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Issyk Kul

Issyk Kul  is an endorheic lake in the northern Tian Shan mountains in eastern Kyrgyzstan. It is the tenth largest lake in the world by volume and the second largest saline lake after the Caspian Sea.

Although it is surrounded by snow-capped peaks, it never freezes;[citation needed] hence its name, which means «hot lake» in the Kyrgyz language.

The lake is a Ramsar site of globally significant biodiversity (Ramsar Site RDB Code 2KG001) and forms part of the Issyk-Kul Biosphere Reserve. It is also the site of an ancient metropolis 2500 years ago, and archaeological excavations are ongoing.

Geography

Lake Issyk Kul has a length of 182 kilometers (113 mi), a width of up to 60 kilometers (37 mi), and covers an area of 6,236 square kilometers (2,407.7 sq mi). This makes it the second largest mountain lake in the world behind Lake Titicaca in South America. Located at an altitude of 1,607 meters (5,272 ft), it reaches 668 meters (2,192 ft) in depth.

About 118 rivers and streams flow into the lake; the largest are the Djyrgalan and Tyup. It is fed by springs, including many hot springs, and snow melt-off. The lake has no current outlet, but some hydrologists hypothesize that, deep underground, lake water filters into the Chu River. The bottom of the lake contains the mineral monohydrocalcite: one of the few known lacustrine deposits.

The lake’s southern shore is dominated by the ruggedly beautiful Teskey Ala-Too Range of the Tian Shan mountains. The Kyungey Ala-Too Range of the Tian Shan runs parallel to the north shore.

The lake water has salinity of approx. 0.6%—compare to 3.5% salinity of typical seawater—and its level drops by approximately 5 cm per year.[5]

Administratively, the lake and the adjacent land are within Issyk Kul Province of Kyrgyzstan.

Tourism

During the Soviet era, the lake became a popular vacation resort, with numerous sanatoria, boarding houses and vacation homes along its northern shore, many concentrated in and around the town of Cholpon-Ata. These fell on hard times after the break-up of the USSR, but now hotel complexes are being refurbished and simple private bed-and-breakfast pensions are being established for a new generation of health and leisure visitors.

The city of Karakol (formerly Przhevalsk, after the Russian explorer Przhevalsky who died there) is the administrative seat of Issyk Kul Oblast (Province) of Kyrgyzstan. It is located near the eastern tip of the lake and is a good base for excursions into the surrounding area. Its small old core contains an impressive wooden mosque, built without metal nails by the Dungan people, and a wooden Orthodox church that was used as a stable during Soviet times (see state atheism).

The Legend of its Creation

In pre-Islamic legend, the king of the Ossounes had donkey’s ears. He would hide them, and order each of his barbers killed to hide his secret. One barber yelled the secret into a well, but he didn’t cover the well after. The well water rose and flooded the kingdom. The kingdom is today under the waters of Issyk-Kul. This is how the lake was formed, according to the legend. Other legends say that four drowned cities lie at the bottom of the lake. Substantial archaeological finds indicating the presence of an advanced civilization in ancient times have been made in shallow waters of the lake.[8]

Song Kol

Song Köl (also Son Kul, Songköl, Song-Köl; Kyrgyz: Соңкөл, IPA: [sóɴkœl], literally «following lake») is an alpine lake in northern Naryn Province, Kyrgyzstan. It is the second largest lake in Kyrgyzstan (18x29km wide, 13 meters deep) after Issyk kul. Its name, meaning «following lake», is popularly considered to refer to this relation. It is surrounded by a broad summer pasture and then mountains. Its beauty is greatly praised,

but it is rather inaccessible. The best approach seems to be the 85 km road from Sary-Bulak on the main north-south highway.Other routes require 4x4s. There are no facilities on the lake, but local herders will provide supplies and rent yurts. The area is inhabited and safely accessible only from June to September.

Chatyr-Kul Lake

Chatyr-Kul Lake in the Ak Sai valley, near the border with China – lies at an altitude of 3500m, surrounded by high mountains.

This is one of the largest lakes in Kyrgyzstan and it is 16.5 m at it deepest point.

Some seventeen rivers feed the lake – but only one of them is permanent – the Kekaygyr.

“Chatyr Kul” means “Heavenly lake” in Kyrgyz.

It is known as a resting place for several breeds of wild birds, although there are no fish in the lake. There are, however, freshwater shrimp.

The temperature of the water is between 6 and 16°C between July and August – and in winter the air temperature can reach as low as -54 degrees.

Those travelling to Torugart may be tempted to make a detour and stop here, but the land surrounding the lake is swampy and can be treacherous – and you need a special border permit. Nearby there are some hot springs .  There is a nature reserve here and a mausoleum at the Western end of the lake.