Where is Lake Issyk Kul located? Lake Issykul in Kyrgyzstan. Must book in advance

Address: Kyrgyzstan, Issyk-Kul region
Square: 6236 km²
Greatest depth: 702 m
Coordinates: 42°27"07.1"N 77°16"38.7"E

Since ancient times, the best poets of the East have sung the beauty of the Kyrgyz lake. The largest natural reservoir of this republic is famous for its clean transparent water, gentle banks and picturesque foothills, and its name translates as “hot lake”. The moderate maritime climate, mild winters and the large amount of heat that accumulates here during the summer months do not allow the lake to freeze in the cold season.

Lake Issyk-Kul from a bird's eye view

Records and features

Issyk-Kul lies at an altitude of 1609 m and therefore belongs to the largest mountain lakes on the planet. However, this is not the only record of the Kyrgyz lake. Issyk-Kul is very large - the length of the reservoir is 182 km and the width is 58 km. In terms of size, it is one of the 25 largest lakes in the world.

The maximum depth of the natural reservoir reaches 702 m, and the average depth is 278 m. The lake is drainless - more than eight dozen small rivers flow into it. Due to this, the lake water has a slightly salty taste - its mineralization is 5.9 ‰. Another interesting feature of Issyk-Kul is the fluctuations in lake water levels. Every few decades, the water in the lake rises and falls. Therefore, the Kyrgyz have long believed that the lake breathes like a huge sleeping hero.

In terms of transparency, Issyk-Kul water is second only to Baikal water. Over 20 species of fish are found here, and more than half of them were brought to Kyrgyzstan and specially acclimatized for the mountain reservoir. Fishermen are well known for chebak and gegharkuni trout, brought from the Armenian Lake Sevan. It is noteworthy that today trout weighing up to 17 kg or more are caught in Issyk-Kul.

Climate and resorts

The mild mountain-sea climate makes the air in the lake basin very clear. Near the lake you can breathe well, and the number of hours of sunshine exceeds the Black Sea resorts. There are at least 300 sunny days in Issyk-Kul per year. The average temperature in the middle of winter ranges from -2...-6°С, and in the height of summer +17°С. The amount of precipitation is distributed unevenly. More rain falls in the eastern part of the lake basin, and the western shore is considered drier.

Excellent climatic conditions have turned Issyk-Kul into a sought-after health resort and one of the most visited lakes in the world. From year to year, many people come here from Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Russia and other countries to improve their health. Sanatoriums and recreation centers have been built in different places, but most of them are on the northern coast of the lake.

Treatment and recovery are facilitated by a wonderful climate, clean air, mineral waters and healing sulfide silt mud. Those tourists who want to relax cheaper do not buy tickets to boarding houses and sanatoriums, but stay in the private sector, inexpensive mini-hotels or guest houses.

Lake Issyk-Kul against the backdrop of snow-capped mountains

On the northern coast, between the villages of Tamchi to Kurumbu, there are excellent sandy beaches, where there are many vacationers from mid-June to the end of August. Many call the village of Bosteri and the resort town of Chonpon-Ata the most popular places for a beach holiday, while lovers of quiet places prefer to stay on the southern shore of the lake.

Leisure

The picturesque foothills of the Northern and Central Tien Shan attract fans of mountain tourism and mountaineering to Issyk-Kul. Climbing routes to the snow-capped ridges of Kungei-Alatau, Terskey-Alatau and Khan Tengri begin from the shores of the lake. In the summer months, lovers of water tourism raft along mountain rivers.

Alpine skiing is developed in the Issyk-Kul region. The modern ski center is located 7 km from the city of Karakol, at an altitude of 2300 m above sea level. This is the largest ski resort in Central Asia. The ski season here starts in November and lasts until April. Moreover, there is always enough snow for skiing, because the thickness of the snow cover on the slopes of the Tien Shan ranges from 1.5 to 2.5 m.

Yurts against the backdrop of Lake Issyk-Kul

Issyk-Kul looks interesting from above. Flights over the lake and the coast on hydrogliders are carried out from Cholpon-Ata, and they turn into one of the most exciting adventures. It is very easy to verify the transparency of the lake water - from a height of 250 m you can clearly see the bottom of the reservoir.

Underwater diving

Issyk-Kul is not a sea, so it is impossible to see colorful corals and schools of exotic fish in it. However, the clearest water and local features have turned diving into one of the popular recreational activities on the mountain lake. The fact is that at the bottom of Issyk-Kul there are preserved settlements and ancient settlements built 2.5 thousand years ago. Many of them are heavily covered with silt. But through the overgrown algae you can still see the silhouettes of ancient ruins, and if you’re lucky, you can even find valuable artifacts from the past underwater.

The purest water of Issyk-Kul

Diving centers are Cholpon-Ata and Bosteri. During the summer season, summer bases of diving clubs from Bishkek open in these places. From mid-June to the end of August, the temperature of the lake water allows for fairly deep dives, so Issyk-Kul provides training for beginners and underwater excursions for experienced divers.

Reserve

While traveling to the largest lake in Kyrgyzstan, tourists can enjoy untouched nature and see many species of Red Book animals and plants. The Issyk-Kul Biosphere Reserve was created in 1948, and in 1991 it was included by UNESCO in the World Network of Biosphere Reserves of the planet. It covers 19.66 thousand hectares, which is 22% of the entire territory of the republic. The protected zone includes the water area of the lake, as well as a two-kilometer coastal zone around Issyk-Kul.

