X-WATERS МСК Руза

The Ruza Reservoir is a vast, man-made basin that dictates the rhythm of the surrounding landscape. Stretching over 33 kilometers, it is defined by significant depth variations, plunging from 10 to 22 meters in several channels. Swimmers entering these waters encounter a environment that, while calm, carries the weight of a strict seasonal cycle. The reservoir typically freezes in late November, remaining under ice until the spring thaw in April, ensuring that the water used for this late-summer event is refreshed by the flow of the Ruza River. The river’s name itself echoes a history of movement, derived from the Lithuanian 'ruseti' and Latvian 'ruosa', terms describing a stream winding through narrow meadows and fields. During the swim, you are not just navigating buoys; you are tracing the path of a waterway that once powered local industry. Near the village of Gorbovo, for instance, the submerged or exposed remnants of a 1953 hydroelectric plant serve as a stark reminder of this area's industrial past, long after the facility ceased operations in 2002.

Historical landmarks from the water

As you lift your head for sighting, the horizon is dominated by the structural legacy of the Ruza region. The ancient earthworks of the Ruza Kremlin rise 25 to 40 meters above the terrain, forming a kilometer-long perimeter that has guarded this valley for centuries. These ramparts, along with the distinct silhouettes of the Resurrection Cathedral and the Boris and Gleb Church, stand as fixed points in the historical skyline. They provide a unique backdrop as you navigate the counter-clockwise loops at the beach of the former Politburo sanitarium. This venue, built with white marble and fine wood, retains the atmosphere of a Soviet-era retreat, providing a quiet, tree-lined sanctuary far from urban noise. The event, held in mid-August, offers distances ranging from 50 meters for children to a 5-kilometer endurance challenge, alongside a 2.5km-1km-2.5km aquathlon that tests transitions between the sandy beach and the parkland. With water discharge averaging 13.1 cubic meters per second, the reservoir maintains a clarity favored by the dense forests surrounding its banks, making it a distinct choice for those seeking a swim through a landscape deeply etched with centuries of urban and rural planning.