Khasan, Russia

 

Khasan is an urban-type settlement in the Khasan district of the Primorsky Territory, the center of the Khasan urban settlement. Population - 600 people. (2020). This is the southernmost settlement in the Russian Far East.

 

Sights

Zero Khasan is a freshwater reservoir in the Far East of Russia in the Primorsky Territory near the border with China. The area of the lake is only 2.2 square kilometers. It is popular among tourists due to the lotus blossom. A small natural object gained fame in 1938, when clashes between the troops of the USSR and the Empire of Japan took place in its vicinity.

Lake Khasan has an elongated shape and is located within a mountain range, the banks are covered with deciduous forest, which makes it difficult to access the water surface. Cyclones and typhoons often pass in the area of ​​the reservoir, which became one of the reasons for the formation of the lake, when water accumulated in the lowland for a long time. In summer, due to showers, the area of Khasan increases, the lowlands are flooded.

The lake is located in a temperate climate zone, however, low temperatures are possible in winter. There is practically no snow, the reservoir is completely covered with ice in November, at the same time strong winds often blow. In summer, the temperature rises to 25 degrees, the water warms up quickly, the swimming season opens early here. The muddy bottom and pebble beaches create an excellent opportunity for the development of recreation in the Khasan region.

Khasan amazes with the riches of the ichthyofauna, shallow water contributes to the restoration of fish stocks, the symbol of the reservoir is a chebak. In spring and autumn, there are many waterfowl on the banks of Khasan, including rare species of ducks and cranes. It is a major transit center during migrations of many endemic species of the Far East. Lotus blooms in summer, it is one of the symbols of the Khasansky district and the entire Primorsky Territory.

The shores of Lake Khasan are rich in vegetation, as well as rare relic rocks that have been preserved since the last glaciation. The flora of the Khasan region includes almost 900 species of plants, rich undergrowth is typical. Most of the mountain slopes are occupied by oaks and lindens, there are practically no conifers, there are a lot of flowers growing. Wild boars live in the forests, you can meet rare Amur tigers.

Among the locals, there is a legend about the origin of the name of Lake Khasan, associated with the Mongol army. Nomads in a short time conquered most of the modern Far East, but faced constant uprisings of local residents who were alien to the oppression of the Mongol conquerors, they were considered barbarians. During one of the riots, Khan Hasan Nurul went to suppress it with a large army.

The Mongols suffered a crushing defeat and made their way home through deserted virgin places where no human foot had yet set foot. Hassan was reasonably afraid that his exhausted army might be attacked along the way of retreat and chose such a difficult way to retreat. The road home seriously increased, and the army, wounded in battle, thinned out every day - the nomads could not withstand the hardships of the journey.

One night, the Mongols came to a small lake between the hills and stopped here for a halt. The wounds of Khan Hasan Nurul became inflamed, without proper medical care, the commander died, which horrified his soldiers. In the morning they dug a grave on the bank of the reservoir and buried the ruler, giving the nameless lake a name in honor of Khan Hasan. Local residents took care of the grave for a long time, but now its location is unknown.

A beautiful legend is widespread, but in neighboring China there is a different version of the history of the origin of the geographical name. "Khasan" comes from the Chinese word "haishan", where "hai" is translated as a sea or many, and "shan" is a mountain. Thus, a lake among the mountains is obtained, which corresponds to the landscape of the geographical area. With the arrival of Russian explorers, "Haishan" was transformed into "Khasan".

Lake Khasan went down in history thanks to the military battle in 1938 between the Soviet and Japanese units. The army of the Japanese Empire invaded the territory of the USSR, but was defeated. In honor of these events, the Posyetsky district was renamed Khasansky, streets and numerous memorials appeared in many cities of the Soviet Union, and the conflict was reflected in cinema and literature.

The territory near Lake Khasan includes 30 military graves, some of them are located on the Zaozernaya mountain closest to the reservoir. The most violent skirmishes between the troops of the USSR and Japan took place on its slopes, a memorial sign was erected on the top in honor of these memorable events. The surroundings of Khasan have the status of a cultural and historical reserve; commemorative events are held here every year.

The authorities of the Primorsky Territory intend to create a large historical educational center around Lake Khasan, for this purpose, the territory is being improved. An observation deck at the top of the hill was reconstructed on Zaozernaya, flowers are laid at the monuments in honor of the fallen heroes, and schoolchildren are taken on excursions. The administration of Primorsky Krai plans to popularize this place in order to attract tourists.

 

How to get to lake Khasan

Khasan is the southernmost city of Russia in the Far East and the end point of the Trans-Siberian Railway route. A few years ago, the road connection was closed, but after numerous complaints from local residents, the sale of train tickets was restored. From the village to the lake can be reached by taxi or on foot, the route runs along a picturesque road.

Another option is to drive your own car. The road from Vladivostok will take no more than three hours, the asphalt is of medium quality, for this reason some tourists prefer public transport. Regular buses run between cities, their main disadvantage is that the route can be canceled at the last moment due to the unprofitability of the trip.

