Lake Issyk-Kul is well known not only to residents of Kyrgyzstan and neighboring countries - Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. This unique “lake-sea,” as the Kyrgyz call it, attracts tourists from many regions of Asia and Europe. Holidays here are good at any time of the year.
And this is not surprising - the characteristics of the lake are in many ways unique and have no analogues:
The beauty of the lake is such that the famous traveler N.M. Przhevalsky bequeathed to bury himself off the coast of Issyk-Kul, which was done. His grave is located not far from the coast, near the city of Karakol.
Legendary pond
In one of the works of Ilf and Petrov there is an episode where two unlucky journalists compose a legend about how Lake Issyk-Kul came into being. They even come up with their own translation of the name of the reservoir - “The heart of a beauty is prone to betrayal.” But in fact, translated from Kyrgyz “Issyk-Kul” means “hot lake”.
And Lake Issyk-Kul also has its own legend.
Once upon a time, a cruel and powerful khan lived in these parts. He became famous not only for his ferocity, but also for his voluptuousness. In his old age, a rumor reached him that in the family of a poor nomad there was a girl of incredible beauty, and the khan decided to take possession of her.
A girl lived at the foot of the mountains, near a stream, and every day horsemen came to her house, trying to achieve her favor, but she remained adamant. She was waiting for a mysterious rider on a white horse, whom she fell in love with when she met one day in the mountains, and promised to wait until he came and took her as his wife. And so that nothing would happen to her, the horseman left the girl his magic ring - as long as she wore it, all troubles would pass by.
But then the envoys of the old khan appeared. The girl rejected the tyrant's proposal and went to the mountains to find her lover. And suddenly she discovered that the magic ring was missing. And then the khan’s servants grabbed her and took her by force to his palace.
The domineering old man showered her with gold and silks, tried to dazzle her with unprecedented luxury and expensive gifts, but nothing helped to achieve what she wanted. Then the khan threatened to use force, and, having no other choice, the beauty threw herself out of the window into the abyss.
Issyk-Kul 2014, Parasailing parachute flight!
The moment her body touched the ground, the mountains trembled, the walls of the huge khan’s palace shook and collapsed, water gushed from the gorges, and after some time everything was flooded so that not a trace remained of the khan or his possessions. This is how Lake Issyk-Kul appeared.
Traces of ancient conquerors
Another legend is associated with the great conqueror Tamerlane. At least three times he appeared off the coast of Issyk-Kul, trying to conquer the local peoples, but each time the nomads retreated, and Tamerlane left with nothing.
During one of his campaigns, Tamerlane ordered each warrior to take a stone and throw it into a pile, and a large hill was formed. Returning from a campaign, the military leader ordered his soldiers to take a stone from the hill to compare how many soldiers died. And the second pile turned out to be much smaller than the first, which saddened Tamerlane.
In memory of these events, not far from the lake there was a pass called Santash (translated as “counted stones”).
Hello from space
There is also a more modern legend: when the Soviet cosmonaut Alexei Leonov found himself in outer space and looked at the Earth from orbit, he saw Issyk-Kul - the lake was shaped like a huge eye, and this made a stunning impression on Alexei - as if the planet was looking at you. Talking about this incident, the astronaut gave the lake the poetic nickname “Earth’s eye.” By looking at satellite images on any online map, you can really see the resemblance to an eye.
Historical and geographical information
Archaeologists claim that the formation of Issyk-Kul is about 10 million years ago. The origin of the lake is tectonic. If you look on the map of Kyrgyzstan, you can see that it is located at the following coordinates:
- 42° 26′ 00″ north latitude;
- 77° 11′ 00″ east longitude.
This is the northern region of the Tien Shan, between two ridges: Teskey Ala-Too and, accordingly, Kungey Ala-Too. In a large tectonic depression between them there is a lake-sea.
The length of Issyk-Kul is 178 kilometers in length and 60 kilometers in width. Thus, the area of the lake’s water surface is 6236 km².
In the vicinity of Issyk-Kul there are a number of small towns and villages, most of which are equipped with services that provide a comfortable stay for tourists:
The lake-sea is located approximately 200 kilometers from the capital of Kyrgyzstan - the city of Bishkek (in the USSR it was called Frunze, it became the capital in 1936).
The nearest airports from which you can get to Issyk-Kul:
- Almaty (Kazakhstan, Alma-Ata) - about 100 km;
- Manas (Kyrgyzstan, Bishkek) - about 200 km.
