Iriklinsky reservoir

The Iriklinsky reservoir is the largest artificial reservoir in the Southern Urals. It is located on the Ural River in the Orenburg region. For its beauty, it is often called the pearl of the Orenburg region.

The length of the Iriklinsky reservoir along the Ural River is 73 kilometers. The shoreline of the reservoir stretches for more than 400 kilometers (according to other sources – 581 kilometers). The width of the reservoir reaches 8 kilometers. The average depth is 12 meters, and the maximum depth at the dam is 38 meters.

The Iriklinskaya hydroelectric power station operates here. Construction of the largest hydroelectric plant in the Southern Urals began in 1949. The construction was not easy. There was a shortage of equipment, and the working conditions were extremely difficult. Surprisingly, the filling of this huge reservoir with water lasted for eight years – from 1958 to 1966.

In connection with the construction of the reservoir, 22 settlements had to go under water. In this regard, more than two dozen villages were relocated to other places. When filled with water, three huge multi-kilometer bays were formed. The largest of them is the Suunduk Bay. Its length is 43 kilometers. The Iriklinsky reservoir is a source of water supply for the cities of Orsk and Novotroitsk. The Iriklinsky reservoir is one of the most popular places for recreation and fishing. It is home to carp, bream, carp, whitefish, ripus, crucian carp, ide, roach, perch, ruff, walleye, pike and others. Commercial fishing is carried out on the reservoir.