Svyatoy Nos Peninsula

Svyatoy Nos - Holy Nose - is the largest peninsula on Baikal, a mountain block rising to 1,877 metres that was an island until sediment from the Barguzin built the Chivyrkuysky isthmus and tied it to the shore. That isthmus is a long low sand and marsh bar with beaches on both sides and a substantial bird population in the lagoon behind it. The peninsula itself is steep, forested to about eleven hundred metres and bare above, with a marked trail climbing from the isthmus to the ridge - about twelve kilometres and fifteen hundred metres of ascent, a hard day - from which Baikal is visible on both sides at once, with the Chivyrkuysky bay east and the open lake west and Ushkany islands offshore. The bay side has hot springs at Zmeinaya and sheltered anchorages. It is all inside Zabaykalsky national park, so permits apply.

What you actually see

• The ridge view - Baikal on both sides at once from around 1,800 metres.
• The isthmus - a sand bar that turned an island into a peninsula.
• Chivyrkuysky bay - sheltered water with hot springs at Zmeinaya.
• The climb - twelve kilometres and fifteen hundred metres of ascent to the ridge.

When to go

July to September; snow lies late on the ridge. Two to four days. Permits from the national park.

Honest expectations

The ridge climb is a hard full day with fifteen hundred metres of ascent and no water on the route. Weather on the top turns fast. Bears are present in the forest. Mosquitoes on the isthmus in July are severe. Permits are checked.

Nearby

Ust-Barguzin and the Barguzin valley are east; the Ushkany islands are offshore.