Physical, chemical, and climatic characteristics of the reservoir
The water has a salinity level of 5.9% - this is one of the key factors due to which Lake Issyk-Kul does not freeze in winter. The second important factor is depth: about 300 meters on average, and up to 600 - maximum. Due to the location of the reservoir high in the mountains (1609 meters above sea level), the sun warms the water layers very deeply.
The degree of mineralization of water in the lake is quite high - 5.8 g/liter on average. There is also a health resort with natural hot springs.
The local climate is temperate continental. Similar to the sea, but warmer and more humid. The thermal regime of the lake is considered subtropical. In summer it is moderately warm, but not hot, and in winter it is not cold. The average July temperature fluctuates around +17°C, and January frosts range from -2 to -10°C.
The temperature typical for the surface layers of water in the summer is about +24°C, which makes the holiday very comfortable. In winter, the water temperature can drop to +4°C (at a depth of more than 100 meters - to +3°C).
Precipitation falls mainly in the eastern part of Issyk-Kul, and minimally in the eastern part.
Flora and fauna
Tourists who are planning a vacation in Issyk-Kul should know that the flora in these places does not indulge in diversity and splendor: the surrounding area looks like a desert. Occasionally there are thorny bushes, sea buckthorn trees, barberry bushes, rose hips and juniper. As you approach the northwestern part of the mountains, you begin to come across coniferous trees (in addition, there are many of them in the eastern part of the lake); on the slopes you can find currants and rowan berries. Poplars are planted in large numbers along the roads around the lake.
Those who cannot imagine a vacation without fishing will be interested to know that more than 20 species of fish live here. Of these, 14 species are local, and the rest were introduced from outside. The most common are:
- Issyk-Kul chebak;
- trout;
- Ottoman
We have our own shipping. The location of most of the piers is Przhevalsk and Rybachye.
Cultural recreation in the conditions of Issyk-Kul
The surrounding area of the lake is a resort area favorable for tourists. Holidays here are quite varied:
- sanatoriums;
- boarding houses;
- medical and health institutions;
- areas for tourists;
- guest houses;
- resorts;
- pioneer camps;
- sports facilities.
Everyone will be able to choose a vacation to their liking, and at any time of the year - the comfortable average annual temperature of the lake allows this. On the tourist map you can find many picturesque places, and getting to them is not difficult.
You can come here with your own or a rented car, following the map. If there is no such desire, you can get there using one of the popular tourist routes:
- on a passenger car;
- by bus.
The following are the road routes to Issyk-Kul and back:
Bus routes (both from Kazakhstan and Russia):
All Russian buses go through Bishkek. The cost of a ticket per passenger is from 2000 to 3000 rubles.
The local boarding houses offer a wide range of services. As for prices, they may vary, but on average, accommodation and recreation costs 10-20 US dollars per day per person (excluding meals). For children, boarding houses provide large discounts (up to 100%). High-quality meals three times a day usually do not exceed $10 per day.
Video: Holidays in Issyk-Kul 2015
Issyk-Kul is a lake in eastern Kyrgyzstan in the northern part of the Tien Shan Mountains. It is the tenth largest lake in the world by volume (but not surface area) and the second largest among salt lakes after the Caspian Sea. Translated from Kyrgyz, Issyk-Kul means “warm lake”, despite the fact that it is surrounded on all sides by snowy peaks, the lake never freezes.
The lake is 182 km long and about 60 km wide. This is the second largest mountain lake in the world. It is located at an altitude of 1607 meters and reaches a depth of 668 meters. 118 rivers and streams flow into the lake, but not a single one flows out. There is a hypothesis that the waters of the lake have an underground outlet into the Chu River.
The salinity of the water in the lake is low - only 0.6% (for comparison, ordinary sea water has 3.5% salt). The water level decreases by 5 centimeters annually. The climate in the lake area is mild, not as hot as in other regions of Kyrgyzstan.
The best period for a beach holiday is July and August, the air temperature at this time is about 25 degrees, the water temperature is 22-23 degrees.
How to get there
The shortest way to Issyk-Kul is a flight to Bishkek airport. Minibus taxis depart from the Eastern Station and the journey takes about 4 hours. A taxi will cost about 60 dollars.
