Despite the unpleasant name, the Smerdyachye, Svinoshnoye or Piyavochnoye lake located in the Moscow region does not exude any "aroma". An interesting reservoir of meteorite origin is also the fact that the level and chemical composition of water in it have changed noticeably over the past thirty years.
A very faint smell of hydrogen sulfide, however, is present, breaking through to the surface with a swarm of bubbles. This confirms the history of the origin of the "stinking" name. According to one of the local legends, the reservoir has a double bottom.
The mystery of origin
A perfectly round lake resembles a huge dish even up close. In cloudy weather, the reservoir strikes with an almost black surface. And the silence around evokes associations with horror films. The corresponding atmosphere is maintained by the trunks of dead birches sticking out from the shore.
This place has always been considered mysterious and dangerous. Local historian Nikolai Fomin began to unravel the secrets in 1983. He put forward a hypothesis about the meteoric origin of the reservoir. In 1985, the first research began. The final conclusions were made in 2002. In one and a half kilometers from Smerdyachy, scientists found impactite glasses. The rocks were melted under the influence of high temperatures.
There were opinions that the space visitor split into smaller debris. Scientists do not stop searching for the "Shatura meteorite", considering it the key to unraveling the Tunguska phenomenon.
Lake changes
An interesting story with the depth of the reservoir and the smell. The nature of the characteristic aroma of hydrogen sulfide could also be cosmic: the meteorite contained a lot of sulfur. However, after drilling artesian wells, the smell disappeared, but the supply from the springs also stopped.
Once crystal clear, the water has turned into a reddish-brown liquid, retaining transparency and always remaining strikingly cold. The reasons for the level fluctuations have not yet been studied.
But locals willingly share legends and tales with travelers. And in the entire system of Shatura lakes, Smerdyachye ranks first in terms of the level of anomaly.
Mysterious Zone Riddles
According to the stories, the enchanted place allows not everyone to get to it, taking strangers away. Birches growing around it have square trunks. The lake affects the consciousness of a person, causing strange sensations, headaches and increased pressure among those present on the shore.
The reservoir is often visited by researchers of the paranormal. The reservoir itself is considered an anomalous zone, therefore it is popular among ufologists and followers of various cults as part of Shushmore.
Neither inaccessibility nor small size can diminish the interest of tourists and travel lovers to this place. The deep hollow is bordered by a dense pine forest and a high earthen ledge.
There are always a lot of mushrooms and berries near Smerdyachy. Local wild strawberries are especially appreciated for their amazing taste. Fishermen, however, cannot come to a consensus about the catches. Some claim that there is no fish for a long time, because the lake is dead. But others object, saying that both pike and perches peck there perfectly.
