When the noise of the springs died down, there were only waves in the place of the city. In the distance the lone head of the cathedral glimmered with a gleaming cross in the middle. She slowly plunged into the water. The cross soon disappeared. Now there is a path to the lake called the Batu trail. It can lead to the glorious city of Kitezh, but not everyone, but only the pure in heart and soul. Since then, the city is invisible, but intact, and the especially righteous can see the lights of the processions of the cross in the depths of the lake and hear the sweet ringing of its bells ... ”.
The legend of Kitezh-grad was based on the so-called "Kitezh Chronicler", created among the Old Believer runners in the 80s - 90s of the 18th century. Another important monument is "The Tale and the Punishment of the Secret City of Kitezh". Wasn't the story of ancient Rostov, which sank to the bottom of Lake Nero, served as the basis for the legend of Kitezh-grad? Its fate is associated with Lake Svetloyar near Nizhny Novgorod, but about its formation as a result of some natural disaster and about the presence at the bottom ancient settlement no evidence. In this respect, the "Rostov" version looks more convincing.
Of interest is also the mention in the legend of Kitezh-grad of springs that have broken through. It is known that many Old Believers lived on the Rostov land, where they were persecuted. Was it not with them that the legend of the city flooded by springs migrated from the banks of the Nero to the shores of Lake Svetloyar?
However, a version is just a version. On the other hand, how many correct answers to the mysteries of history were preceded by mere versions? The most striking example is the discovery of ancient Troy by the amateur archaeologist Heinrich Schliemann thanks to Homer's Iliad. And it all started with an assumption ...

FISHING ON LAKE NERO
Lake Nero is located in the city of Rostov, in the Yaroslavl region. The shores of this lake have been around for many years. Approximately the age of this reservoir is about 4 thousand years. fishing on Lake Nero Lake Nero is the oldest body of water not only in the Yaroslavl region, but throughout Russia as a whole.
The lake feeds about seventeen small rivers, which in turn maintains a constant water level. The lake is a large basin, which implies that the depth in Nero is very deep. The lake is also long, 48 kilometers long, and about 8 kilometers wide. There are a lot of fish in this lake and this pleases anglers with its size. Residents of Yaroslavl almost always visit lakes and catch good specimens of fish. The species composition of the fish is not too large; the lake is mainly inhabited by roach, pike perch, pike, bream, rudd and perch.
The fish grows very quickly here, as there is a lot of food and there is no species struggle between the fish.
The bottom in Lake Nero is even, there is no strong difference in depths, the shallows gradually go into the depths. There are a lot of eyebrows, braids and pits are also present. The average depth is 4 meters, but often these are areas with a depth of one meter. The bottom is rich in sediments that do not harm the fish in any way.
There are many roads around the lake. There is an asphalt road, and the locals use dirt roads in the summer, so getting to the lakes is not a big deal, the main desire is. Since all rivers and lakes are different from each other, and fishing always has its own specific character, then on Nero everything is the same. It is necessary to note the characteristic feature of this lake, it lies in the fact that in summer the aquatic vegetation covers the entire water surface, but relatively all. For this reason, local residents do not use the water from the lake as drinking water.
It is for this reason that there are a lot of fish in the lake, the grass is not aggressive towards fish. The pike has bred very strongly in this lake, and the grass cover protects the predator and other fish from extreme heat and destructive sun rays. There is also a lot of vegetation along the banks of the Nero, as well as on the water surface itself, mainly cattails and reeds, there is an arrowhead. There is no current on the lake, so local fish always have a lot of energy. Fishing features are also interesting.

Fishing with a line.
You can take many sets of rods and rigs with you to Lake Nero. Basically, these are rods of various lengths and actions. For example, a three-meter soft rod is useful for catching bleak. And to catch roach you need a little rougher. Various rig options are also used. Basically, there are two types of tackle with a running rig and a dead one, when the main line is tied directly to the rod tulip. The version with a dead rig is used when fishing is developing dynamically and every second is expensive, but running gear is more calm fishing conditions.

Spinning fishing.
There is a wonderful saying: the mouth is happy with a large piece, this saying certainly refers to Lake Nero. The use of large lures always attracts a large pike, and there are many of them here. Basically it is perfectly caught on volkers and large wobblers of the minou class. Do not miss the coast, it is near the coast that a lot of grass lives. In big water, jigging is carried out. Large baits are also used in the jig, which attract the attention of predators well.
In autumn and summer, fishing on Nero is very interesting, especially spinning fishing from a boat. In autumn and summer, namely in late August and early September, the toothy actively feeds and gains fat for the long winter. Also during this period of time, the pike perch is activated. Fanged loves rubber and is almost always caught on it. Fanged campsite varies depending on the season. In the fall, for example, he goes to deep places, and in the summer it is content with a few pits and eyebrows.