Calendar of low prices for flights to Bishkek:
Order a private transfer from the airport HERE
A longer option is a flight to Almaty (Kazakhstan). At one time I used exactly this path, because... I also wanted to visit Medeo. In addition, the flight to Almaty was cheaper. Buses from Almaty to Issyk-Kul depart late in the evening, the journey takes about 8-9 hours, i.e. the road lasts all night. It should be taken into account that a holiday in Issyk-Kul for residents of Kazakhstan is an economy class holiday, so the buses were crowded with tourists, mainly young people.
The bus was very noisy, so it was difficult to sleep. In addition, it was necessary to go out at night to cross the border.
The border is formal, a Russian passport is enough, but do not forget to take out medical insurance just in case.
Where to stay
The most populated is the northern part of the Issyk-Kul coast. The southern part, although no less picturesque, was once subject to mercury contamination and is the site of gold mining by a foreign firm. Although it is believed that the ecology of the region has already been fully restored, this part of the coast has developed more slowly, and the main tourist settlements are located on the northern part of the lake.
The main settlements are Cholpon-Ata and Bosteri, and there are also numerous villages along the lake. Another large city in Issyk-Kul is Karakol (formerly Przhevalsk), it is located on the east coast of the lake.
There is a ski resort there.
In the area of Lake Issyk-Kul there are sanatoriums and boarding houses. The most famous are sanatoriums "Blue Issyk-Kul", "Cholpon-Ata" and "Kyrgyz seaside" in Bosteri.
They have a developed infrastructure and offer a wide range of services, located right on the lake. It is recommended to buy vouchers in advance.
You can book your accommodation in Issyk-Kul HERE.
While still on the bus, at the entrance to Issyk-Kul, real estate rental agents began to sit down with us and offer various accommodation options. We agreed with one of the agents that he would show us several options in Bosteri. We transferred to a passenger car and soon chose a nice room in a private mini-hotel a 5-minute walk from the lake. Accommodation prices are cheaper than in similar private hotels on the Black Sea coast.
You can rent a room in the private sector even cheaper. As a rule, the private sector is located further from the coast, but its advantage is home-cooked food from the owners and the opportunity to use the kitchen.
Search hotels in Cholpon-Ata:
Excursions around Issyk-Kul
The main reason why you should make such a long journey to Lake Issyk-Kul in Kyrgyzstan is, of course, excursions. There's a lot to see here.
Excursions can be purchased at boarding houses in localities.
We took excursions to Karakol, a two-day tour around Issyk-Kul in an SUV with an overnight stay in yurts, and a trip to the famous Bishkek Dordoi market.
Karakol (formerly Przhevalsk)
Karakol is the fourth largest city in Kyrgyzstan. It contains attractions of interest to tourists:
Russian Orthodox Cathedral
The cathedral was originally built of stone in 1872, when Karakol was a garrison city on the border of the Tsarist Empire. It was destroyed in 1890 by an earthquake, and the current cathedral was built of wood on a brick foundation. Construction lasted 6 years and was completed in 1895. After the 1917 revolution, the building was used as an educational center, gym, theater, dance hall and even a coal warehouse. Then, in 1991, after the collapse of the Soviet Union and Kyrgyzstan declared independent, the building was again transferred to the Orthodox diocese. 
Dungan mosque
The Issyk-Kul central mosque of the city of Karakol was built according to the design of the Beijing architect Chu Seu in the traditional Chinese style. Construction of the mosque began in 1904 and ended in 1910. The mosque was built without a single nail and is a monument of wooden architecture. In the period from 1929 to 1947, the mosque building was used as a warehouse; in 1947 it was transferred to the Muslim community. Currently the mosque is open to visitors.
Przhevalsky Museum
Nikolai Mikhailovich Przhevalsky is one of the first Russian geographers who began to study the geography, flora and fauna of the countries of Central Asia. Beginning in 1870, he organized 4 major expeditions to Mongolia, China and Tibet. He discovered and described more than 200 plant species. He also collected a gigantic zoological collection. He died in 1988 from typhus and was buried on the shores of Issyk-Kul near the city of Karakol. The Przhevalsky Museum opened in 1957 not far from the scientist’s grave.
Salt lake Issyk-Kul/
Salt Lake is located at the southern tip of Issyk-Kul. It has a unique microclimate. Presumably, it was previously part of Issyk-Kul, but then separated from the main lake, and the concentration of salts increased due to evaporation.
The chemical composition of the lake is close to the composition of water in the Dead Sea.
The lake is small in size, but it is difficult to swim across it, because... Due to the high salinity, it is impossible to swim there. Here, like in the Dead Sea, you can read a newspaper while lying on the water. The shores are covered with dark mud, considered medicinal. Around the lake there are picturesque canyons where you can take pictures.
