Lake Chebarkul

Lake Chebarkul is a freshwater lake in Chelyabinsk Oblast in Russia, near the town of Chebarkul and the city of Chelyabinsk. It is well known in recent history for an impact event in 2013 that left a visible hole in the lake ice.

The lake is used for local recreation, fishing, and shoreline access by nearby settlements. In winter it freezes and in summer its shores are used for leisure and small-boat activities.

Historically the lake has served local fishing communities and small settlements along its shores; the 2013 Chelyabinsk meteoroid event brought international attention when pieces of the meteor were recovered in the region around the lake.

Geographically the lake lies west of the city of Chelyabinsk in the southern Ural region of Russia, within Chelyabinsk Oblast, and is surrounded by mixed forest and agricultural land.

• 2013 meteor event: A meteorite impact on 15 February 2013 produced a large hole in the frozen surface and led to retrieval of fragments from the area of the lake.

• Visit Lake Chebarkul in the warmer months for easier shore access and to see the lakeside memorials and displays that commemorate the 2013 meteor event; local museums in Chebarkul/Chelyabinsk provide context and recovered fragments.
• Approach via the town of Chebarkul and use the main lakeshore promenade and memorial site - those are the established visitor points with parking and the clearest access to the lake.
• If meteorite history is your focus, check museum opening times in Chebarkul or Chelyabinsk ahead of your trip so you can pair the lakeshore visit with curated exhibits and authentic recovered pieces.