Lake Kravtsovo

Lake Kravtsovo is one of the oldest water bodies in Stavropol Krai. It lies between the Egorlyk and Kalaus rivers at 554 m, 9 km south-west of Stavropol. The State Water Register gives a basin roughly 1.5 × 0.5–0.6 km, about 0.75 km² in area and no more than 2.5 m deep. Peat deposits about 10,000 years old lie on the bottom. They formed a famous “floating island” — a vegetated peat mass held by bottom algae. In 2014 strong wind drove it to shore where it broke apart — a rare sight in southern Russia. Since 1997 the lake is the core of the regional “Kravtsovo Lake” hydrological reserve (~170 ha). Red Book species include sword-grass, Iberian orchid, muskrat and Caucasian mole. It is a nesting and stopover site for waterfowl. This is a field trip for bog ecology and birdwatching, not a city park stroll. Angling is allowed only in the southern basin; check reserve rules before you go.