Gorge of the Seven Bulls (Jety-Oguz)/
Picturesque red rocks on the eastern coast of Issyk-Kul. If you go further, you can see the beautiful Maiden's Tears waterfall. In the gorge they offer horse riding, tea drinking in a yurt, and kumiss.
It is impossible to talk about all the sights of Issyk-Kul in one article. Follow the updates on the website. And if you are planning a trip to Kyrgyzstan, write questions in the comments, I will try to answer them.
Balykchy- the closest city to Bishkek on Lake Issyk-Kul (186 km). If you just want to look at the lake one day and return to the capital, you will have time to visit Balykchy. For a beach holiday, it is better to go further to Cholpon Ata or to the southern coast.
Cholpon Ata = civil beach holiday. Cholpon Ata is the main resort town in northern bank of Issyk-Kul. Go in the summer to swim in the lake and relax by the water.
Tourist infrastructure: hotels, guest houses, cafes are located in Cholpon Ata and neighboring villages from the village Tamchi to Korumdu.
There is sand and stones at the bottom, the water is clean. To the east of the village of Korumdu, the “black” side of the lake begins: there is clay at the bottom, the water is not clear.
From Cholpon Ata it is convenient to visit the Grigorievskoye and Semenovskoye gorges, thermal springs, petroglyphs, and the Rukh Ordo cultural center.
South coast = wild beach holiday. The south of Lake Issyk-Kul is considered more picturesque, but less developed in terms of tourism. The choice of comfortable accommodation and cafes is still modest.
Come in summer with tents or live in yurts. Yurt campsites are located next to the Skazka canyon near the towns of Bokonbaevo, Kadzhi-Sai, and Tosor.
Karakol = mountains. No beaches, but from December to March there is a ski resort 10 km from the city. Many people celebrate New Year in Karakol.
From May to October, people go on one-day treks and multi-day mountain hikes from Karakol.
By car, visit the Karakol and Jeti Oguz gorges (Rocks of the Seven Bulls), waterfalls, Altyn-Arashan gorge, Broken Heart, Skazka canyon.
Do I need to book in advance?
In the spring, in order not to complicate my life, I rented housing online based on reviews.
Around the lake there are hotels, sanatoriums, cottages and the private sector. In the summer, rooms are rented out in each house; you can choose on the spot if you have time.
Prices from 400-700 soms ( 6-10$ ) for a bed in a yurt/hostel up to 50-100$+ per day in hotels and cottages. Bed and breakfast rooms in guest houses 20-30$ .
Weather and season in Issyk Kul
The season in the mountains is from May to October, for climbing the peaks July-August, when all trails are accessible.
Swim in the lake: mid-June to August. During the day, air +21+28, water +20+22. In other months the water is icy and there is frequent rain.
In mid-April, only a dumb man did not tell me that the time was bad. +10+13, wet. We need it in the summer. I still believe that the time is always good if you fill your days with joy and don’t focus on the weather.
How to get to Issyk-Kul from Bishkek
Find transport from Bishkek to Lake Issyk-Kul at the Western Bus Station. You can get there by minibus or shared taxi.
Address: Bishkek, st. Chimkentskaya, 1
General taxi parking coordinates: 42.885137, 74.568090
Minibus
From Bishkek to Cholpon Ata 300 som(300 rub/4$), to Karakol 350 som (5$)
They depart when all seats are occupied. I waited for half an hour, returning from Karakol to Bishkek.
Just come to the station, go and see where the most passengers are gathered. Minibuses run from morning to evening.
Taxi
There are passenger cars (shared taxis) in front of the station; they leave when they are full. There are a lot of cars.
500-600 soms(500-600 RUR/9$) per person or 2000-2500 som($30-36) for the whole car.
On the way to Cholpon Ata 260 km, 4-4.5 hours, 405 km to Karakol, 5.5-6 hours. On the way, stop for lunch.
The Yandex taxi driver dropped me off at the shared taxi rank at 10.30 in the morning, and I immediately took the front seat in the Merc. 10 minutes later a family with a child arrived and we left.
Issyk-Kul in 4 days, route by car
Rent a car in Bishkek and go around the perimeter of the lake. Without a car it’s possible, you’ll just have to take a taxi or day trips to the mountains. Details below, but for now let’s imagine that you have a car.