A visit to Lake Khasan is included in the program of a two-day tour from Vladivostok. Tourists are taken on comfortable air-conditioned buses, there is an option to rent SUVs. The cost of such pleasure ranges from 4-5 thousand rubles, but with the development of the Khasansky district, local residents plan to organize free tours to places of military glory with a visit to the lake itself.

 

When is the best time to visit Lake Khasan?

The lotus has become a symbol of the Primorsky Territory, and the period of its flowering is becoming a regional holiday. On Hassan, the lotus blooms in early August - this is the perfect time to visit the reservoir. Flowers grow in clusters and form the so-called "lotus groves", they can be approached by boat. There are not many places where this beautiful plant grows in Primorye; logistics problems do not stop numerous tourists.

In winter, there is nothing to do on Hassan - low temperatures and strong winds repel visitors. The first tourists go to the lake during the period of bird migration in spring, at the same time the fishing season opens. On the shores of the reservoir you can meet lovers of taking beautiful pictures of animals and professional hunters, lovers of sport fishing and scientists conducting research on local flora and fauna.

 

What a tourist needs to know when visiting Lake Khasan

Lake Khasan is located near the borders with China and the DPRK, the territory has a strict access control, characteristic of the border zone. Permission to visit should be taken in Vladivostok, otherwise problems may arise. It is necessary to have an identity document, it is worth having permits for vehicles, including boats.

The hills of Lake Hassan are of historical importance for the people of Korea, during the occupation of the country by Japan, refugees lived here. It is difficult for tourists from South Korea to get to the shores of the reservoir; for this, it is necessary to obtain the guarantee of local residents and apply for a visa. The state program of the Far Eastern hectare has a positive impact on the development of local tourism, which led to the emergence of recreation centers.

Hasan is a small town with less than a thousand people and almost no infrastructure. When visiting the lake, it is better to take the necessary essentials with you, the prices in the few local holiday homes are greatly inflated, which has long been the reason for the slow development of domestic tourism. Due to changeable weather, it is recommended to bring warm clothes and hats.

 

What else to see in the vicinity of Lake Khasan

The Khasansky district is rightfully considered the pearl of the Primorsky Territory, thousands of tourists go to the border zone in summer to enjoy the local nature. On the sea coast there is a large marine reserve with a beautiful coastline, next to it is Russia's largest center for the cultivation of scallops. There are many grottoes and caves in the Khasan region, sand and pebble spits prevail.

Near Khasan is the National Park "Land of the Leopard". One of the rarest cats in the world lives here, leading a secretive lifestyle and almost disappeared. The leopard is not the only pride of the reserve; lucky visitors can meet the Amur tiger, lynx and forest cat. Special photo spots allow you to capture rare footage of wild cats in their natural habitat.

Lake Khasan is not the only body of water where you can see the lotus bloom at the end of summer. Nearby there is a reservoir, called Lotus, in August it is impossible to sail on the lake due to the abundance of vegetation. It is worth noting the so-called Pigeon Rock - a small area where rare representatives of the local flora grow. There are many snakes on the cliff, thousands of reptiles gather in the cave for the winter.

The unique natural landscapes and biological diversity of the Khasan region create potential for the development of recreational activities on the shores of the lake, and historical sites associated with the military conflict between Japan and the USSR are an additional incentive. In the meantime, due to the status of the border zone, it is difficult to get to the lake, but the cost of the road pays off with colorful photographs and relaxing in virgin nature.

 

Geographical position

The village is the only Russian settlement on the border with the DPRK. The famous Khasan Lake and the Tumannaya (Tumangan) border river are located near the village. The border between the DPRK and Russia runs along the channel of the river, but the channel of the Tumannaya changes after the spill towards Russia, thereby reducing the country's territory and creating a threat of flooding in the village of Hasan and at the Peschanaya border outpost. Since the summer of 2003, near the village, work has been carried out to fill it with rocky soil to protect it from water pressure.

The distance to the administrative center, the village of Slavyanka, is 105 km.

 

Climate

The climate of the village is monsoon. The average annual rainfall reaches 880 mm. Snow falls in early December, melting within 1-2 weeks. The average annual air temperature is 7 ° C.

The village is often cloudy, foggy and icy.

 

History

Hasan railway station with access to North Korea was founded in 1951. The working village of Khasan with a permanent population was formed in 1959. Both names were obtained from the lake of the same name, which in 1938 found itself in the center of the Soviet-Japanese armed conflict.

The status of an urban-type settlement was obtained in 1983.

 

Transport

Khasan is a railway station on the line from the Baranovsky station of the Far Eastern Railway. A daily passenger train runs from the Ussuriisk station, along the combined track entering the North Korean territory (in the village of Tumangan). Currently, the line is used with low intensity - in 2005, only about 10,000 passengers were transported, usually North Korean workers harvesting timber for their country in the Far Eastern taiga. The Korean section from Tumangan to the Rajin port was destroyed in the 1950s.

JSC "Russian Railways", the railway departments of North and South Korea are considering the issue of opening traffic on the Trans-Korean Railway with access to the Trans-Siberian Railway. The project, worth about $ 250 million, is progressing slowly. A pilot project is planned for 2006 to start transportation on the 40-kilometer Hasan-Rason section. In October 2011, a test train passed through the reconstructed section.