There are 23 species of mammals in the reserve, the rarest of which are snow leopards, deer and mountain goats. Near Issyk-Kul there are tolai hares, steppe ferrets, wild boars, gazelle antelopes, jumping jerboas, gerbils, badgers and weasels. The reserve is home to approximately 140 species of birds. Every year, several tens of thousands of waterfowl remain on the lake for the winter - swans, coots, red-billed ducks, teals, mallards and greylag geese.

Natural and historical attractions

Not far from the southwestern shore of Issyk-Kul lies the unusual Dead Lake or Tuz-Kol. You can get to it by a dirt road. The lake stretches for 1 km and has a width of 0.5 km. Its picturesque shores are overgrown with sparse vegetation, and the salt level in the water reaches 70%. The silt mud of this reservoir is considered healing. It is dark in color, which is why the reservoir is often called Black Lake or Kara-Kol.

Bird's eye view of the beach

On the southern coast, near the right bank of the Tamga River, you can see a block of stone - Tamga Tash, which looks like a Kyrgyz yurt. The stone is surrounded three times by the words of a Buddhist mantra written in Tibetan. Scientists believe that the text of the prayer formula “Om mane padme hum” was carved on a block in the 15th-17th centuries. Within walking distance from Tamga Tash there are three more stones with ancient ornate inscriptions.

In the resort town of Cholpon-Ata, on an area of 42 hectares, there is an exposition of a popular open-air museum. It is called the Stone Garden or the Museum of Petroglyphs. Walking through the museum, tourists can see rock carvings from the 2nd millennium BC to the 4th century AD, cromlechs, border stone fences and tombstones. Travelers are advised to come here in the morning or evening hours, because in dim lighting you can better see the drawings and inscriptions on the stones.

Issyk-Kul is a drainless and transparent brackish lake in the Issyk-Kul intermountain basin in the north of Kyrgyzstan. It is located at an altitude of over 1600 m, surrounded by the Kungey-Ala-Too ridges in the north and Tersky in the south. Issyk-Kul is the largest lake in Kyrgyzstan. It is considered brackish because the salinity of the water is about 6%°.

Geography

The coastline of Lake Asia is predominantly smooth, slightly indented; the northern and western shores are low, the southern ones are mostly high and steep, there are deep bays only in the east (Tyupsky and Dzhergalansky) and in the southeast (Pokrovsky). A significant part of the shores of the lake is sandy, the bottom is composed mainly of clay and silt.
Characteristic of Lake Issyk-Kul is a long-term (over several decades) cyclical fluctuation of water level, the amplitude of which can reach 8-10 m, depending on the amount of precipitation.
Issyk-Kul is a closed lake, but, according to various estimates, from 50 to 80 rivers flow into it (the largest of them are Tyup and Dzhergalan), and the southern tributaries are longer than the northern ones. The large Chu River, flowing along the western edge of the Issyk-Kul Basin, now has no connection with the lake, but during floods, part of the Chuya water flows into the lake through the 6 km long Kutemaldy channel.
Due to the considerable depth of the lake, as well as due to its salinity, the water temperature in July on the surface is up to +23°C, but with depth it quickly drops and at a depth of 200 m drops to +3°C. In winter, the surface waters of the lake do not cool below +2.75 ° C, and therefore the lake does not freeze, with the exception of shallow bays, and then in very cold winters.
Interesting meteorological phenomena are recorded in Issyk-Kul. In particular, during the invasion of cold air passing through the passes and escaping from mountain passes and gorges towards the lake, a strong cross wind arises here. Local names for the wind are santash (east direction) and ulan (west direction). The seasons of the strongest wind are November (beginning of frost) and April-May (return of cold weather). Wind speeds of 20 m/s and up to 30-40 m/s can persist in the west and east of the lake for 24 hours, accompanied by a sharp increase in atmospheric pressure and causing a sudden storm with wind waves up to 3-4 m high.
When Santash and Ulan meet over the lake, a tornado appears, called kuyun in Kyrgyz. As a result, a storm begins on the lake. Issyk-Kul is also characterized by the so-called southern squall. It passes on the southern coast of the lake at speeds of up to 25 m/s or more and lasts from several minutes to several hours.
A southern squall is formed with the appearance of powerful cumulonimbus clouds when the air flow is drawn into the Chuya valley and a cold wind breaks through to the lake, bypassing the mountains from the south.
The nature of the surroundings of Issyk-Kul is quite scarce. The Issyk-Kul basin in the western part is desert and semi-desert, in the eastern part there is a zone of steppe vegetation. There are practically no forests, the flora is represented by shrubs (sea buckthorn). However, the local avifauna is rich: in the bays and in the west of Issyk-Kul, 60-70 thousand individuals of waterfowl of more than 100 species winter annually: pochards, mallards, coots, swans.
Navigation is carried out on Lake Issyk-Kul, the main ports are Balykchy (formerly Rybachye) and Karakol (formerly Przhevalsk). There are resort areas on the shores of the lake (resorts Cholpon-Ata and Tamga). Settlements are located mainly in the north and east of the lake.

Story

In Chinese documents of the 2nd century. BC e. the lake was referred to as Zhehai, or "Hot Sea". Probably, this name arose as a tracing from the Kyrgyz “Issyk-Kul”, which has the same meaning. Thus, the name indicates that the water in the lake does not freeze. There is also an assumption that the name of the lake is associated with the respectful, reverent attitude of the Kyrgyz towards it, and comes from “yzyk” (or “ezykh”) - “Sacred Lake”. It is known that until the 7th century. local people also called the lake Tuzkul ("Salt Lake").