Plan a trip around Lake Issyk-Kul for 4-5 days. It’s also possible in 2-3 days, it’s just tiring and you won’t have time to do much: the one-way trip from Bishkek takes half a day.
🐎 Logical route around Issyk-Kul on the map
The map can be enlarged and reduced. When you click on the icons, see photos of Issyk-Kul attractions.
Day 1. Bishkek-Cholpon Ata
▫ Departure from the center of Bishkek or from Manas airport at 8-9.00 am.
▫ Burana Tower- the oldest building in Central Asia (10-11th centuries). An important architectural monument with a sad legend. You can climb the minaret. Views of the steppe and mountains, an open-air museum. Located 80 km from Bishkek near the city of Tokmok.
9.00-17.00 seven days a week
GPS: 42.746634, 75.250376
▫ Dinner in a roadside cafe. Just look where there are a lot of cars. The food in the canteens along the highway is normal, the prices are low (200 rubles for the first, second, compote).
▫ Arrival at Cholpon-Ata or one of the villages, check-in to a hotel/guest house.
▫ Excursion to the cultural center " Rukh Ordo» named after Ch. Aitmatov.
9.00-17.00 seven days a week
Entrance 400 som (400 rub/6$)
GPS: 42.648172, 77.095115
Rukh Ordo is the spiritual center of Issyk-Kul. Sculptures of historical figures, paintings, photos and five chapels in honor of the main religions: Buddhism, Judaism, Catholicism, Islam, Orthodoxy.
There is also a memorial house of Chingiz Aitmatov and a wonderful view of Issyk-Kul. I was lucky to be completely alone in the complex. It’s rare to have such a sincere and romantic time alone with yourself.
▫ Visit Petroglyph Museum- rock paintings and inscriptions from the Neolithic era found around Lake Issyk-Kul and in the Chui Valley.
GPS: 42.661540, 77.057120
▫ Dinner at the restaurant “ Lamb» or any other in Cholpon Ata.
▫ Swimming in hot springs Ak-Bermet open air
8.00-22.00 seven days a week
GPS: 42.627311, 77.044881
From Bishkek to Cholpon Ata 260 km, 4-4.5 hours. Plus 1 hour for the circle to the Burana Tower. General mileage per day if you visit all the places described above: 290 km, 6+ hours driving and 3-4 hours stopping for photos and visiting museums.
In Cholpon Ata they take boat rides on the lake Day 2. Cholpon Ata - gorge - Karakol
▫ Moving from Cholpon Ata to Karakol, 150 km, 3 hours
▫ Visit along the way Grigorievsky And Semenovsky Gorge, additionally 3-4 hours for a trip through both gorges.
Grigorievskoye Gorge The main advantage: these mountains are located only 40 km from Cholpon Ata behind the village of Grigoryevka. You can climb up the Grigorievsky Gorge and go down to the highway through Semenovskoye.
The road in the mountains is unpaved; from autumn to spring problems due to avalanches are possible. In the muddy rain, the car “drives”. Safer in an SUV.
Route through the gorges on the map:
▫ Check-in to a hotel/guest house/yurt in Karakol.
▫ Excursion around Karakol. The city was founded by Russian settlers in 1869. Here you can see the wooden Dungan mosque (built without a single nail), the Holy Trinity Cathedral, parks, and a market.
▫ Hot springs in the evening Ak-Suu 15 km from Karakol, GPS: 42.462262, 78.539709
▫ Ashlamfu in Karakol- signature dish, don't miss it. Contains noodles, starch, sauce.
Manti in Karakol Day 3. MOUNTAINS
▫ Trip to the ski resort and Karakol gorge
GPS: 42.303137, 78.485352
▫ Trip to the gorge Altyn-Arashan(“Golden Spring”), swimming in hot springs, overnight in a yurt Eco Yurt Camp Arashan.
GPS: 42.375820, 78.611852
You can go to the mountains on your own or contact Neofit (they organize excursions around the outskirts of Karakol).
Day 4. Karakol-Bishkek
▫ Return from Karakol to Bishkek along the southern shore of Issyk-Kul, 410 km, 6h 30min.
▫ Along the way there is a gorge " Jeti-Oguz"("Seven Bulls"). You can stay overnight and hike to the waterfalls along the “Valley of Flowers”. Overnight at the Golden Yurt yurt camp at an altitude of 2200m. The camp runs from May 5 to October 15.
