A string of small lakes fed by underground springs, their water so clear and blue it looks tropical, and so cold it never freezes. Walk the boardwalks through the woods, follow the stream down to the river, and, if you are brave, take the plunge.
Just north of Kazan, groundwater rises through limestone into a chain of karst lakes. The water stays between 4 and 7°C all year and is famously clear, with a blue-green colour from the minerals and depth.
The Blue Lakes are a protected natural monument: the Big Blue, the Small Blue and a flowing lake linked by a stream, set in mixed woods of pine and birch. Boardwalks ring the lakes and a path follows the stream down to the river. Where the cold spring water enters the Kazanka, the river stays open even in hard frosts.
Locals come to swim all year round, from summer families to winter ice swimmers who climb down the wooden stairs in minus 20°C. Divers come for the visibility. It is busy at weekends; go early on a weekday for silence and mist on the water.
An easy loop on boardwalks and forest paths. Short, so take your time.
From the parking area, follow the boardwalk to the largest lake, with wooden platforms and stairs for swimmers. Look into the water: you can see the bottom metres down.
A path through the woods leads to the smaller lake, where the springs bubble through pale sand on the bottom.
Follow the clear stream as it cascades down to the river Kazanka, then loop back through the woods.
Suburban buses run from the city towards the lakes, and taxis take about 20 minutes from the centre. A taxi app is the easiest option.
Facilities are basic: a few changing points and platforms. Bring what you need, including a towel and a warm drink in winter.
The lakes are a protected natural monument. No soap, no rubbish, no fires, and stay on the boardwalks around fragile banks.
Kazan practical notes →Wikimedia Commons photographs (many from Wiki Loves Earth Russia) are used under their Creative Commons licences.