In the old days, Lake Issyk-Kul played a significant role in the history of the peoples of Central Asia: through the valley where it is located, one of the most important routes for the migration of peoples, which took place 1200 years before the birth of Christ, went. Since those times, stone women - pagan totems - have been preserved on the shores of the lake. There is also more ancient evidence of life on the shores of Issyk-Kul: in 2006, at the bottom of the lake, an archaeological expedition of the Kyrgyz-Russian Slavic University discovered evidence of the existence of an unknown ancient civilization that formed 2.5 thousand years ago.
In the XIV century. Christians settled near Issyk-Kul and built a monastery on the northern shore of the lake. However, the main population of the surrounding lands were nomadic tribes of the Kyrgyz.
At the beginning of the 15th century. The Central Asian conqueror Tamerlane (1336-1405) passed here three times with his army, trying to subjugate the local residents. But his attempts were not crowned with success, since, upon seeing the troops, the nomads hid.
Part of Kyrgyzstan with Lake Issyk-Kul became part of the Russian Empire in 1855-1863, when some Kyrgyz tribes entered into an alliance with Russia to throw off the oppression of the Kokand Khanate.
Russian officer and scientist Alexander Golubev (1832-1866) became the first European to determine the geographical location of Issyk-Kul and study its surroundings.
A contribution to the study of the lake was made by the Russian geographer, botanist Pyotr Petrovich Semenov-Tyan-Shansky (1827-1914), who, on behalf of the Russian Geographical Society, went on an expedition to study the Tien Shan mountain system. In 1856, he visited the lake twice and subsequently described its basin, and also found a refutation of the popular belief that the Chu River flows from Issyk-Kul.
The Russian traveler and explorer Nikolai Przhevalsky (1839-1888) also paid attention to the lake and surrounding settlements. He explored the shores of the lake, passed through populated areas, keeping detailed notes along the way. In 1888, he died in Karakol and bequeathed to be buried on the shores of Lake Issyk-Kul. His grave is one of the most revered places in Issyk-Kul.

Nature

Nowadays, most settlements are located on the northern coast and in the eastern part of the Issyk-Kul basin. In order to protect the lake, the Issyk-Kul Nature Reserve was founded in 1948 with an area of more than 17 thousand hectares. The reserve consists of nine areas located on the northern and southern shores of the eastern part of Lake Issyk-Kul, and includes part of the lake’s water area. Most of the reserve is occupied by rocky desert, wormwood-fescue steppe and caragana thickets, underwater meadows of chara algae. Among the inhabitants of the reserve there are rare species: white-tailed eagle, mute swan, white heron, and snow leopard.

general information

Location: north of Kyrgyzstan, Issyk-Kul region.
Lake type: brackish.
Origin: tectonic.
Food: mainly snow and rain.
Flowing rivers: Tyup, Dzhergalan, Barskaun, Akterek.
Nearest settlements: Karakol - 63,400 people. (2009), Balykchy - 42,875 people. (2009), Cholpon-Ata - 10,500 people. (2009).

Numbers

Area: 6236 km2.

Catchment area: 15,844 km 2.

Volume: 1738 km 3 .

Length (west to east): 182 km.

Width (from south to north): 58 km.
Coastline length: 688 km.
Maximum depth: 702 m.
Average depth: 278 m.

Type of mineralization: salty.

Salinity: 5.9%°.

Transparency: over 12 m.

Height above sea level: 1609 m.

Climate and weather

Temperate maritime, mountainous.

Average January temperature:-2 - -7°C.

Average temperature in July:+16 - +17°С.

Average annual precipitation: 250 mm.

Frequent strong winds (ulan and santash), causing sudden storms.

Relative humidity: 70%.

Economy

Minerals: limestones, iron ore.
Agriculture: crop production (horticulture), livestock farming (small livestock).
Lake shipping.
Fishing.
Resorts.
Services sector: tourist, transport.

Attractions

■ Natural: Issyk-Kul Nature Reserve, Kungey-Ala-Too ridge, Tersky ridge, Jety-Oguz gorge, Boom gorge, Chon-Koi-Suu gorge, Cholpon-Ata gorge, Altyn-Arashan gorge, Barskaun gorge.
■ Historical: Tamga-Tash stone with Tibetan inscriptions (VI-I centuries BC), “Royal Mound” (village of Kurmenty, 7th century BC - 2nd century), Kok-Bulak and Karashar burial grounds, Cape Svyatoy Nos (location of the legendary monastery of the Armenian Christian Church, IV-V centuries), flooded cities of Sary-Bulun, Koisary, Ulan (XII century).
■ Karakol city: Orthodox Holy Trinity Cathedral (1895), Dungan mosque (1910), memorial museum (1957), grave and monument to N. M. Przhevalsky, Historical and Local Lore Museum of the city of Karakol.
■ Cholpon-Ata city: Museum of petroglyphs (rock inscriptions), burial mounds, Issyk-Kul State Historical and Cultural Museum-Reserve, cultural center "Rukh Ordo" named after Chingiz Aitmatov.

Curious facts

■ The bottom of Lake Issyk-Kul also consists of black ferruginous silt, which in some places washes up on the shore. In the old days, the Kirghiz knew how to smelt metal from this silt.
■ Old coastal cliffs located at a considerable distance from the water edge of Lake Issyk-Kul indicate that its level has dropped significantly. Presumably, this happened after the waters of Issyk-Kul broke through the Zailiysky Alatau ridge, after which the Boom Gorge was formed.
■ Lake Issyk-Kul is associated with many legends about sunken cities and treasures, many of them based on historical facts. Underwater archaeological excavations have shown that on the shore of the lake there were indeed cities that were flooded in the Middle Ages, including the city of Chita, the capital of the country of the Turkic-speaking Usun people.

