Kulundinsky District: Parks, Lakes and Cultural Heritage

Kulundinsky District brings together an arboretum, salt lakes, and archaeological and historical monuments. Kulundinsky Arboretum is located west of the settlement of Oktyabrsky. In 1988, it was designated a regional natural monument; in 2009, it was designated an arboretum. Both years refer to the same site and mark two milestones in its history. The area’s character thus combines nature with traces of different historical periods.

Park, plant life and salt lake

The arboretum covers 49,098 m² and is home to 161 plant species. Its area and species count reveal two aspects of the site: its physical extent and its botanical character. The composition of its plant life may change. For travelers interested in plants, the park is a distinct natural highlight in Kulundinsky District.

Another natural attraction is Lake Shchekulduk, a salt lake in Kulundinsky District, 3 km from Kulunda railway station. The district is also part of the branded tourist route “Great Golden Ring of Altai.”

Memorial site and archaeological evidence

On the outskirts of the village of Kulunda stands a memorial complex erected in 1989 to honor soldiers who fell in the Great Patriotic War of 1941–1945. The creator of the complex is unknown. Its construction date and commemorative purpose give the site a clear historical significance.

The archaeological monuments of Kulundinsky District also tell stories of earlier times. They include burial mounds of the medieval Srostki culture, among them the Yekaterinovka III group. It was located 0.8 km northeast of the village of Yekaterinovka. V. A. Mogilnikov and A. P. Umansky discovered the group in 1974; it was fully excavated in 1988. All five mounds were examined. The discovery and excavation mark two distinct stages in the site’s archaeological history.

Another group, Ananyevka, consists of two burial mounds. It is located 1 km south-southeast of the village of Ananyevka in Kulundinsky District. Comparing the two groups makes their different sizes clear: five mounds are recorded as fully examined at Yekaterinovka III, while Ananyevka is described as a group of two mounds.

Altai Krai: other travel highlights

Elsewhere in the wider destination of Altai Krai, you’ll find other nature and outdoor activity highlights. In Belokurikha, forest health trails invite visitors to go for walks; more challenging routes lead to Lonely Pine, Four Brothers Rock and Shishi Creek. A chairlift takes visitors to the summit of Mount Tserkovka. Check the chairlift’s operating status before your trip. These examples are in Belokurikha and differ from the profile of Kulundinsky District: here, the focus is on the park, salt lakes, and archaeological and historical monuments, while there it is on forest trails and summit destinations.

If you’re looking for a hotel for your trip, you can start by considering which of these facets interests you most: the botanical park, the salt lake, or the historical and archaeological sites. This can help you choose a destination based on what you’d most like to explore.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Kulunda, Mayminsky District, Ust-Kansky District, Zonalny District, Chemalsky District, Barnaul, Shipunovsky District, Blagoveshchensky District.

For the broader travel overview: Altai Krai.