GPS: 42.33777, 78.2315
▫ Trek to the waterfall Barskoon,GPS: 42.011728, 77.607603
▫ Visit to a picturesque Canyon "Fairy Tale", GPS: 42.156936, 77.358927
▫ Cultural Center « Aalam Ordo» exactly opposite Rukh Ordo, only on the southern bank, GPS: 42.198147, 77.223847
This is the maximum program. The road along the south of the lake is worse than the north, but more picturesque. Minibuses going to Bishkek don’t like to travel on it.
If you don’t have a car, you need to negotiate with a shared taxi driver or hire a separate car to see the south.
The northern road is also beautiful 
Issyk-Kul on your own without a car
My route:
Day 1. Bishkek→Cholpon Ata
▫ 10.30 departure from the Western bus station of Bishkek by shared taxi, 600 som/person
▫ 15.00 arrived in Cholpon Ata, checked into a family room Issyk-Kul Svetlana (rating 9.7 ).
Lovely family, clean, delicious homemade breakfasts. From the window there is a view of the lake, there is a passage to the beach.
The center is 2 km away, the owner Victor took us to the bank and the Narodny supermarket and told us everything.
He himself organizes excursions and takes tourists around the surrounding area in a jeep (gorges, hot springs, petroglyphs). Alas, he was busy, but he found me a car for tomorrow for a trip to the Grigorievskoye Gorge.
▫ 15.30 Spent an hour in the Rukh Ordo complex (400 som)
▫ To the hot springs Ak-Bermet I didn’t go, although the owner offered to take me for 100 soms.
▫ 17.30 I was just asking passers-by where to eat in Cholpon-Ata. We recommended the restaurant "Lamb".
What will you eat? (they like the word “eat” here)
-Something simple without fat and meat.
-Take our signature salad.
OK. They bring 3 kg of warm veal, stewed with mushrooms and peppers. Such a light salad. I honestly have never seen so much meat anywhere. I also foolishly ordered trout fillet (350 g) and a liter of tea.
Gave 1000 soms (1000 rubles /15$ ) and stood up a little, although she didn’t even eat half of it. A shocking amount for dinner in Kyrgyzstan, but tasty and unusual.
Day 2. Grigorievskoe Gorge→Karakol
▫ 10.20. Departure from Cholpon Ata to the Grigorievskoye Gorge by taxi ( 1500 som/ 22$ per car). In summer they sell group excursions for 500 som.
Again in the summer, yurts are set up in the Grigorievsky Gorge and horses are brought. You can ride, sleep/eat/drink, take pictures with birds.
The whole excursion took 1h30min from the threshold of the guest house to the highway. During this time, they showed me a small stream of water - like a waterfall, and we simply drove along a dirt road in the mountains along the river.
But I met some yaks. They used to live high in the mountains (yak loves 3000m+), people hunted them. If I needed meat, I went and shot it. Now little yaks are walking with horsemen and their cows. Animals began to be tamed about 7 years ago. Domesticated and bred.
▫ 11.50 returned with the driver to the highway to Grigoryevka, waited for a passing minibus
▫ 12.30 minibus Grigoryevka-Karakol, 110 km, 2 hours, 120 soms
Clean and warm lakes for us!
Mila Demenkova
Mountain lake Issyk-Kul is the largest in Kyrgyzstan. And there are not so many comparable water bodies in the world. The area of its mirror is 6236 square kilometers, and the length of the coastline is 688 kilometers. So even from space it is clearly visible.
However, it is not just a large body of water, it is large in three dimensions. Average - 278 meters. And the greatest distance from the surface to the bottom is 702 meters. And this despite the fact that over the past two centuries the water level in it has regularly decreased.
Due to the great depths, the water here cannot cool down properly, so it never freezes. This has been noticed for a long time. If you translate the name of the reservoir from Kyrgyz, you get “Hot Lake”.
Despite the fact that statistical data on depths look very convincing, in reality, the entrance to the water from the shore along the entire perimeter remains level and smooth for quite a long time. For great depth you need to go to the center. And there you can already feel all this thickness of water on yourself.
Scuba diving to the depths
Despite the misconception of many people that diving cannot be done in Kyrgyzstan, it turns out that Issyk-Kul is quite suitable for scuba diving. Of course, you won’t find the bright colors of the Red or Caribbean Seas here. There are no corals or colorful fish in the lake. And in general there is little vegetation on the sandy bottom with frequent inclusions of rocks. Visibility, depending on weather conditions and the square of the dive, varies between 8-12 meters. At a depth of 20 meters, visibility deteriorates sharply and the water temperature drops. This is due to the muddy bottom with a huge number of springs.