■ Wintering waterfowl on Lake Issyk-Kul is one of the largest in the world.
■ The words “kul”, “kol” or “gel” (lake) as part of a geographical name are widespread in areas inhabited by Turkic-speaking peoples: for example, Lake Alakol (Kazakhstan), Lake Goyigol (Azerbaijan).
■ Lake Issyk-Kul is home to a large number of marinka fish, or karabalyk (“black fish”), a family of carp. The meat of these fish is considered fatty and tasty, but it can be eaten only after removing the eggs, milk and peritoneal films, as they contain poison.
■ The city of Balykchy in ancient times was one of the transit points on the Great Silk Road.

■ Lake Issyk-Kul is the main source of tourism income in Kyrgyzstan. The majority of tourists vacationing on Lake Issyk-Kul are residents of Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan and Russia.
■ The city of Karakol changed its name several times. Until 1889 it was called Karakol. Then it was renamed by decree of the tsar to the city of Przhevalsk, in honor of the Russian traveler N. M. Przhevalsky. In 1922 the name Karakol was returned to the city. In 1939, in connection with the 100th anniversary of the birth of N. M. Przhevalsky, the city was again renamed Przhevalsk. Finally, in 1992, after the declaration of independence of Kyrgyzstan, the name Karakol was again returned to the city.
■ The monument to N. M. Przhevalsky is a 9-meter-high rock made of gray granodiorite, topped with a bronze figure of an eagle. At the bird’s feet hangs a map of Central Asia with Przhevalsky’s travel routes.
■ Struck by the grandeur and beauty of Issyk-Kul, the caravans of the Great Silk Road called it “Piala of the Heavenly Mountains.”
■ Issyk-Kul is the second largest mountain lake in the world after the lake in the Andes (South America).
■ The Museum of Petroglyphs of the city of Cholpon-Ata is a tract of thousands of stones on 42 hectares. The stones are covered with drawings from the beginning of the 2nd millennium BC. e. - 7th century, depicting animals, hunting scenes, holidays and wars.

The Asian Lake Issyk-Kul is a mountain reservoir with a specific climate system and unique nature, which is the main asset and pride of the Kyrgyz people. It has the status of a natural area of national importance and is under the patronage of UNESCO.

Lake Issyk-Kul is located in the northeastern part of the Kyrgyz Republic, Issyk-Kul region, 229 km from the capital Bishkek. The basin of the lake is surrounded by the ridges of the Tien Shan mountain system: in the north - Kungoy-Ala-Too, in the south - Teskey-Ala-Too.

The marvelous beauty of the lake with its golden beaches, unique landscape and comfortable climatic conditions attract thousands of tourists every year. Sanatorium-resort treatment using hardware techniques and natural resources (mineral waters, mud therapy) is widely developed.

The road to Issyk-Kul lies through Bishkek. From the capital, tourists travel along the highway through the Boom Gorge by minibuses, taxis, regular buses or by train for 4-5 hours. There is also an airport in the village of Tamcha near the town of Cholpom-Ata, from where you can drive to the lake in 30 minutes.

The origin of Lake Issyk-Kul and its name

The lake has an ancient tectonic origin. Its age is more than 110 thousand years. This information was obtained during scientific studies of the isotopic composition of uranium back in 1966. Over the course of its existence, the reservoir had several names.

The first information about the lake is mentioned in Chinese sources, where it is called Zhe-Hai, which means “lake with warm water.”

Lake Issyk Kul - satellite image.

The Mongols, being on the territory of Issyk-Kul, named it Timur-tu-Nur, that is, a place rich in iron. In literary works the name Jit-Kul is found, which the Kyrgyz attribute to the time when the lake basin was a garden with flowering vegetation exuding a fragrant aroma.

The modern name of Lake Issyk-Kul is translated from the Kyrgyz language as “hot lake”. The geographical location, natural conditions and salinity of the water allow the lake to avoid icing. This was the reason for the name, although in fact the water in the source is cold.

Study and development of Lake Issyk-Kul

Approximate descriptions of the outlines of the lake and its waters are given by Chinese, Mongolian and Persian scientists. More accurate cartographic studies were carried out by M. Kashgarsky, the cartographer who compiled the Catalan map (name unknown), captain Unkovsky, I. Islenev. P.P. In 1856, Semenov established the absolute level of the lake and proved that Issyk-Kul has no drainage.

Historical expeditions at the beginning of the 20th century, organized under the leadership of G.P. Romanovsky, A.I. Mikhelson and others, discovered the ruins of ancient settlements hidden under the waters of Issyk-Kul. Human development of the lake dates back to the Lower Paleolithic era (200-300 thousand years ago).

On the islands of the basin, ancient people created settlements with houses and gardens that were flooded. This is confirmed by archaeological finds raised from the bottom of the lake. Lake Issyk-Kul is currently located in the center of a resort and recreational area with developed infrastructure and facilities.

History of Lake Issyk-Kul

The basin of Lake Issyk-Kul is a consequence of complex movements of the earth's crust, which led to a change in its structure. Deflections, folds, and breaks formed a cup-shaped depression with raised edges, which was subsequently filled with water.

Recent tectonic movements have caused the formation of lake terraces at the bottom of the basin and along the banks, the height of which is on average 35 m. Elevated areas along the edges of the basin have formed into the Tien Shan mountain ranges.

Physiographic characteristics of Lake Issyk-Kul

Issyk-Kul ranks 26th in the list of the largest reservoirs on Earth and 7th among the world's deepest lakes.

