LAKE SELIGER It’s one of the most beautiful places in our country. It’s called the pearl of Russian nature. It is the land of clean lakes, shady rivers and forests.

Lake Seliger was formed about 20 thousand years ago. On its banks the Slavic tribes were settling. The information about Lake Seliger is met in the Russian chronicles of the th century.

Lake Il’men’ and Lake Seliger are the biggest lakes on the Valday highland. There are more than 150 islands (i.e. humps) on the Seliger and no one on the Il’men’. The legend tells that Seliger and Il’men’ were brothers who loved Volga. She chose Seliger. Envy captured Il’men’ and he cursed Seliger. And 100 humps grew on Seliger’s back. On the first view Seliger is an usual lake. But everyone is impressed when blue sky is reflected in the mirror waters.

On the Valday highland a great Russian river Volga begins. A small brook flows out of the bog in the thick forest. Then it flows in Lake Sterzh and becomes a strong stream.

In the 16th century the monk appeared on the banks of the Volga, than he became a Russian Saint Nil Stolobenskiy Chudotvorets. He settled on the island Stolobnoe where Nil’s hermitage was formed later. It had been the holy centre of Russia for some centuries.

Shirkov Pogost is situated on the bank of the river. These churches were built in the 17th century. They are 45 meters high, they are made of wood.

The town Ostashkov looks like a boot. It hasn’t got a heel because “fish have eaten it”. So there are a lot of fish in the Seliger. According the legend all population of the town died in the fire many years ago. Only one man Evstafiy became alive, he fished that time. He built a new house and than a new town grew around it.

Tourists also can see the church Nikolo-Rozhok. It had already been there in the 14th century. Near the Tolstoy’s estate is situated.There was a theatre, a church, a house, a linen factory in the Tolstoy’s El’tsy. Some buildings have kept safe.

Most houses are wooden, some of them are quite new, others are very old.

Inspite of all sights Lake Seliger is worth seeing because it has unique beautiful landscapes.