There is a picturesque light-salted Smolino Lake with its ancient history in the southeast of Chelyabinsk. At the beginning of the 20th century archaeologists discovered on the banks of Smolino a burial ground and traces of parking of primitive people. In particular, the remains of fishing gear related to the Stone Age were found here. In 1936 when the lake was decided to be artificially expanded, scientists drew attention to the apparent interconnection of Smolino with the waters of the Caspian Sea. Even today scientists cannot explain almost the same fluctuations in water levels in these basins.
Nowadays Smolino is a popular place for rest, where one can fish or relax on well-maintained beaches. There is a legend in Chelyabinsk, according to which,one of such beaches was equipped over just one night after Russian President Vladimir Putin, who visited the city in 2010, instructed officials of the city about a suitable place for recreation near the stadium "Voskhod". They say, that just over a night 500 trucks of sand as well as toilets, sun beds, umbrellas and cabins for changing clothes were put on the “Putin’s” beach.