Gorkoye (Novichikhinsky District)

Gorkoye (Горькое) is a salt lake in Novichikhinsky District, Altai Krai, Russian Federation.

The lake lies roughly in the middle of the Krai. The nearest town is Melnikovo close to the southern end. Novichikha, the district capital, lies 4 km to the east of the southeastern shore. The lake and its surrounding area is a tourist attraction and was declared a natural monument of regional significance in 2015.

Geography
With a length of 25 km, Gorkoye is one of the longest lakes in Altai Krai. It lies in one of the wide ravines of glacial origin that cut diagonally across the Ob Plateau. The lake has an elongated shape, stretching roughly from northeast to southwest. The water is saline but was fresh in the past. The silt at the bottom of the lake is reputed to have healing properties. A ribbon forest stretches along the southeastern lakeshore.

Lake Zerkalnoye is located in the same trench 17 km to the northeast, at the head of the Barnaulka river. Gorkoye lies 13 km to the northwest, Gorkoye-Peresheyechnoye 41 km to the southwest and pink lake Malinovoye 67 km to the west.