Geographical features

The Issyk-Kul basin stretches 240 km in length and 90 km in width. The topography of the lake bottom has a stepped structure, consisting of a deep-water plain (500-688 m) occupying the central part, and two terraces formed by deltas of inflowing rivers. The upper terrace is located near the coastline at a depth of 0 to 50 m.

Its boundary is the base of an annular ledge located at a depth of 200 m. The lower terrace lies at a depth of 200-350 m, and its ring protrusion is at 500 m. The coastline extends for 688 km. The southern coast is rocky, 250 km long. Northern - has sand and pebble beaches, length - 200 km. There are 20 bays along the coast.

Notable among them are:

in the east- Tyupsky, Zhyrgalansky (Przhevalsky Bay);
in the southeast- Pokrovsky;
in the West- Fisherman.

Lake Issyk-Kul has a maximum depth of 702 m, and the average depth fluctuates within 278 m. Dimensions: in the west-east direction - 182 km, in the south-north direction - 58 km. The reservoir is located at an altitude of 1609 m above sea level. The area of the lake, according to the latest data from the National Encyclopedia (2005), is 6236 square meters. km, and the volume of water is 1738 cubic meters. km.

Climate

The Issyk-Kul region is dominated by a temperate continental climate. On the coast of the lake, due to the proximity of mountain ranges, mixed features of marine and mountain climate are observed. Temperatures in winter average from -2°C to -7°C; at the height of summer (July) the air warms up to +17-20°C. At the same time, the number of hours of annual sunshine reaches 2700.

The average annual precipitation varies around 250 mm. The eastern part of the basin is characterized by an abundance of precipitation (450 mm), and in its western part this figure does not exceed 110 mm.

Water temperature in Lake Issyk-Kul (layered):

Surface layer. In winter – -4.1-4.8°C; in summer – +19.5-20.2°C.
Depth more than 100 m - -5.5°С.
Bottom layer(from 600 m) - -3.8°С.

Frequent winds with a speed of 30-40 m/s are recorded in the Issyk-Kul area. This leads to storms with wave heights of up to four meters and waterspouts in the central part of the lake.

Two types of wind predominate: cold western Ulan (127 days a year) and eastern Santash (71 days a year). When they meet, local squalls and whirlwinds form on the lake. High frequency of winds is observed in August and September, less often in February and March.

Flora and fauna

The vegetation along the shores of Lake Issyk-Kul is represented by thickets of sea buckthorn. Ephedra shrubs and caragana multifolia grow on the plains and mountain slopes. The foothill belt of the Issyk-Kul steppes is covered with solyanka, wormwood, and feather grass. In meadows with ground moisture, bluegrass, reed, Djungarian sedge, barley, and coastal saline grow.

Spruce forests, Turkestan juniper, and maned caragana are common in the mountain belt.

The high-mountain belt includes plant formations characteristic of alpine and subalpine meadows. The bottom of the lake is covered with charophyte algae and waterweed (pondweed).

The lake coast is inhabited by small rodents (voles, jerboas, hamsters), and hares - tolai. Pochards and coots spend the winter in the bays, and pheasants live in the sea buckthorn thickets. The diversity of the aquatic world is represented by 21 species of fish. Chebak, loach, carp, marinka, and naked osman are found in greater numbers.

Flowing rivers

Lake Issyk-Kul is located in the center of 80 natural water sources, from which it is constantly replenished.

Of these, the largest are:

Main directions	Rivers
In the north:	Toru-Aigyr
	Chyrpykty
	Kabyrga
	Chong-Tamchy
	Chok-Tal
	Chong-Uy-Tash
	Chet-Koi-Suu
	Orto-Koi-Suu
	Chong-Koi-Suu
	Cholpon-Ata
	Chong-Ak-Suu
	Kichi-Ak-Suu
	Chet-Baysoor
	Ortho-Baisoor
	Chong-Baisoor
	Chong-Oryuktu
	Orto-Oryuktu
	Kichi-Oryuktu
In the east (largest tributaries):	Tyup
	Jergalan
	Karakol
	Irlyk
On South:	Chong-Kyzyl-Suu
	Kichi-Kyzyl-Suu
	Juku
	Chichkan
	Kichi-Dzhargylchak
	Chon-Dzhargylchak
	Barskoon
	Tamga
	Tossor
	Tong
	Akterek
	Turasu
In the west (during spring floods):	Chu

Ecological state

The Agency for Hydrometeorology of Kyrgyzstan, based on the research results, indicates a favorable environmental situation in the lake area. In order to protect the environment, the construction of industrial enterprises near the reservoir and vehicle access to the lake closer than 50 m are prohibited. Treatment facilities for atmospheric air, wastewater, and waste have been erected.

During the tourist season, the issue of pollution of beaches and lakes with household waste (bottles, bags, cigarette butts) arises. To solve this problem, local residents create volunteer groups that collect garbage and clean the coast.

How is Lake Issyk-Kul used?

Thanks to unique natural factors that have a healing effect, Issyk-Kul has great tourism and sanatorium-resort potential. More than 1 million tourists visit it annually (4.7 million in 2017). The coastal zone is built up with comfortable hotels and boarding houses for recreation. Resort complexes are provided with diagnostic and treatment facilities.

Fishing in Issyk-Kul is amateur in nature (with a fishing rod). Today, commercial fishing is prohibited. The invasion of new species of waterfowl, industrial fishing and poaching have led to a disruption of the biological balance and a critical drop in the fish population.

The state, together with the Global Economic Fund, is taking measures to restore the ichthyofauna and save the lake.

Water resources are used to irrigate arable land and orchards. To minimize water costs, a drip irrigation system has been installed. Cargo and passenger shipping is carried out on the lake. The fleet of the state enterprise includes a motor ship, boats and a barge.

