Issyk Kul is an endorheic lake (one that retains water, allowing no outflow to other bodies of water) in the northern Tian Shan mountains in eastern Kyrgyzstan. It is the ninth-largest lake in the world by volume and the second-largest saline lake, after the Caspian Sea. Although it is surrounded by snow-capped peaks, it never freezes; hence its name, which means ""warm lake"" in Kyrgyz. Some 118 rivers and streams flow into the lake; the largest being the Djyrgalan and Tyup. Issyk Kul Lake is fed by springs, including many hot springs, and snow melt-off. Lake Issyk Kul was a stopover on the Silk Road, a land route for travelers from the Far East to Europe. Many historians believe that the lake was the point of origin for the Black Death that plagued Europe and Asia during the early and mid-14th century. The lake's status as a byway for travelers allowed the plague to spread across these continents via medieval merchants who unknowingly carried infested vermin along with them. A 14th century Armenian monastery was found on the northeastern shores of the lake by retracing the steps of a medieval map used by Venetian merchants on the Silk Road. The lake level was some 8 meters lower in medieval times. Divers have found the remains of drowned settlements in shallow areas around the lake. In December 2007, a report was released by a team of Kyrgyz historians, led by Vladimir Ploskikh, vice president of the Kyrgyz Academy of Sciences, that archaeologists have discovered the remains of a 2500-year-old advanced civilization at the bottom of the Lake. The data and artifacts obtained suggest that the ancient city was a metropolis in its time. The discovery consisted of formidable walls, some stretching for 500 meters as well as traces of a large city with an area of several square kilometers. Other findings included Scythian burial mounds eroded over the centuries by waves, as well as numerous well-preserved artifacts, including bronze battleaxes, arrowheads, self-sharpening daggers, objects discarded by smiths, casting molds, and a faceted gold bar that was a monetary unit of the time. Articles identified as the world's oldest extant coins were also found underwater with gold wire rings used as small change and a large hexahedral goldpiece. Also found was a bronze cauldron with a level of craftsmanship that is today achieved by using an inert gas environment.
Enclosed on all sides by the snowy peaks of the Tien Shan Mountains, lake Issyk-Kul literally meaning “hot lake” is said to be the world’s second-largest alpine lake or second highest navigable lake in the world after lake Titicaca in South America, the lake never freezes even in the depths of winter due to some thermal activity, strong winds, physics of deep water and unique microclimate over the lake. Measuring 180 km long by 70 km across the lake presently is about 700 metres deep at it’s deepest and sits 1600 metres above sea level. In lake flows 180 large and small rivers, but there is no streams flowing out of the lake. That is why the water is slightly salty. The lake's water consist of 10 billion tonns of different salts, but there is 5 times less salt then in Oceanic water what is right enough for keeping the lake clean and very comfortable for swimming. Called "The Pearl of Central Asia" the lake changes colour depending on day time and sun position, from pale green to turquoise blue. The crystal clear water has so exceptional blue color, 3-4 times more saturated by color then Geneva lake in Switzerland. The one would be astonished with it's size and scenary of huge celestial snowcaped mountan peaks shining from across - in fact one of the most beautiful landscapes in the world. The area around the lake is well known for its beautiful sandy shores among locals and people from Kazakhstan and Russia, most of the resorts and hotels are on the north shore of the lake; the area between here and Almaty in Kazakhstan is excellent trekking territory. Also there are many great valleys with number of trekking/climbing/walking possibilities on the southeast part of Issyk-Kul area.
Aliases: Issyk-Kol, Issik-Kul, Isykul, Issykul, Issikul, Issykol, Issikol, Isikul. Lake Issyk-Kul is one of the major attractions of Kyrgystan. Located in the east of the country, it can be reached from Bishkek or Naryn by bus or taxi. The region around the lake is stunningly beautiful and is great for anyone who loves the outdoors. Hiking is superb is the hills and mountains around, on the lake itself you can sail, surf, row, scuba dive and fish and for the more adventurous there are always activities like helicopter skiing. The lake has length of 113 miles (182 kilometres), a width of up to 38 miles, and a surface area of 2,445 square miles (6,332 square kilometres). It reaches 2,303 feet in depth and has a volume of 416 cubic miles. The lake's name, which derives from a word for "hot lake", alludes to the fact that it does not freeze over during the winter, even though the lake is situated at an altitude of 5,278 feet.
It is simply a must for every traveler to Kazakhstan to take a trip to this amazingly beautiful lake in the northern Tien Shan mountains of Kyrgyzstan. This salty drainless lake is one of the largest mountain lakes in the world: it is 113 miles (182 kilometers) long and 38 miles wide. The lake has relatively cold water: the temperature rarely rises above 25 C (average for July 20 - 23 C). Non-CIS residents need a visa to enter Kyrgyzstan. A Kyrgyz visa costs around $33 and can be issued within 1 day of application. The consular department of the Kyrgyz republic in Almaty is at 68-a Amangeldy and Kabanbai batyr. Tel: 632565 and 630273. Instruction for drivers are very simple: drive north (down) Saina and turn left at the roundabout. Several kilometers before Bishkek you can make the turn-off to the lake. The distance is 280 km. Another option is to take a public bus. Quite comfortable buses to Lake Issyk-Kul (town of Cholpon Ata) run from Sairan bus station daily at 08:55 and every five minutes from 22:00 through 23:00. A one-way ticket costs 860 tenge. Try to buy tickets in advance. If you plan to visit the lake for a weekend, leave Friday night in order to spend the night on the bus and arrive early Saturday morning. Whichever option you choose, make sure your documents, including Kyrgyz visa, are in perfect order. All documents are checked at the customs and passport control post on the Kazakh-Kyrgyz border on the way to the lake and back. Your foreign appearance may prompt Kyrgyz policemen to ask for your documents repeatedly during the trip. Be calm and confident and do not offer bribes if you have done nothing wrong, even if the police hint at it. There are two accommodation options: staying in a sanatorium/rest house or renting a room in a local person’s house. Sanatoriums are scattered all along the shoreline and vary in price per room and facilities. Most travel agencies in Almaty offer a choice of sanatoriums and rest houses and can give you professional advice on each of them. You can find ads for travel agents in the Iz Ruk v Ruki newspaper and also in the free ad papers that you probably find in your mailbox every day. It is always cheaper to stay in a local person’s house. For a tiny fee, locals provide room and board. Very often, they ask for a tiny addition to the original tiny fee to cover cooking expenses. Villages are located further from the coastline than sanatoriums so be prepared for to walk several times a day. In most cases, Kyrgyz homes do not have hot water and you must shower in an outdoor handmade shower tub using water warmed by the sun during the day. If you do not mind this and other inconveniences like having five other tenants in the same house, you may find living with a local quite interesting.
