Brief on 07 Beautiful Lakes of Kazakhstan
Travelers Heaven on Earth
1. Kaindy Lake
In 1911, an earthquake ripped through the Tian Shan Mountains, causing a large landslide that blocked a gorge and formed a natural dam. Over the course of time, rainfall filled the area, submerging the forest of spruce trees and forming 1,300 feet (400-meters) longKaindy Lake. Today, the spruce trees are dead, their roots drowned deep beneath the water’s surface, but their top halves tower over the water’s in an even speckling that looks a bit like ghostly ships’ masts or giant spears. The eeriness is made all the more palpable when a light fog is cast over the water or when the lake is frozen over in the dead of winter when the trees have transitioned from navigational beacons to something for fishermen to lean on.
The most striking view of this forest is under the water. There, the tree trunks have resisted decomposition, leaving perfectly preserved needles on their branches even after all this time. This interesting feature is thanks to the lake’s frigid temperatures, which rarely exceed 43 degrees Fahrenheit (6 degrees Celsius), even in summertime. Luckily, you don’t need to take a dip to catch a glimpse of this marvel — the water is so clear that you can see far down into its depths from safety on the shore.
Located in a canyon off a dirt road, accessing Kaindy requires a utility vehicle designed for rough terrain, but it’s not impossible. Whether you plan to visit this lake less-traveled in the summer or the winter, you’re bound to be stunned by an idyllic scene like no other.
2. Big Almaty Lake
The Big Almaty gorge is a leisure destination that is very popular with the Almaty citizens. The gorge is much larger than the other ones located near Almaty. Another attraction is the unique Big Almaty lake located at the height of 2500 meters above the sea level.
The Big Almaty gorge air is always a bit cooler than the air in other gorges and this is because of the low temperature of the lake. The sceneries on the way to the lake are not less breathtaking than the lake itself. The natural beauty of the Zailiysky Alatau is very special. Driving up the gorge road you will pass a lot of cafés and restaurants placed on the both sides of the way. Passing the protecting dam and the ecological controlling station you enter the National nature park. Near the station there is a falcon farm, where the ornithologist rear the raptorial birds endangered in the wild. This place is worth visiting, but it is better to take an extra tour to this place. On the left there is another interesting gorge along the Kazachka river.
This road goes up to the hotel and restaurant complex Kum Bel and then continues as a very popular mountain path going to Kok Zhailau.Our way to the Big Almaty lake goes up the wide valley along the Big Almaty river. On the left side of the road you will see many rocks left by a violent mud flow in 1977. The mud flow did not reach the town – it has lost the power because of the width of the mountain pass. Some bridges, buildings and the road were destroyed; the territory of the river valley was covered with mud and stones. Later the road was rebuilt and the currently existing protecting dam was constructed.
3. Alakol Lake
This Salt Lake usually freezes for about two months at the end of winter, and breaks up in early spring – as we can see happening here. The lake’s mineral-rich water and mud is considered to be therapeutic, and tourists often visit the lake’s northern shores to remedy skin ailments.
Alakol means ‘multicolored lake’ – and we can clearly see varying shades of green and blue depending on the depth, sediments flowing in from rivers and streams and phytoplankton.
Lake Alakol is a landmark of East Kazakhstan. This drainless lake was widely known in the Middle Ages, when one of the trade routes of the Silk Road was passing near it. Tired wayfarers noticed a surge of strength after drinking from Alakol, and modern scientists have confirmed its water’s positive effect on a body. People come here to improve their health, take a break from the bustle of the city and just breath some fresh air. The Alakol Nature Reserve was founded here. There are many hotels and guesthouses.
4. Balkhash Lake
Balkhash Lake is the third largest lake in Kazakhstan, after the Caspian and Aral Seas. The lake is 614 km in length and from 3.5 to 44 km in width. Its deepest places reach 26 metres. The phenomenon of Balkhash is in its different mineralization on Western and Eastern parts, which are connected by a narrow strait, i.e. Western part of the lake, which receives water form Ili River, is fresh and its Eastern part is salty. Nature of Balkhash Lake is amazing and full of contrasts. Water reservoirs of Ili-Balkhash basin, including Balkhash Lake, are among the most significant in terms of biodiversity and the reproduction of valuable fish species.
