The Sea Eye Lake is the main attraction of the Republic of Mari El. If you look at this amazing lake from a bird's eye view, you can be sure that in shape and color it really resembles an eye - round, blue-green, with fir-cilia along the entire perimeter.
Locals tell a beautiful legend about its appearance. They say there was a small village on a hill. The guy and the girl decided to get married, but on the eve of the fortune-teller revealed to them the truth that they are brothers and sisters and cannot get married. Young, despite the ban, did not cancel the wedding. And punishment fell on them from heaven: a heavy rain fell, a thunderstorm broke out, the village, together with the inhabitants, went underground, and a lake formed in its place.
The word “sea” in the name is associated with another legend: as if in the lake the locals found an old ship in ancient times, and the water at the very bottom tastes salty (the depth here reaches 37 meters, which is considered a lot for the lake). And the color of the water in it is emerald blue, sea. It has now been proven that green algae provide this beautiful color. Due to the great depth, the water in the lake is very cold even in summer. There are many caves under the water, which makes this place attractive for tourist walks.
Unfortunately, in recent years, the water level in the lake has begun to decline. In 2014, compared to 2013, it decreased by 12 meters. If this rate continues, then in a couple of years the lake will cease to exist.
Until the state has allocated sufficient funds to study the problem of the Sea Eye, volunteers - students of local universities under the guidance of teachers - are engaged in its rescue. They suggested that a gap appeared in the rock under the water and water was leaving through it. There are cases when such cracks closed by themselves, the water level was restored naturally. This means there is hope for the preservation of the lake.
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