The Nugush reservoir lies in the foothills of the southern Urals, a long, narrow lake created in the 1960s by damming the Nugush River. It lies in the Burzyansky district, in the valley between forested ridges, and the water is cold, clear and deep green. The setting is quiet and wild, with limestone cliffs along parts of the shore, mixed forest of birch, linden and pine on the slopes, and meadows full of flowers in June and July. It belongs to the Bashkir State Nature Reserve and to a larger protected area, and the river system is part of the Belaya basin, a major tributary of the Kama.
The reservoir is a popular place for fishing and camping, and in summer small boats and tents dot the shore. Pike, perch, bream and grayling are caught here, and the water is clean enough for swimming in the warm months, though it stays cool. The surrounding forests are home to elk, bears, lynx and many birds, and the nights are loud with owls and frogs. The Bashkir people have lived in these valleys for centuries, herding horses and gathering honey, and some villages still keep their traditional wooden beehives in hollowed tree trunks.
For riders, the approach from Sterlitamak crosses open country and then winds through hills, with a mix of smooth and broken surface. The roads near the reservoir are narrower, with sharp bends, gravel patches and sudden drops to the water, and the road along the shore is slow and pretty. Traffic is very light. The best time to visit is from June to September, when the days are long and the air is warm, and in September the colors begin to turn. Mosquitoes and horseflies can be intense near the water, so repellent is vital. Spring thaw brings mud and washouts.
There is little in the way of services. The nearest town with real facilities is Yumaguzino, about sixteen kilometers away, which has a fuel station and shops, and larger supplies are in Sterlitamak. A few holiday bases and guesthouses along the shore offer beds and simple meals in season, but it is best to carry water and food.
Camp or simply sit by the water at dusk. The silence is complete, and the stars come out in abundance.