Kubenskoye Lake. Spatial minimalism

Kubenskoye Lake is a lake of glacial-tectonic origin in the European part of Russia. Kubenskoye Lake occupies the lowland position of the central landscape of the Vologda Oblast on the border of the Vologda and Ust-Kubinskoye districts, and belongs to the Northern Dvina basin.

The lake has an elongated shape. Located at an altitude of 110.1 m above sea level in a swampy lowland. It has a length of 54–60 km, a width of 10–15 km, and an area of ​​370 to 417 km² (the area of ​​the lake is unstable due to the annual flooding of low shores with melt waters). About 30 rivers flow into the lake, the main ones are Kubena and Uftuga. From the lake begins the river Sukhona.

My journey coincided with the moment of formation of durable ice on the surface of almost the entire lake.

This is the first time I've ever been to this place. At first, I was afraid to step on the ice, but as soon as I saw a passing all-terrain vehicle on the surface of the ice, I immediately gained confidence.

Fishermen say that the lake can be completely crossed on ice from one shore to another.

The ice on the lake is everywhere different in color and structure. Sometimes it seems that sand is ahead. And in some places the ice is so smooth and transparent that it becomes like open areas of water.

Life on the lake is quite active. Many fishermen: some just come or drive, others go home.

Being on ice on such an open surface was accompanied by very unusual sensations. I experienced both fear and delight.

The weather was similar to the landscape: the monotony of the ice surface was combined with a smoky pastel sky.

If time allowed, then I would probably decide to go to the other side.

Large cracks in the ice look frightening, but in fact, everything is safe. Even the holes left by the fishermen instantly froze.

The frozen space in the crack has the same thickness as the ice itself.

You look into the distance - it seems as if the water is rippling...but it's an ice.

In such places, machines is needed to travel long distances. Even a bicycle will do. If you drive carefully, without sudden movements, then it is quite possible to resist.

Somewhere far away on the other side stands the Savior-Kamenny Monastery. Someday I'll get to it!

This is ice too.

The variety of machines on Lake Kubensky is impressive.

And here you can safely, far and long skate.

But so far from the coast only fishermen climb.

In appearance, it seems dangerous to go on a darker and more fresh ice, but the fishermen assured me that it is even stronger, because has a more uniform structure.

The farther from the coast, the more magic!

I can’t know the nature of the formation of these individual small ice cubes on the surface, but they look pretty.

It’s like someone scattered paper boats here.

To be continued...