Čertoks

File:Čortoks (Velnezers).JPG Čertoks (also Velnezers , Čortoks ; Latgalian : Valna azars) is a suffusion lake in Šķeltova Parish , Krāslava Municipality, Latvia.^[1] It is located between Lake Jazinks [lt] and the P62 road 3 km northwest of Grāveri, Krāslava Municipality [lt]. The lake is located in a funnel-shaped depression, the banks are steep, in places flat. The transparency of the lake in its middle is about 8 meters. No river or spring flows into or out of it. Since 1977, the lake with the surrounding landscape has been a nature reserve.^[2] The lake is a popular tourist attraction. Swimming in the lake is prohibited in order to preserve the unique clear water environment. The water of Čertoks does not have a large diversity of aquatic animals and aquatic plants.^[3]

The names Čertoks/Čortoks come from the Rssian name Chertok of the lake, which literally eans "little devil", while names Velnezers and Valna azars literally mean "Devil's lake", from velns in Latvian mythology.

References

56°05′02″N 27°07′00″E / 56.0839°N 27.1167°E / 56.0839; 27.1167

[1] Čertoks in Latvian placename database

[2] Čertoka ezers (Valnezers)

[3] Velnezers (Čertoks)

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