Issyk-Kul Lake or Lake Ysyk, is biggest tourist attraction of Kyrgyzstan. Issyk-Kul Lake is an endorheic lake i.e., without outflow, in the Northern Tian Shan mountains in Eastern Kyrgyzstan. Issyk-Kul Lake is the 7th-deepest lake in the world, the 10th-largest lake in the world by volume (though not in surface area) and the 2nd-largest saline lake after the Caspian Sea. Issyk-Kul means “warm lake” in the Kyrgyz language. Issyk-Kul Lake is located at a height of 1,608 metres making it the 2nd highest lake after Titicaca Lake and despite severe cold it never freezes. The lake in Issyk-Kul Region of Kyrgyzstan, is a RAMSAR site and is known for its biodiversity and forms part of Issyk-Kul Biosphere Reserve.
Issyk-Kul Lake is truly massive is size with 182 kms length, 60 kms width, 668 mtrs depth, and area of 6,236 sq.kms. About 118 rivers and streams flow into the lake; the largest being Jyrgalang and Tüp on the eastern side. It is also fed by springs, including many hot springs and melting snow. The lake has no outlet, but some hydrologists hypothesize that the lake’s water filters deep underground into the Chu River that flows along the western outskirts of the basin. The bottom of the lake contains monohydrocalcite mineral, one of the few known lacustrine deposits. On the lake’s southern shore are Teskey Ala-Too Range of the Tian Shan mountains, whose northern slopes create numerous streams that flow into the lake as large rivers. In eastern part of Issyk-Kul they flow into Jyrgalang river.
The Kungey Alatau hills of the Tian Shan range runs parallel to the north shore. Its southern slopes creates smaller streams that separately empty into Issyk-Kul lake or into Tüp river. The lake became a popular vacation resort, during the Soviet era. After independence in 1991 it was developed into a major tourist destination with numerous sanitoria, boarding houses and vacation homes along its northern shore in and around the town of Cholpon-Ata for a new generation of health and leisure seeking international visitors, despite its remoteness and underdeveloped infrastructure. The lake received over 1 million visitors during 2000s but turmoil and other issues reduced it, but again things are looking better from tourism point of view.
The city of Karakol formerly Przhevalsk, after Russian explorer Przhevalsky is the administrative seat of Issyk-Kul region. Located on the east tip of the lake the city provides base for hiking, trekking excursions into the surrounding mountainous area. A wooden mosque, built by the Dungan people and a wooden Orthodox church are also worth a visit ibn the city. Historically Issyk-Kul Lake was a stopover on Silk Road, a trade route for travellers from China to Europe. The great Chinese Buddhist scholar-monk Xuanzang also passed by this lake and wrote about it in his travelogue Great Tang Records on the Western Regions in the 7th century. The lake once owned by Qing Dynasty of China and ceded to Russia.
Many historians believe the lake was origin for ‘Black Death’ that plagued Europe and Asia in mid-14th century. The lake as stopover for travellers may have allowed the plague to spread across continents. Divers have found remains of submerged 2500-year-old settlements in shallow areas around the lake including huge burial mounds of historic Scythian Kings. Numerous well-preserved artifacts have been found. Issyk-Kul State Reserve was established in 1948 to protect unique nature landscapes and pochards, mallards, bald coots, teals and waterfowl. In 1975, it was acknowledged as a RAMSAR site. Issyk-Kul was made part of UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves in 2000 where hare, fox, and muskrat live in the thickets. In all there are some 40 kinds of mammals and 200 types of birds around the lake. There are several endemic species of fish found in the lake, many of which are threatened by over fishing, pollution and other factors.
The lake receives heavy rains each year that increases sharply from west to east. Strong winds blow frequently toward the lake, with velocities in the west reaching 105 to 145 km per hour. Lake shores open out gently, with coves on the eastern and southeastern sides. Sandy beaches dominate the lake’s shoreline. The water of the lake is sky blue in colour, clear with visibility to a depth of 65 feet. Rocky deserts with sparse, saline, semi-bushy vegetation lie in the western part of the basin. Toward the east are steppes and meadows and a type of elm that grows in the chestnut soils and black earth. Higher up in the mountains are found subalpine and alpine meadows.
A mountain pass will soon connect Issyk-Kul and Almaty, Kazakhstan allowing tourist easier access to the beautiful lake. Issyk-Kul Lake is home to beaches that stretch for hundreds of miles, perfect for enjoying sun and swimming in the lake’s cool, refreshing waters. Bird-watchers can look for birds who graze and breed in the foothills of the lake, including Common Redshank, Kentish Plover, Common Snipe, Little Bittern, Ferruginous Duck and Demoiselle Crane. In Cholpon-Ata area; besides swimming tourists can get diving equipment, sail boat, paddle boats, rowboats, jet-skis on rent, making the lake even more attractive water sports destination. Nomad dwellings have been setup near the lake, besides new hotels in nearby cities and villages that provide luxurious, mid-range and budget accommodation. Restaurants serve variety of Kyrgyz dishes at reasonable prices including the most famous dish, Ashlyam-fu.
Best time to visit Issyk-Kul for tourist is from mid-June to late August. In summer, lake’s northern shore attracts most tourists. Besides the city of Cholpon-Ata, the village of Bosteri, Bulan-Sogottu, Chok-Tal, Sary-Oi, Chon-Sary-Oi, and Karakol are also worth visiting. In winter, thousands of skiers and snowboarders go to the ski resort in Karakol. Since 2014, the World Nomad Games have been held in Issyk-Kul. This includes various ethnic sports competitions, such as kok-boru (goat-picking), alysh (belt wrestling), alchiki (a game using cattle bones) and attracts players and tourists from all over the world.
Saturday and Sunday are shopping days in the Issyk-Kul lake area cities. Tourist can buy anything from smoked fish to pickled mushrooms, mountain honey to vegetables, fruits, and berries. There are many souvenir shops in Cholpon-Ata where tourist can buy handicrafts. The best way to reach Issyk-Kul from Bishkek is to use the regular or charter buses and taxis. There is also an airport in Issyk-Kul, located in the village of Tamchy (Tamchy), 35 kms from Cholpon-Ata, where small to mid sized planes can land. In summer, tourist can fly directly to Issyk-Kul from Moscow, St. Petersburg, Yekaterinburg, Novosibirsk, Tashkent, Almaty and Nur-Sultan.
