kyrgyzstan
Between the mountain ranges in the deep basins shimmer azure
lakes. The most beautifull of them is Issyk-Kul which does not
freeze even in winter.
Issyk-Kul is the rare
case where in order to swim in the sea, it is necessary to climb
the mountain.
Lake Issyk-Kul, formed about 800 thousand years ago. Located at
an altitude of 1609 meters above sea level, it extends for 177
km. The area of the Kyrgyz "sea" is 6000 square
meters. Maximum depth of the lake is 668m. From the high
mountain ranges of the Tien Shan mountains surrounding the lake,
the picturesque gorges run in the Issyk-Kul 80 rivers,
saturating its pure water and mineral salts which give it a
salty-bitter taste and medicinal qualities. The largest flowing
into the lake by rivers are Tup (103 km) and Jergalan (81 km),
as well as: Karakol, Dzhuuka, Tong, Jets-Oguz, Chon-Ak-Suu,
Chong-Kyzyl-Suu, Ak-Terek Barskoon, Tuura Suu length does not
exceed 50 km.
Depth and volume of water it has no equal in the world of alpine
lakes. Issyk-Kul on the right is the second largest alpine lake,
located in Chile, after Lake Titicaca.
Average water temperature in the summer - plus 21 - plus 23 in
the winter - minus 3 - minus 4. The western part of arid and
rain are rare, the snow almost falls out. In the western
mountains bordering the lake, receives only 115 mm of
precipitation on the eastern bank of the same - about 600
mm. However, in recent years, rainfall has increased. The first
explored the lake a great Russian explorer Pyotr
Semyonov-Tyan-Shansky.
He wrote: "It's hard to imagine anything grandiose landscape
that represents a traveler from across the lake to Kungei
Heavenly Mountains. The dark blue surface of Lake Issyk-Kul his
sapphire color can easily compete with equally blue surface of
Lake Geneva, seemed to me from the west of almost unlimited
Kungei in the East, and in no way comparable to the greatness of
the last plan of the landscape gives it a grandeur that is Lake
Geneva does not have. " The famous Russian explorer and
scientist, explorer of Central Asia, NM Przewalski, was in love
with this area and asked to bury him on the shore of the
lake. Having seen the beauty of Kyrgyzstan, he said: "This is
the same in Switzerland, only better."
After the death of the Przewalski in his honor was named the
city, located near the grave of the traveler. Then, after the
Soviet collapse, Prezhevalsk was renamed in Karakol. Issyk-Kul,
attracts a huge number of tourists from Kazakhstan, Russia and
other parts of the CIS, as well as foreign tourists. On the
shore of the lake are the resorts that work year-round, where
you can not just great to relax, but also improve their
health. Lake Issyk-Kul is the main source of income from tourism
in Kyrgyzstan.
In Turkic Issyk-Kul means "hot lake". This is most likely due to
the fact that even in the coldest winter the lake does not
freeze. Perhaps influenced by this title and the presence of hot
springs in the surrounding mountains.
If you arrived at the Issyk-Kul for a long time, we will advise
you to make a trip to the mountains. The most interesting is the
gorge Arashan, Caracal and Jeti-Oguz, located in the
Terek-Ala-Too far from the town of Karakol on the eastern edge
of the lake. In these canyons, you can not only be seen near the
majestic peaks over 5,000 meters, but also to bathe in the
healing mineral baths. Some, such as a bath "Swallow's nest" in
the gorge Arashan, located directly in natural rock cavities.
Numerous motels and resorts are concentrated mainly on the north
shore. The services sector is highly developed. Here you can
offer a yacht, paroplany, jet skis, water skiing, as well as
trips to the mountains. The largest spa resort on the northern
coast is Cholpon-Ata, where you can get, and bus and plane.