They are used to transport cargo and fuel (coal). Ports are located in Balykchy and Karakol. There is also a Russian Navy base in Issyk-Kul, where tests of underwater equipment and diving equipment are carried out.

Recreational resources of Lake Issyk-Kul

The recreational resources of the Issyk-Kul reservoir are used to replenish a person’s physical and spiritual strength through tourism, recreation and the treatment of chronic diseases. The lake's recreational facilities include: rest houses, boarding houses, and sanatoriums.

Natural resources of Issyk-Kul:

Recreation centers

Chalet Famylu club Royal-appricot located in the village of Tamga, Kontur street 116. It consists of a complex of hotel houses equipped with upholstered furniture and appliances. Has its own beach. The Rainbow Holiday House is located 2.5 km from the center in Chon-Sary-Oy, Sary-Oy. Provides cottages with single beds and double rooms with all conditions. Free internet and parking are available.

Aurora plus recreation center in the village of Bulan Sagatu. It has two, four, six-bed rooms and presidential suites (for 8 people). Guests are provided with spa treatment services and a sandy beach.

The Caprice center is located in the village of Baktuu-Dolonatu. The complex organizes family and corporate holidays in comfortable hotels and cottages. It has its own sports facilities and 24-hour security.

The mysterious Issyk-Kul keeps many secrets and gives rise to legends that are passed on by the Kyrgyz people from generation to generation.

Legends about the lake:

the legend of the Mongol military leader Tamerlane;
the legend about the Armenian monastery and the relics of St. Matthew;
the legend of the death of forty girls;
Ulan and Santasch;
the legend of countless treasures at the bottom of the lake;
legend about the burial of the founder of the Mongol Empire, Genghis Khan.

In addition to legends and tales, there are reliably confirmed entertaining facts about Issyk-Kul. This is information that the location and shape of the lake from space looks like an eye, that at the bottom of the reservoir there are remains of ancient settlements.

And the grave of the traveler Przhevalsky, located on the shore of a lake near Karakol, is his last wish and a reflection of his admiration and love for Issyk-Kul.

Article format: Lozinsky Oleg

Video about Lake Issyk Kul

The pearl of Central Asia is Lake Issyk-Kul in Kyrgyzstan:

Lake Issyk-Kul today is one of the most attractive natural attractions in Central Asia. It has been attracting travelers and researchers for decades. Many people have heard about it, but if you ask Russians where Lake Issyk-Kul is located, only half of those surveyed can answer this question correctly.

Location of Lake Issyk-Kul

Which is quite surprising, but some Russians believe that this lake is located on Russian territory. But in fact, this opinion is erroneous, because this lake is located in Kyrgyzstan. And if among the Russians themselves there are people who believe that this lake is located on Russian territory, then what can be said about foreigners who cannot even correctly answer the question whether this is Kyrgyzstan or not, since some of them still use the old maps on which this state was part of the Soviet Union.

In fact, this lake is located in the northeast of Kyrgyzstan, just between two large ridges of the northern Tien Shan: Kungey Alatau and Terskey Alatau. Not every traveler knows what these names mean in translation, but meanwhile they have a symbolic meaning, because Kungei-Alatau is translated as “facing the sun,” and Terskey-Alatau is “facing away from the sun.” This lake is located quite high above sea level, at an altitude of 1609 meters and is one of the deepest and largest mountain lakes.

If you look at where Kyrgyzstan is located on the world map, you will notice that most of this state is covered with mountains. To be more precise, 3/4 of Kyrgyzstan is mountains; Moreover, two mountain systems stretch across this country: the northeast of the country is the Tien Shan mountain system, and the southwest is the Pamir-Altai. Among the natural attractions there is also the giant Inylchek glacier, as well as hydrogen sulfide thermal springs. Issyk-Kul is the largest lake in this country, but in fact there are a lot of lakes here, more than 3 thousand.

What is remarkable about this lake?

Many Russians know that the cleanest lake on the planet is Baikal; The water in it is not only very clean, but also transparent. But how many people know that the second lake in purity and transparency is Issyk-Kul? It is often also called the mountain pearl because depending on what time of day it is viewed, its color can vary from dark blue to emerald. Here everything depends on how the lake is illuminated, and such a variety of colors attracts many tourists and vacationers to this lake. But do they all know why this lake plays with almost all the colors of the rainbow?

The water reserves in the lake are constantly replenished due to the fact that many rivers flow into it, which are replenished by melting snow in the mountains and glaciers. For example, the following mountain rivers flow here:

Jergalan,
Ak-Terek,
Oguz.

About 80 rivers alone flow into this lake, but not a single water source flows out, so all the minerals that enter it with river water become more and more concentrated. This is what most influences the fact that the water in this lake is salty.

Many tourists prefer to holiday in Kyrgyzstan on Lake Issyk-Kul precisely due to the fact that the water here is not just salty, but beneficial for the body. The water in this water source is mineral, as it contains quite a lot of chloride, sulfate, sodium and magnesium.

Thanks to such a diverse chemical composition, water turns into incredible colors. You should also pay attention to the fact that the water of this lake contains a fairly high percentage of oxygen, which also has a beneficial effect on those vacationers who prefer daily water treatments instead of relaxing on the shore.

When is the best time to relax on the lake?

Today, many tourists love vacationing on Lake Issyk-Kul, since you can swim here from the very first summer month until the middle. The advantage of such a holiday is that there is no suffocating summer heat here, since the lake is surrounded on all sides by mountains. The maritime climate here is much more favorable than on the Black Sea. In addition, the sun shines in this place no less than 300 days a year; the rate of sunny days is significantly lower.

