Blue water
Between peaks.
Maritza Cerda Cerda — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Лобачев Владимир — CC0 · Unknown — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Vmenkov — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Talant Artelow — CC BY 3.0 · Mountins13 — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Vmenkov — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Thomas Depenbusch (Depi) from Cologne, Germany — CC BY 2.0
A vast mountain lake in eastern Kyrgyzstan at 1,607 m, 182 km long, up to 60 km wide and 668 m deep. It is the second-largest mountain lake in the world after Titicaca, and its name means «warm lake». Its slightly salty water means it rarely freezes despite the altitude and cold winters; some 118 rivers and streams flow in, along with many hot springs. Snowy Tian Shan peaks rise to the north and south, so the blue lake between them feels like a sea. The north shore is the holiday coast, with Cholpon-Ata, sandy beaches and resorts; the south shore is quieter and wilder, with Skazka canyon and small villages. The lake is part of the Issyk-Kul Biosphere Reserve and a Ramsar wetland of international importance. Swimming and walking on most beaches are free; private beaches and boats charge. The swimming season runs from July to early September, and the drive from Bishkek to Cholpon-Ata takes about four hours.
Between peaks.
From the shore.
Quiet and wild.
Eastern Kyrgyzstan, among the Tian Shan
Its slightly salty water and hot springs keep it from freezing despite its 1,607 m altitude, hence the name «warm lake».