Tazheran Steppe
Тажеранские степи
Grassland and limestone hills on the mainland along the way to Olkhon Island, with rock mazes, salt lakes and Buryat sacred sites; good for a roadside stop and a hike.
The Tazheran Steppe lies on the mainland along Lake Baikal’s west shore, south of the Sakhyurta crossing, within Baikal National Park. It is a rare dry steppe in Siberia. Gently sloping grassland is dotted with oddly shaped marble and limestone outcrops, caves and several small salt lakes. Wildflowers cover the ground in spring and summer, and you often see Buryat ovoos (ritual cairns) and colorful prayer ribbons. The road from Irkutsk to Olkhon Island passes through here, so you can stop to hike for 1–2 hours, or stay overnight near the crossing and visit specifically.
Opening hours
All day
Nearby sights
- Olkhon Gate Strait & MRS Ferry
- Ogoy Island
- Lake Shara-Nur (Olkhon)
- Maloye More (Small Sea) Ice
- Revyakin Museum of Local Lore
- Khuzhir
- Olkhon Island & Shaman Rock
- Saraisky Beach