You can come here to relax almost all year round, since even in winter the lake does not freeze. Of course, you won’t be able to swim in it in winter, but the climate here is healthy. Winters in this region are warm, with the coldest months being both January and February. Even in these cold months, the air temperature can only vary from +5 to -5 degrees. If the weather is stable and the wind does not change its direction, then there may be no thaws either in January or February.

As for the summer period, the weather here can be called moderately warm. The sun shines throughout the summer months and cloudy weather is quite rare. And although the sun shines almost every day in summer, it rains more here during the summer months. The warmest month is July, and the air temperature can last 2-3 weeks +17. But there are exceptions when the air temperature can rise to +32 degrees. And although the average air temperature is only +17 degrees, the water temperature remains +22 degrees for a long time, so you can swim in the lake all summer.

Autumn lasts only two months - this is October and. During these months, it can be warm during the day and the sun is shining, but at night you can feel the approach of winter: the air temperature drops and can only reach +5 degrees. Moreover, as the sun sets, it gets sharply colder, so for those tourists who stay for these months, I can advise you to take warm clothes with you. But it is worth noting that while it often rains here in the summer months, autumn is characterized by warm and dry weather.

It should be noted that for a very long time the lake basin was one of the hard-to-reach areas of Kyrgyzstan, because it is surrounded on all sides by quite powerful mountain ranges. But when it was discovered that the lake’s water was healing, a road was built here through the Boom Gorge. In addition, there are two airports on the territory of the basin. So you can get here both by land and by air, which is very attractive to many tourists.

History of the lake

You should also pay attention to the fact that this lake is very deep, so even in winter it does not have time to cool down. The name Issyk-Kul itself translates as “Hot Lake,” which also attracts many vacationers here. But in ancient times it had a different name - Tuz-Kul, which translated as “Salt Lake”. Neither people nor animals can drink the water from it. The first to explore this lake was one of the most famous Russian travelers and scientists P.P. Semyonov-Tyan-Shansky. After him, the second traveler from Russia, N.M. Przhevalsky, also visited here. Having been here, he uttered the famous phrase that this place is like Switzerland, but only the best.

On the coast of this lake there are many resorts that operate both in summer and winter. Not only Kyrgyz people come here, but also Russians, Ukrainians, and residents of other countries.

Today, many tourists are attracted here by the fact that in 2006, archaeologists discovered a very ancient city at the bottom of the lake. Or rather, not the city itself, but its ruins. As it turned out later, there was once a civilization here that flourished 2500 years ago. Due to the fact that the city is located at the bottom of the lake, it is difficult to explore, but archaeologists from the Kyrgyz-Russian University have suggested that the grave of Genghis Khan may be located here.

Back in the Middle Ages, there was a legend that on the shore of this lake stood the city of Chigu, through which the Silk Road passed. This city was ruled by very powerful khans who collected tribute from merchants. But then this city disappeared and was known only from legends. Many scientists considered such information about the city a myth, but some travelers reported that they saw ruins at the bottom of Issyk-Kul. And only at the end of the 80s of the last century the first expedition was sent, which began exploring the underwater kingdom of this lake.

As you can read from her reports, some ruins were indeed found at the bottom of the lake. And already in 2006, full-fledged studies were carried out, which confirmed that an ancient civilization rests at the bottom of the lake. Even today, any tourist on a sunny day through the clear waters of the lake can see the ruins of stone buildings at the bottom. Perhaps another legend will soon be confirmed that at the bottom of the lake there are 200 treasures, including the treasures of Chinkhiz Khan.

ABSOLUTE CLEANITY OF KYRGYZSTAN

The giant basin of Lake Issyk-Kul, the surface of which exceeds 6,200 square meters. km, and a depth of 700 m, formed at an altitude of 1607 m above sea level, among the mountain ranges of the Northern and Central Tien Shan, more than 50 million years ago.

This is the northeast of modern Kyrgyzstan. In terms of size, Issyk-Kul ranks second in the world among all high-mountain lakes on the planet, second only to South American Titicaca. In addition, Issyk-Kul is one of the deepest lakes on the globe. Only Baikal, the Caspian, Tanganyika and Nyasa are deeper.

The purity of the water in the lake is amazing. For comparison: in Lake Ilmen or Lake Khanka, the so-called Secchi disk (a device for measuring water transparency) disappears from view at a depth of 5-7 m. In Issyk-Kul, the white disk is visible even at a depth of 20 m.

Local residents call Issyk-Kul the Kyrgyz Sea, especially since the water in it has a salty taste and does not freeze all year round. In general, Issyk-Kul or Issyk-Kul is translated from Kyrgyz as “hot lake”, and Issyk-Kul was first mentioned in Chinese chronicles of the late 2nd century BC. as Zhe-Hai (“warm sea”).

The lake is fed by more than 80 rivers, including Jyrgalan, Tyup, Karakol, Juuka, Ton, Jety-Oguz, Chon-Ak-Suu, Ak-Terek, Barskon, but not a single one flows out of it. This is what explains the concentration of salts in its perfectly clear water - almost like in the Aral Sea. However, animals drink this water. Even tourists sometimes use it to prepare fish soup, but drinking water from Issyk-Kul in large quantities is still not recommended.

A ring of mountains protects the lake and its coast from the cold air from the north and the hot breath of the deserts of Central Asia, creating a mild mountain-sea climate, ideal for sanatorium and resort recovery. The average air temperature is 22-28C, water temperature in summer is +24C, in winter +4C. The main part of the resorts is concentrated on the northern coast, with many mineral and therapeutic mud springs.

