Island of Olkhon

the island of Olkhon is the largest island of the Lac of Baïkal a 71 km length, and a width reaching up to 12 km for an total surface area of 730 km ². With the edge of the North-West and the island, the lake forms a not very deep strait named the Small Sea, or the Doors of Olkhon. Not far from the island, the Lac Baïkal reaches its maximum depth of 1637 meters. On the island of Olkhon, there is a whole diversity of landscapes, landscapes of steppe, beaches of the Baltic type with dunes, hills and conifers, marble rocks covered by thick foams. The island counts two large boroughs: Hougir (Хужир) and Harantsi (Харанцы) but there are several other boroughs of less than fifty houses each one. The population of the island is composed of a minority of Russians and of a majority of Buriat, the main part of the inhabitants are fishing. In Harantsi, there are a market and two stores of food like some private hotels, but without water pipeline nor drain. In summer on the island, there are many tourists coming from Irkoutsk.

The island is inhabited by Buriat fishermen and shepherds who collect the Gorodskaïa trava, a plant supposed to cure the colics and to calm the nerves.

Caption

In the myths and the legends Buriat S, Olkhon is the habitat of the terrible spirits of Baïkal, according to the legends Khan Hoto Babai ( ХотоБабай ) is descended from the sky on the island of Olkhon, sent on the Earth by the higher gods where he lives under the aspect of a golden eagle with blond. His/her son Khan Houbou Noion ( ХубууНойон ) is the first man has to be become a Chaman. Since, the island of Olkhon is regarded as centers it crowned world of the Shamans of north, and the supreme center is represented by the rock of the Shamans. The bodies of the Shamans were there formerly flarings.

See too

List of the islands by population
List of islands by surface
List of the lists of islands

Random links: