Izmenchivoye Lake

A salty lagoon by Mordvinov Bay with sulfide mud and beaches popular with locals.

Region: Sakhalin OblastCoordinates: 46°52′N 143°7′E

Izmenchivoye Lake

Izmenchivoye is a lagoon lake on southeast Sakhalin, separated from Mordvinov Bay by a sand spit. Area ~8.2 km², salinity 25–31 ‰. Okhotskoye village lies on the southeast shore. It connects to the sea; area and level shift with tides — hence the name. Sulfide mud on shores is used in local sanatoria; navaga, wolffish, smelt and more. Summer bathing and fishing. Rarely on Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk museum tours — a nature route with Tunaycha and Mordvinov Bay.

How to get there

By car from Korsakov or Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk to Okhotskoye village and the lake shore.

Best season

June–August for bathing; winter for ice fishing

Travel tips & stories

  • Mud treatments only where allowed — not all shore is equal.

  • Low tide exposes wide mud flats — practical footwear.

  • Salt water and mud stain clothes — bring a change.

  • Check fishing rules on the lagoon.

  • Pack out litter — popular recreation shore.

lakelagoonmudSea of Okhotsk

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Local guides

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