Colors and contrasts of the Issyk-Kul basin

In the west, the Issyk-Kul basin resembles a rocky desert, and most of the eastern coast resembles tall grass feather grass steppes. At an altitude of 2 km, these steppes give way to luxurious forests of blue Tien Shan spruce, and above 3 km there are carpets of subalpine meadows, dazzling with a variety of colors of all kinds: geraniums, primroses, forget-me-nots, cobresias... And even higher up begin alpine meadows with edelweiss, saxifrage, poppies , tulips, violets, alpine daisies...

The contrasting landscapes of the Issyk-Kul depression are explained by the special location of this place. Western winds lose all their moisture on the slopes of the high Tien Shan ranges, and enter the basin already dried out. However, moving over the expanses of Issyk-Kul, they are again saturated with moisture and lusciously refresh the eastern part of the basin with rain.

From the “communal apartments” of marmots to the “apartments” of the Indian pika

On the coast of Issyk-Kul, typical forest and steppe animals coexist very curiously.

In the desert western part you can find jerboas, gerbils, even gazelle antelopes, and in the east - ground squirrels and hamsters. The small Central Asian tolai hare is also found here, which is actively hunted by foxes, ferrets, steppe cats and porcupines. In the mountain forests you can find roe deer, and predators include brown and Himalayan bears, wolves and lynx. Higher in the mountains there are ibex and argali sheep, as well as their main enemy, the snow leopard. Stoats and weasels hide in rock slides and feed on small rodents and low-flying birds, which they can jump on and bite their heads or necks.

A typical inhabitant of the highlands is the gray marmot. These large animals (weighing up to 8 kg) live in colonies in burrows that reach 15 m and are interconnected and provide the marmots with an escape route in case of an attack by a fox or bear.

Those who had the opportunity to see these burrows from the inside claim that the marmots’ homes are very reminiscent of “communal apartments.” At the same time, they have bedrooms, storerooms, haylofts and even... toilet rooms. The groundhog sleeps for eight months a year, feeding during this time on accumulated fat reserves, and in the summer it prepares supplies for the winter.

Another inhabitant of the highlands is the Indian pika. This animal does not recognize “communal apartments”. Prefers to live with his family in a separate dwelling. Unlike the marmot, the pika is active all year round. In the summer, she dries hay in front of the hole for the winter, collecting it in a neat stack during rain.

In the 1940s, the fauna of the Issyk-Kul region was also replenished with squirrels, weasels and muskrats brought here.

There are also a lot of birds in Issyk-Kul, including quite exotic ones. For example, pheasants live in thickets of sea buckthorn and coastal reeds, and huge vultures with a three-meter wingspan live high in the mountains. Also found in these places are golden eagles and partridge partridges, alpine jackdaws, Himalayan finch and red-bellied redstart. However, the most characteristic inhabitant of the highlands is the Himalayan mountain turkey snowcock. It is her pre-dawn song that resounds every morning with the incomprehensible rocks of the Tien Shan mountains...

Road to Issyk-Kul

The only road to Issyk-Kul passes from the north, along the narrow rocky Boom gorge, carved into the mountains by the stormy Chu River. The formidable Booma Gorge is especially beautiful in the bright light of the sun, when the colors of the rocks are clearly visible: purple and green porphyry, black diorite and reddish granite.

Descending from the Tien Shan, the Chu does not reach Issyk-Kul at all: 3 km before the lake, the river unexpectedly turns south and goes through the Boom Gorge down to the Chu Valley - the main breadbasket and cotton Mecca of Kyrgyzstan. However, in particularly high-water years, in the spring, the Chu still discharges part of the water into Issyk-Kul through one of the side channels.

When you approach Issyk-Kul from the Boom Gorge, you are struck by the sharp transition from the cramped gorge to the endless expanse of a giant lake, which seems like a living miracle among the dead, rocky desert.

The view of the western coastal plain resembles the fantastic surface of Mars, created by frost, heat and wind. The local red sandstone is extremely malleable, and over millions of years the wind has created an amazing museum of living natural architecture here. In the contours of the rocks one can discern Gothic cathedrals, Empire mansions, Buddhist pagodas, medieval castles and temples...

At the very shore, the sandstone layer breaks off. The lake wave runs onto a wide, clean and completely deserted beach. And, regardless of the influx of tourists, there are 100 square meters per person. m of beach.

Fishing in Issyk-Kul

The road through the Boam Gorge leads the traveler to the city of Issyk-Kul, which was formerly called Rybachy, the main port of a large navigable lake.

Since ancient times, chebak, carp, osman and marinka have been caught in Issyk-Kul. And in 1930, Sevan trout was introduced into the lake, which took root well and now grows larger than in its natural homeland. Later, Aral bream and Seliger pike perch were also acclimatized in Issyk-Kul.

Kungey-Alatau is the most developed part of the Issyk-Kul region, famous for the noisy waterfalls on the Kyzyl-Boyrok River, the fabulously beautiful lake in the Chon-Aksu gorge, and the impressive glacial circus. However, the opposite shore of the lake is no less interesting. The Terskey-Alatau ridge on the southern side of Issyk-Kul intrigues with the fantastically beautiful Jety-Oguz gorge, or the Rocks of the Seven Bulls with seven red rocks, which can surprise even those who have visited the famous Colorado Plateau.

In the center of Terskey-Alatau there is the picturesque Barskaun gorge. And at a three-kilometer altitude behind the ridge hide cold deserts - syrts, dotted with strange-looking cushion plants. However, getting to them is not easy. Routes through four-kilometer passes require good mountaineering training.