The lake is located in three regions of Kazakhstan: Almaty, Zhambyl and Karaganda. Vast Kazakh hills stretch to the North of the lake and Betpak Dala stretch to the West, and Chu-Ili mountains, Taukum sands and Saryesik-Atyrau are located to the South of the Lake. About 20 species of fish can be found in the lake, as well as 120 species of birds, including 12 species included in the Red Book, are inhabitants of nearby territories.
5. Tengiz Lake
In the Turkic language “Tengiz” means “sea” or a “large lake”. The similarly-named reservoir located in the Akmola region in the North of Kazakhstan justifies its name at the very first glance: it extends for forty kilometers in width and seventy-five kilometers in length.
The maximum depth does not exceed 7-8 meters, but this feature of the lake emphasizes its uniqueness only in terms of water levels. The surface area varies overs one-and-a-half thousand square kilometers.
For the steppe regions of Kazakhstan, such vast water lands are a real treasure, but the water from the lake is not suitable for irrigation or drinking. It’s bitter and salty. This fundamental property of Lake Tengiz is due to the fact that its waters do not have an outflow, the water remains in the basin for years, or rather centuries, pulling easily soluble compounds from the saline steppes. The salinity of the reservoir is not permanent; it varies from 50 to 200 grams of salt per liter of water. The most common mineral contained in the waters of the lake is mirabilite or Glauber salt. Its contents make the waters of the Tengiz a twin to the resort mineral springs in Karlovy Vary and Marienbad. The scientific name of the Glauber salt is decahydrate sodium sulfate crystallohydrate. White crystals of this substance are used in contemporary medicine.
The value of the lake is that it is a natural habitat for a large number of waterfowl and water birds. Some species nest here, some – stop for feeding and take a short rest on the way from Western Siberia to India or Africa. In total, there are about 300 species of winged inhabitants on the lake, and 22 species are listed in the Red Book. For example, there are Dalmatian pelicans and black storks, demoiselles and steppe eagles. Food is enough for of these species: shallow water is full of maggots, and pupariums of shore flies, mollusca, and branchiopoda crustaceans.
Lake Tengiz is known to ornithologists all over the world as the most northerly habitat of the pink flamingos. This beautiful and careful bird never settles where it is in danger, and here it feels fine, because the lake is part of the Ramsar wetland of international importance and part of the Korgalzhyn reserve. In addition, flamingos live mainly on isolated islands, which are located in the South-Eastern part of the reservoir.
6. Zaysan Lake
Lake Zaysan is undoubtedly one of the oldest bodies of water on the planet. Its exact age is so difficult to determine. According to some indirect signs, scientists suggest that the reservoir was formed at the end of the Cretaceous period, more than 65 million years ago, and therefore dinosaurs graced its waters. If this hypothesis is correct, then the Zaysan may be even older than Lake Baikal, whose age, according to the common opinion, is about 25 million years.
The banks of the Zaysan densely overgrown with reeds, shelters a variety of birds. Some species do not stay here, using the Zaysan as a place to stop for long flights. Representatives of the rye and chibis families can often be seen on the lake.
Beautiful mountain scenery, blue lake surface, and beautiful fish species are able to attract lovers of outdoor activities to these places. In the vicinity of the Zaysan, there are three hundred sunny days per year; the water temperature is on average +22°C in summer.
7. Sasykkol Lake
Lake Sasykkol is located next to Lake Alakol, northwest direction. The area of the lake is 730 square kilometers, the lake is quite large, very picturesque and beautiful. The lake is 50 kilometers long, 20 kilometers wide, 3.3 meters deep. The lake has the Araltobe peninsula. The Urjar river flows into the lake, and three small rivers will also flow into the lake – Tentek, Karakol, Ai.
The lake is located in the Balkhash-Alakol lowland (depression), on the border of the Almaty and East Kazakhstan regions, southeastern Kazakhstan. The height of the lake is 350 meters above sea level. Nearby is the Alakol lake.
It is possible to organize a boat trip on the lake, as well as excellent fishing. The lake is inhabited by fish, marinka, perch, pike perch, carp. The water in the lake is fresh, you can swim here in summer. The ionic composition of the lake belongs to the hydrocarbonate class.
