Kalarskiy Geyser

Little known and seldom visited natural wonder of Siberia is Kalarskiy Geyser. Most likely, this is not a true geyser but cold water geyser, powered by gases.

Kalarskiy geyser is located in a beautiful, pristine and mountainous area of Zabaykalsky Krai. In this part of Siberia recently, some 2 thousand years ago (in geology is just a moment ago). As a result up to this day, there are hot springs and interesting travertine formations – even travertine terraces.

This area was well known by the local Evenk people. Holes of heated water they call “eimnakhs”.

Scientist of Chita Institute of Natural Resources Fedor M. Stupak heard from Evenks about natural spas of thermal waters in this region in the 1980ies. Locals told that some of the springs even create natural fountains. F. Stupak was the first scientist who managed to reach this remote area and found the geothermal field in 1983.

Here the left bank of Eimnakh stream over the distance of some 700 m consists of travertine and near the stream flow numerous thermal springs. In some places can be felt a smell of hydrogen sulfide.

Two of these thermal springs are especially interesting:

• A natural travertine bath on the top of a natural pedestal. This small basin is some 0.5 m deep, 0.5 by 1 m large and is filled with 18 °C warm water. The water all the time is pouring over the rims of this bath.
• Some 100 meters from this unusual spring is even more unusual one. Right in the stream, there is some 20 cm tall travertine cone. In the upper part of the cone are four openings where every few seconds gushes mineralized, hot water. These natural fountains rise some 0.2 – 0.5 m high. Water is mineralized and contains salt, silicic acid and other substances.

References

1. Каларский гейзер. Accessed on January 31, 2019.
2. Александр Леснянский, Забайкальские вулканы. Accessed on January 31, 2019. See images: you will find the geothermal field and geyser!

Kalarskiy Geyser on the map

Location, GPS coordinates:	56.2497 N 117.6413 E
Categories:	Thermal springs, Geysers, Spring tufa, travertine and other formations
Values:	Geology
Rating:	(3 / 5)
Where is located?	Asia, Russia, Zabaykalsky Krai, Kalarskiy District, Kalar Mountains, at the left tributary of Eimnakh stream
Name in Russian:	Каларский гейзер

Landmarks of Russia

The largest country in the world, Russia, is associated in the minds of many people with the onion domes of Orthodox churches and the massive walls of the Moscow Kremlin. But besides the unique architecture, Russia offers many more unusual and exciting attractions.

Geysers

Hasty hydrogeologist would say: geysers are thermodynamically and hydrodynamically unstable hot springs. “Normal” people would say – geysers are hot springs which at more or less regular intervals shoot up a fountain of boiling water and steam. Sometimes these fountains are even 100 m tall… or even 450 m!

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In the 1860s, the Russian-American Telegraph Company set out to telegraphically connect the United States and Europe using lines running through the Bering Strait and Siberia. The failed expedition marked one of the first explorations of the vast Siberian wilderness, and George Kennan’s tale of a seemingly endless land filled with wildlife and nomadic tribes is as entertaining today as it was 140 years ago.