Staraya Pustyn is a historic village in the north of Arzamas District, Nizhny Novgorod Region. It adjoins the Pustynskie Lakes. Administratively it is subordinate to the Chernukhinsky rural council.
On the shores of the lakes are the biological station of Lobachevsky University, the "Dzhungli" children's ecological camp, and a sanatorium for the treatment of cardiac conditions.
It is situated on the right bank of the Seresha River.
The nature of the place
A secluded stretch of woods and lakes, a state nature reserve.
The chief ornament of Pustyn is its nature: sandy soils, ancient pines, and a system of karst lakes.
History
The Pustynsky nature reserve lies in the north of Arzamas District, not far from the Serezha River. The village of Staraya Pustyn adjoining it is known not only for its natural beauty but also for its holy places.
The nature of these places is beautiful, pristine, and mysterious. In recent times Pustyn has seen a huge influx of tourists, which has affected its cleanliness and pristine state, but nevertheless Pustyn still holds many mysteries.
In the sixteenth century there was an Uspenskaya (Dormition) hermitage here, belonging to the Spassky Monastery of the nearby town of Arzamas. The main church — it seems it was called the Dormition Church — burned down in the early twentieth century, but to this day the atmosphere of these places retains something beyond comprehension. Old Believers now live in the village; there is an Old Believer cemetery, and a new Dormition church is under construction.
Recreation in Pustyn
Traditionally, people come to the Pustynskiye Lakes for a holiday who are no strangers to the romance of the trail and who know how to appreciate the beauty of their native nature. Along the shores of the lakes and channels, numerous tents are pitched almost year-round; student groups and families come here too. Those who have once been here usually want to show the place to their children as well.
Taking this opportunity, we would very much like to ask everyone who might come to Pustyn for a holiday to remember that this is a nature reserve, a Natural Monument), and that all of us must keep and protect it, so that our children too will have somewhere to come and enjoy the romance of evenings by the campfire and boat trips under the moon.
The Pustyn caves and rites
For those who are far from science, it is simply pleasant to take a boat ride along the lakes and channels — these romantic moments will surely be remembered for a lifetime. The same goes for a walk through the pine forest, the varied singing of birds, and visits to mysterious places... such as, for example, the karst hollows said to grant wishes.
Many years ago, as a result of limestone being eroded by underground waters, a large number of karst caves and sinkholes formed. Many filled with water and became lakes, while some, located a little higher up, remained as fissures. Climbing down into them is one of the local pastimes... the cool air, even in summer heat, the unique smell of the earth, and the half-darkness make this place eerily mysterious.
There is also a legend that one of the local karst formations is able to grant the wishes of those who entrust it with their innermost dreams. Students of the biological station and local residents bring their wishes on tiny slips of paper and leave them in one of the many cracks of the karst. The wish is always granted.