But even at a not very great depth from the surface of the water, you can find interesting objects for study. For example, a sunken trout farm. This metal structure is very reminiscent of a ship with its contours. The maximum depth will be 15 meters. At the same time, you can easily encounter rocks with carrion and not very large algae. Schools of fish may also catch your eye.
When diving in Issyk-Kul, it is important to decide in advance on the place and format. Otherwise, there are many places here that even technodivers prefer to avoid. Three hundred meters of depth is not a joke. But there are also seven hundred. Because of this, it is better to choose a safer area in the north.
Treasure hunting klondike
Yes, Issyk-Kul cannot compete with the Caribbean Sea in terms of the brightness of underwater life, but it may well do so in terms of the number of sunken treasures. Locals talk about a merchant’s wagon train from the times of the Great Silk Road accidentally overturning into a reservoir, and about White Guard capital specially hidden at the bottom, and even about the fact that the ruins of an ancient city are hidden under the water. Legends do not grow in a vacuum.
So, from time to time, lucky divers pull out all sorts of interesting things from the depths. So it can be seen that there are certainly reasons to survey the lake bottom.
There are several explored places where settlements were founded. They were on the shore of the lake. But when it overflowed its banks, all the houses were under water. And now ceramic fragments, primitive grain grinders, human and livestock bones are found at the bottom. Occasionally you come across jewelry made of bronze, silver and gold. Quite a tempting prospect. These places have not yet been studied enough. Despite the fact that underwater archaeological expeditions are held there every year. Therefore, it is unlikely that you will be able to take the find with you. They are submitted for study.
The warm lake has become a home for many birds that come here for the winter. Some of them stop for the fall and then go to warmer climes. 50 thousand birds winter on the banks of the reservoir.
Among them, the most valuable species are: goldeneye, goldeneye, long-tailed duck, herring gull, red-headed pochard, and black duck.
An amazing feature of the coastal area is the air with the aroma of coniferous forests and herbs. Sometimes hurricanes sweep through here: “Ulan” and “Santash” are known for their ferocity. This phenomenon occurs due to the arrival of a severe Arctic cyclone. Hurricanes occur 2-3 times a year, with wind speeds at their peak reaching 40 m/s.
In warm weather there are light coastal breezes and steppe winds. The climatic advantage is the absence of sweltering heat, despite high year-round solar activity. The duration of sun exposure here is 2965 hours.
Meadows and coasts are characterized by amazing plant diversity. The plains have a unique ecological system that combines field grasses, shrubs, and floodplain forests. There are cultivated lands and wild areas. From the heights of the mountain ledges you can see that the desert steppe smoothly gives way to small forest plantations and turns into green alpine meadows.
Zoologists from all over the world come to Issyk-Kul to study endangered animal species, as well as unique populations that live only in this area. Many rare mammals found on the lake are listed in the section of endangered populations of the Red Book.
Eagles, vultures, argali, and golden eagles live on the mountain slopes. In the forests: goitered gazelle, brown bear, peregrine falcon, black grouse. Near the water there are swans, gulls, cranes, ducks, and waders. Especially valuable breeds: ibex, roe deer, ermine, pheasant, snowcock.
On the plains of Issyk-Kul, cultivated grain plants are grown: wheat, rye, buckwheat. The rich soil and mild climate make it possible to grow potatoes, which the region supplies to neighboring regions.
The land of Isyk-Kul is known for its rich gardens, where juicy fruits ripen in season: apples, cherries, strawberries, apricots, raspberries. Of the medicinal plants, sea buckthorn shrubs are the most common in meadows and forests. Near the foot of the mountains you can find yellow edelweiss, which is listed in the Red Book.
Climate of the Issyk-Kul coast
The coast has a temperate maritime climate, which softens temperature changes as the seasons change. In the west, the weather is characterized by aridity and snow cover is most often absent. In the east there is high humidity, so there is more precipitation, including snow.
Winter near the lake is characterized by moderate temperatures, starting in November, closer to December. On the east coast, cold weather occurs earlier than in the central and western parts.
Spring begins in the last days of March and ends in mid-May. The season is characterized by unstable weather: gusty winds give way to sudden warming, and closer to May frosts are possible.
Summer is not hot and lasts approximately 5 months. The first hot days come in May, the sun remains quite active until the beginning of November. There is little precipitation.
