Things to see and do East Siberian

one can see, from a boat and with the help of binoculars, a memorial to the discovery of "Pallaçovo gélézo" (the Pallas iron). In October 1771, the great Russian explorer of Siberia, Peter Pallas, of German origin (1741-1811) arrived in Krasnoyarsk. He ordered his collection, all his travel diaries and completed them with archival material. In 1772, a convoy of a few trolleys loaded with collections ores, animals and birds headed from Krasnoyarsk to St. Petersburg. The convoy consisted of solid sleds with a metal block with a weight of 700 kg. This block, on the rough surface covered with a thin crust, and with the form of giant egg, was a gift from the blacksmith Jacov Medvédev, who found it on the dividing line of the waters of the rivers Oubey and Sicime, tributaries rights of the Yenisey. The blacksmith, who had transported him to his yard, attacked him with his entire heart without succeeding in forging it. For 22 years, the mysterious bloc remained in the yard. P. Pallas heard about and sent a man to buy it. But the blacksmith gave the block free and even built special sleds to move it to the capital. The enigmatic object received the name of the "Pallas iron" and its mystery was decrypted in 1794 by the Czech scientist, Ernst Chladni, who said it was a meteorite, the first found and studied in Russia. The peasant blacksmith J. Medvédev was decorated by the Russian Academy of Sciences, and his discovery is now visible at the Cabinet Cabinet in Saint Petersburg.

The tour of the old Circum-Baikal railway by train is a collective excursion. It lasts a long day (about 10 hours) and is organised from Irkutsk (the trips are included in the ticket). If you have large luggage, charge an extra 250 RUB per piece). This is an excellent option if you are short of time, as you pass through several points of interest on the Baikalian coast.

First you reach Slioudianka (by bus or train, about 2h30). From there, after visiting the station, you climb into a steam railway convoy (Soviet period locomotive) or matanya type (a modern regional train). Direction Port-Baïkal, i. e. some 90 km on the old Circum-Baïkal railway line. The train stops at several stations, with a guided tour and exit at the station (you are walking around): in particular at the village of Angasolka, at the Kirkirei complex (one of the most difficult parts of the circumbaïkalien construction site), at Ulanovo station. During this trip, which lasts about 5 hours, you can eat. You will be offered the option to purchase the tour (breakfast 350 RUB, lunch 800 RUB, dinner 700 RUB). Arrival at Port-Baïkal station scheduled around 6:30 pm: after a short visit of the station and its surroundings, you board for Listvianka by ferry (summer) or hovercraft (winter). Disembarkation at the seaside resort around 8pm, quick visit, then departure for Irkutsk (by bus, about 1 hour drive).

Today's village, with a population of less than 100 inhabitants, was once an important fishing port. The traces of the old installations have disappeared. If Kharantsy is the first stop on the great northern tour in UAZ, it is quite possible to get there by bike (or on foot. Be careful, the road is long). You will find several accommodations: campsites (with yurts) and guesthouses. Up there, expect a 360-degree heavenly landscape, on a land peeled by the sun and wind. You can explore the coast by bike or on foot, go down to the water's edge, unpack your picnic, enjoy an unlimited space. You can also try to discover the shamano-Buddhist oratory hidden in the forest... Opposite is the small island of Kharantsy. It is very popular in winter for its superb ice cascade (accessible by boat in summer). Also, several scenes from the film In the Forests of Siberia were shot there. Continuing north towards the village of Ulan Khushin (Улан Хушин), you can admire an extraterrestrial landscape, strange shaped trees on a sandy perimeter and wild thyme fields as far as the eye can see. Be careful, uneven track and increased difficulty. It is here that Pribaïkalsky National Park opens, recognizable by its forest checkpoint: it is perfectly authorized to enter it alone, subject to paying the entrance fee (300 RUB per day and per person). Entry by vehicle is only possible if the vehicle is off-road.