Lake Issyk, Kazakhstan
Issyk is a picturesque, alpine lake surrounded by unusually beautiful nature of thick forests and spacious flower fields. The lake is located at an altitude of 1760 meters above sea level, in the Issyk gorge of Trans-Ili Alatau, about 70 km east of Almaty.
Geologically, the lake was formed 8000 years ago as a result of a powerful rock avalanche, which later created a natural 300 m-high dam. The year of 1939 saw the beginning of active development of the lake territory, when a tarmac road, tourist center and bus station were quickly built. Dozens of thousands of Almaty residents and guests come there year round to relax in natural surroundings. The lake was so popular that even its photograph was printed in USSR’s tourist postcards and brochures.
Epic Kazakhstan Culture & Adventure Route © Monika Newbound
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