Autumn is characterized by warm, dry weather. The above-zero temperature lasts until November, when the first frosts are possible. The season is characterized by sunny days and light frosts at nightfall.
Water temperature
The coldest months in this region are January and February. The average winter temperature is -5 +5°. Severe frosts are rare, as are thaws. The reservoir practically does not freeze due to its high sodium content. Only the coastal part of the water can become covered with ice during severe winters.
The water warms up the most at the end of July and August and reaches 20-23° on the thermometer. Comfortable temperature for swimming is from mid-June until the onset of autumn. The temperature decrease begins in September.
High solar activity (300 days a year) ensures sufficient heating of the water column. Swimming becomes possible at the end of May - beginning of June.
In winter, the average water temperature in the lake is 4°C, in summer - 20°C.
Tourism in Issyk-Kul
Lake Issyk-Kul is one of the most visited tourist areas for varied recreation. Not only from the republic and Russia, but also guests from foreign countries come here. Thanks to the educational activities of UNESCO and other environmental organizations, more and more people are learning about the unique lake. Scientists from all over the world come to study the unique flora and fauna and the chemical properties of water.
Places loved by tourists are the city of Cholpon-Ata, Tamchi, Chon-Sary-Oy, Bosteri; You can also rent a house or room in the small settlements of Kadzhi-Sai and Tamga.
The territories of equipped beaches occupy 600 km of the coastal zone. There are also natural beaches with a total length of 120 km. Most beaches consist of a mound of sand mixed with small pebbles and some large boulders.
According to statistics, the most frequent guests of the lake are residents of the Republic of Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Kazakhstan. 1 million people visit Issyk-Kul sanatoriums annually. Foreign guests make up only 30 - 40% of the total number of visitors. Every year residents from Belarus, Ukraine, and the Baltic countries come for sanatorium treatment.
The recent abolition of visas promises to improve the visitor environment, increasing the annual influx of new tourists. An increase in guests is expected by 1 million from 44 countries.
This unique natural resort is visited not only for tourist excursions and active recreation: people come here from all over the country for the sake of their health. The mild climate allows you to quickly adapt to new climatic conditions. The resource-rich area offers many opportunities for treatment and rehabilitation.
Patients are provided with:
healing mud;
clay wraps;
ozone therapy;
radon sources;
mineralization;
oxygen therapy.
Clean air has healing properties: children with bronchial asthma and other pulmonary diseases are brought here for treatment. The following sanatoriums offer a full course of health programs: “Blue Issyk-Kul”, “Aurora”, “Kyrgyz Seaside”. The listed institutions have medical accreditation, the buildings are located near the edge of the coast.
In addition to state sanatoriums, there are private boarding houses, cottages, holiday homes, and cozy hotels around Issyk-Kul. Tourists choose the most convenient accommodation option for themselves. You can stay in a private house, and go to the nearest sanatorium for health treatments.
The programs are aimed at treating diseases: the respiratory and digestive systems, dermatological pathologies, nervous disorders, restoration of the spine and bones after injuries. People come here for rehabilitation after a heart attack, injuries, and to eliminate obesity.
Issyk-Kul resort sanatoriums offer a whole list of health treatments:
- electrophoresis;
- mineral and oxygen baths;
- mud therapy;
- inhalations with herbal decoctions;
- phonophoresis;
- hydrotherapy;
- phototherapy;
- Charcot;
- salt rooms;
- Minin's lamp.
All procedures strengthen the nervous system and help stabilize the psychological background. Mud wraps help restore joints damaged by arthritis, treat gynecological disorders and infertility, and eliminate skin diseases. The combination of climate and crystal clear water accelerates the process of rehabilitation after strokes, heart attacks, and surgical operations.
Scientific research
Repeated archaeological excavations confirmed that more than 2.5 thousand years ago there was no water on the territory of the lake, but an ancient city was located. The found remains of buildings and clay household items testify to the authenticity of the existence of an extinct civilization. Scientists have suggested that these were settlements of Scythian tribes. In terms of their development, this nationality was not inferior to the culture of Egypt and the northern Black Sea region. Presumably, the population was engaged in agriculture and trade. The Silk Road passes through the city.
Recent expeditions to the lake have revealed new details of the life and level of knowledge of the ancient people who lived in this area. Research has revealed that several large settlements are flooded at the bottom of Issyk-Kul. A unique discovery turned history upside down, adding a new episode in the chronology of human development.
