The Mushyl lake (Mari: Мӱшыл йер, Müšyl Jer), nicknamed the Sea Eye (Russian: Морской Глаз, Morskoy Glaz) is a minor karst lake in Shariboksad, Volzhsky District, Mari El, Russia. Located at the foot of the hill its bright green water is extremely deep (38.5 m) compared to the surface area (45x50 m).

Lake Mushyl, Morskoy Glaz
Sea Eye from the top of nearby hill in 2004
Lake Mushyl, Morskoy Glaz is located in Mari El
Lake Mushyl, Morskoy Glaz
Lake Mushyl, Morskoy Glaz
LocationMari El
Coordinates56°09′44″N 48°45′37″E / 56.16219°N 48.76024°E / 56.16219; 48.76024
TypeKarst
Basin countriesRussia
Average depth37 m (121 ft)
Max. depth38.5 m (126 ft)[1]/42.4 m (139 ft)[2]
Water volumeshrinking
Islandsno
SettlementsShariboksad
The dried lake in April 2022.

In 2022 the water level has dropped, leaving the lake nearly dried.[3]

Etymology

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Müšyl ([myʃəl], Mari: Мӱшыл) means crater in the Mari language.[4] In early documents it was known only by its Mari name, written in the Russian text with Mari diacritics.[5] Later, Russian-speaking tourists were inspired by the sea-like colour of the water to give it the more poetic Russian name.

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According to Mari legend, a wedding procession fell into the Sea Eye and died when it suddenly appeared in an eruption.[6]

The lake has become popular with tourists.

References

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  1. ^ "Информационный ресурс Республики Марий Эл "12rus.ru" :: Характеристика озера Морской глаз".
  2. ^ "Морской глаз". Archived from the original on 2007-07-04. Retrieved 2011-12-10.
  3. ^ "МОРСКОЙ ГЛАЗ: НАДЕЖДЫ ЖИТЕЛЕЙ И РАЗОЧАРОВАНИЕ ТУРИСТОВ" (in Russian). Mariyskaya Pravda. 30 May 2023. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
  4. ^ Команда Кочующие, Озеро Морской Глаз - Мушыл
  5. ^ Агроклиматический справочник по Марийской АССР, 1961
  6. ^ "Легенды". Archived from the original on 2012-04-15. Retrieved 2011-12-10.