Lake Teletskoye begins here. At its northern tip the lake narrows and spills out into the Biya River, which flows north to join the Katun and form the Ob, one of the great rivers of Siberia. The village of Iogach stands on one bank of the outflow, Artybash on the other, linked by a bridge, and together they form the main gateway to the lake. The Altai name for Teletskoye is Altyn-Kol, the Golden Lake, and legend says a poor man threw a lump of gold into it rather than let it bring more misery.
The lake is long, narrow and very deep, stretching about eighty kilometres south into the mountains, with steep forested shores that rise straight from the water. The water is clear and cold even in midsummer, and there is no road along most of the shore. Boats carry visitors to waterfalls, cliffs and the remote southern end, where the Chulyshman River flows in. The forests around are dense with Siberian pine, fir and birch, home to bears, maral deer and sable, and much of the eastern shore is protected as part of a nature reserve.
As the finish of a ride along the northern road, Iogach is a fitting end. The approach from Biysk and Turochak follows the Biya valley through forest and farmland, with gentle bends and occasional climbs, and the final stretch brings the first views of the lake opening out ahead. The surface is generally paved but can be rough and potholed, especially near the end. Summer weekends bring heavy traffic and crowds of holidaymakers, so midweek or early autumn are better times to visit.
Iogach and Artybash have plenty of guesthouses, campsites and cafes, and the shops sell smoked fish from the lake, including grayling, which is worth trying. Fuel availability can be limited, so fill up in Turochak, about fifty-four kilometres away, before heading up. Take a boat trip if you have time; the lake is best seen from the water, with the mountains rising on both sides. Then find a quiet spot on the shore and watch the evening light on the water, which turns from blue to silver to gold as the sun goes down.