Maloulbinskoye reservoir.
Kazakhstan Nature. Mountains & Waterfalls

The reservoir is located in natural intermontane cavity between the following mountains: Zolotaya (2039 m), Left Gromotukha (2117 m), Upeer Ulba (2370 m) and in the source of Malaya Ulba River to the east from the Prohodnoy Belok mountain range. The latest one is known for China trade routes referring to XV-XVI centuries. The absolute Height level is about 1612-2039 meters. Nearly 90 % of the described territory is covered by mountain tundra. The total area is about 37 square km.

The average annual precipitation is 2000 mm, but in some years reaches 3800 mm. It is the dampest place not only in Kazakhstan but also in the Asiatic part of the Commonwealth of Independent States. Mountain tundra zone covers 90% of the described territory.

The reservoir was one of the main or even paramount element in the structure of hydroelectric power station of Leninogorsk Cascade which includes Maloulbinskoye and Tishinskoye reservoirs. Khariuzovskaya hydroelectric power station is the first in Kazakhstan and the second in the USSR (after Volhovskaya HPS) gave current in 1928. Ulba hydroelectric power station was the largest construction at that time and produced current in 1937. It played invaluable role during war years as it supplied with the energy not only Leninogorsk polymetallic industrial complex but also Ust-Kamenogorsk metallurgical combine evacuated from Ukraine. Tishinskaya hydroelectric power station was launched in 1949 and HPS "Rybny Klyuch" is located on the reservoir itself.

In some way it is a museum under open air. The part of constructions and machines are preserved until now. They include steam shovel "Skoda" (4 such machines were used at hydroelectric power station cascade building), diversion channel, HPS building, dams. In the surroundings there are wooden barracks of Stalin's camps where prisoners were kept and used for building of Maloulbinskoye reservoir.

The place is very popular among the tourists. Hundreds or even thousands people from many countries visit it annually. Many track routes pass along the bank where the groups of raftsmen start their floating in Upper Maly and Bolshoy Turgusun.

Reservoir surroundings are rather picturesque and most of transitional stops are organized by the groups on its banks. The ruins of Stalin's camps are rather popular, as the prisoners who built the damps lived here. This severe place is visited by tourists in summer and skiers in winter who ascend here from the West through Prokhodnoy Belok. Unfortunately it should be noted that the places of traditional stops have rubbish left by some groups.

Joint project of OrexCA.com and KTA & KAGIR. Information is taken from CD "All about tourism in Kazakhstan"