Search for a fishing spot.
Since fishing can be carried out not only from the shore, but also from the boat, the places will be arranged in a certain order. It should be borne in mind that if you are aimed at catching a certain fish, then the place should be independent. Each fish has its own point, but it is not uncommon to catch fish mixed up. In one place, both white fish and predatory fish can be caught. Such an apotheosis is incomprehensible, but fish of different types somehow get along in one area. Do not miss the edge, there are very few of them and therefore there is a large concentration of fish on them. Quiet backwaters also make a lot of sense, lovers of calm fishing will appreciate such places by right.
It is best to visit Lake Nero precisely at the time of the zhora of many species of fish. In the spring, breeders are well caught here. Bream and roach. In autumn, pike and pike perch become more active. In winter, there is also a great prospect to visit the banks of the Nero. Due to the fact that the water surface freezes, you can explore the lake along and across, and in the summer, already having some idea, you will certainly catch the fish you are interested in!

view of the lake from the Spaso-Yakovlevsky monastery

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SOURCE OF INFORMATION AND PHOTOS
Team nomad
http://www.vidania.ru/ozero_nero.html
Banige V.S., Bryusova V.G., Gnedovsky B.V., Shchapov N.B. Rostov Yaroslavsky. Guide to architectural monuments. / Ed. architect, candidate of art history V.V. Kostochkin. - Yaroslavl, Book publishing house, 1957.192 p., Plan.
http://www.admrostov.ru
http://shkolazhizni.ru/archive/0/n-33536/
http://www.photosight.ru/
Arapov E.V. Rostov the Great. Album. - M., Soviet Russia, 1971.168 p. (Series "Architectural Monuments of Russian Cities").
http://fish-rifle.ru/stat/rybalka/obzory-vodoemov/?p=rybalca_na_ozere_nero
Tyunina M. N. Rostov Yaroslavsky. (City and area guide). - Yaroslavl, Verkhne-Volzhskoe book publishing house, 1979.240 p.
http://tonkosti.ru/Attractions_Rostov_Velikogo
Fedotova T.P. Around Rostov the Great. - M., Art, 1987. (Series "Roads to the Beautiful").
Markin V. Two precious lakes of Russia // Science and Life, 1991, No. 11 - P. 16-22
Parfyonov A. Shrines of Rostov the Great. Pilgrim's companion. - 2004.
Krestyaninova E. I., Nikitina G. A. Rostov the Great. Guide. - M., 2008.

In Rostov, there is one of the mysterious sights of Russia - Lake Nero. It is already more than 500 thousand years old, but people have never forgotten it. Tourists, local fishermen often come there for new adventures and impressions. The area of ​​Lake Nero is 50 square km. It is shallow, muddy, the bottom is covered with algae, and because of this, the water is not drinkable. Despite this, the fish feel great here. There are two islands on it: Lvov and Rozhdestvensky, they are also called Lesnaya and Zimny. Nero means "swampy, muddy terrain" in translation.

In Russia, many tend to visit Lake Nero. Rostovites are proud of this enviable place. Fishing is allowed there, and anglers often leave happy with their catch. Despite the fact that the depth of the water does not exceed four meters, the lake is navigable. Recently, people have been sailing on boats on it - this is one of the attractions of tourists.

Lake Nero is classified as a preglacial, it is well preserved and is considered a rare body of water. On one of the banks there is a monastery of ancient Rostov the Great. Along the rest of the perimeter, there are floodplains - solid reeds that create the illusion of a dry shore. Often inexperienced fishermen who fish close to the marshes mistakenly believe that they are near the shore. In fact, it may be kilometers away. It is worth visiting the lake once, and it becomes a favorite pastime. Unfortunately, the number of fish is decreasing every season more and more due to the growing number of anglers. Fishing is guaranteed for a man who visits Lake Nero. Even a beginner will be happy with the first catch.

Fishing on the lake in winter is popular. Since the depth is shallow, the water freezes quickly, it is quite safe to walk on the ice. The depth of the lake and its vegetation are almost ideal for good growth and reproduction of fish. People here can catch perch and roach, which, one might say, are the most permanent inhabitants. Lake Nero is rich in such fish as pike, crucian carp, rudd, silver bream and bream. A small amount of pike perch and ruff is observed. IN winter time, of course, fishing generates more interest, and getting away from there with a good catch is more real. In the summer it is much more difficult to do this. As mentioned, this is due to the growing number of fishermen.

Lake Nero has a second name - Kaovo. Many settlements are located on its banks, the largest is the Sarskoe settlement. Previously, many sights were located here, but, unfortunately, now they are almost gone. Tourists are provided with entertainment such as sailing in private boats and a walk on the Most importantly, the best sides of the city and the views of nature are best viewed from the water. From the middle of the lake you can see Spaso-Yakovlevsky Dimitriev and Avraamiev monasteries. In addition, there are two excursion ships sailing on the water - "Rodina" and "Zarya".

Traveling to your native land is an indescribable pleasure that is difficult to compare with any other!

Lake Nero is a corner of pristine nature in the Yaroslavl region. The place is surprisingly not very "promoted" and you can often meet people, even living relatively close, who have never heard of this place.

The lake is the pearl of a small provincial town that has practically preserved the old Russian way of life with the sonorous name of Rostov the Great. Together with the Rostov Kremlin, which in itself deserves special attention, Lake Nero offers an excellent excuse to get out to these parts for the weekend, and perhaps even for a short vacation.

The unusual name of the lake is associated with a traveler who was numb with delight, who first appeared here. There are legends that he searched for Rostov for a long time and in vain, but suddenly finding himself on the shore and seeing all the splendor of the surrounding landscape, he could only cry out: "This is not Ro ..." (meaning that this is not Rostov).

The lake can be safely called the oldest. By the most conservative estimates, it is in no way less than 500 thousand years old. The spirit of all past times and historical twists and turns has left its mark on the atmosphere in which you immerse yourself near the lake.

The shores are located low and in the spring flood they are heated from time to time.

The lake even boasts of its own islands. The most famous are two: Lvov and Rozhdestvensky, the rest are unnamed. Some of the islands were formed in the preglacial period. The lake maintains its water balance due to 17 small rivers flowing into it. The lake itself feeds the Veksa River.

Fishing on Lake Nero

The bottom of the lake is covered with a huge layer of silt, which is always a favorable environment for a wide variety of vegetation and small plankton. Such a good "food supply" is a sure sign that the lake is rich in fish. And indeed it is. Fishing enthusiasts also appreciate this place for the fact that a good catch is provided all year round, and not only in a limited season. In the lake, pike perch, roach, pike and undergrowths, large perches, roach, silver bream and other fish are caught. Often there are such specimens that one cannot even pull them out of the water one by one. Experienced fishermen recommend fishing near Porechie ( small village on the banks of the Nero). If you are traveling by car, then the bridge over the Saru river will be a reference point for you. After turning left after the bridge, move along the river bank until it flows into the lake. Here is just the place with the best cool. In winter, cars are usually parked next to the Spaso-Yakovlevsky Monastery, then they go on foot.

Hunting

In addition to fishermen, these places are also interesting for hunters. In the untouched areas around the lake, you can find waterfowl, foxes, hares, wild boars, deer and elk. You can hunt ducks from the boat. Autumn is famous for hunting wood grouse.

Special sanctuaries and hunting grounds operate here. Local travel companies and recreation centers will help you organize such a hunt according to all the rules. Accompanying huntsmen will share their knowledge of the area and animal habits. Recreation centers usually provide all the equipment you need for hunting (except weapons).

Holidays on Lake Nero

Rest near the lake is very simple and therefore, perhaps often much more real than, for example, expensive hotels... It is nice to swim here in the heat, play volleyball in good company, feed ducks with the children or eat ice cream. Sit in silence, admiring the pacifying landscape to the distant sounds of bells ringing.

A separate pleasure on Nero is boat trips. Although the lake cannot be called deep, small vessels move along it calmly. These are mainly pleasure boats and boats. From the water you can look at Rostov and its surroundings from completely different angles, listen to the fascinating story of the guide about the history of these places and its legends. The choice of a boat trip will be especially good if you have arrived for a short time and are limited in time.

Spaso-Yakovlevsky monastery

There is a monastery on one of the shores of Lake Nero. The Orthodox monastery complex consists of three churches: the Yakovlevskaya Church, the Dimitrievsky and the Conception Cathedrals. The monastery is open to the world: divine services are held here, the reception of pilgrims and guests, you can get here with an excursion group.

Guest houses

In recent years, good recreation centers and separate cottage villages that can be rented for weekends, for example. On the territory of recreation centers, infrastructure is usually organized: here you will be helped with excursions, hunting and fishing, here you can visit a bath or sauna, play on a sports or playground. Among the popular recreation centers on the lake are such places as "Yaroslavna", "Nero", "Priozerny", "Podozerka".

Rented cottages are usually designed for 4-6 people. The range of prices for such a vacation is also very large - from several thousand rubles for a simple house to several tens of thousands of rubles for a luxurious VIP-level cottage.

Lake Nero in Rostov the Great (video)

How to get to Lake Nero

The main landmark to get to the lake is Rostov the Great itself. You can get here as by public transport, and on your car.

Electric trains and trains to Rostov follow from, and other cities. The Aleksandrov-Yaroslavl electric train always stops here (schedule).

On the same square, about railway station the city's bus station is located. Arriving here by bus or train, you can go further through the city and walk to the lake (the city is quite small).

If you are coming by car, keep to the M8 (Kholmogory). It is convenient to combine a trip to the lake with a tour of the cities of the Golden Ring - all of them are within easy reach from here, within 70-140 km in total.

Lake Nero in early spring - Google Maps panorama