(that’s what they call it - Kyrgyz Baikal), if we talk about the great lakes that are not located within our homeland, but close to it.
Issyk-Kul does not freeze even in winter, so you can go to Kyrgyzstan at any time of the year. Mountain air, nature untouched by production and thermal springs provide a healing effect, and picturesque views will cure any depression. And in the summer, when you can swim in crystal clear water (even from a hang glider you can see the bottom of the lake!), the resort is simply attacked by tourists.
How to get to Issyk-Kul
It is more convenient to go to the lake through Bishkek. The city has a railway station, and 20 km from it is Manas International Airport.
It's cheaper and faster to get there by plane. Bishkek Airport receives flights from Moscow, St. Petersburg, Yekaterinburg, Novosibirsk and a number of other cities. Several dozen planes depart from the capital's airports every day: Ural Airlines, Aeroflot, Es Seven, Turkish Airlines and others fly. There are many direct flights on the schedule; the flight takes 4-4.5 hours.
Tickets for flights with connections in Novosibirsk or Istanbul will cost more.
Residents of St. Petersburg will have to fly with a transfer in Moscow. There are few flights, only Aeroflot operates them, the journey takes from 6.5 to 26 hours.
Muscovites have another option - a direct train to Bishkek. Departs 2 times a week from Kazansky railway station. A one-way trip will cost 219 USD, and you will have to listen to the sound of wheels for at least 3 days. There is no direct bus connection with Bishkek, and getting there with transfers is long, expensive and irrational. Prices on the page are for October 2018.
How to get from the airport to the lake
There are buses (No. 153) and minibuses from the airport to the Western Bus Station of Bishkek. The fare is 40 KGS, the journey takes 30-40 minutes. At night you will have to use a taxi, the fixed rate is 600 KGS (you can order a car at the Taxi Manas office on the 1st floor of the airport terminal (west wing)). Next, you need to transfer to a bus or minibus to one of the settlements on the shore of Issyk-Kul. It is better to find out the exact bus schedule at the ticket office; minibuses run from 7:30 and depart when full. Tickets will cost 300 KGS, travel time is about 4 hours.
Search for flights to Issyk-Kul
Main resorts of Issyk-Kul
There are a dozen resort towns and villages scattered along the northern and southern coasts of Issyk-Kul. Balykchy, which is located on the western shore, is the first to meet vacationers on the way from Bishkek airport to the lake. That is why people called it the western gate of Issyk-Kul. This is far from the most popular resort of the “Kyrgyz Baikal”, but many choose it because of its good transport accessibility. There are many hotels and family pensions in the city and surrounding areas. Beach holidays are common, and the only attractions are the ancient settlement in neighboring Toru-Aigyr.
Most of the region's hotels and guest houses are concentrated on the northern coast. The price range is decent - from 1100 KGS for a double room to 40,000 KGS for a cottage for 10 people.
One of the most popular resorts in Issyk-Kul is the city of Cholpon-Ata. It is located on the northern coast, 80 km from Balykchy. The recreational opportunities of this place can satisfy the most demanding tourist - healing mountain air and mineral springs for those who want to improve their health, water sports, mountaineering, diving, snorkeling, trekking, horse tourism and much more. For those who prefer to relax on vacation, there are clean beaches and 5 lifts to comfortably climb to the top and admire the mountain lake from there.
In the southeast of Issyk-Kul is the popular ski resort Karakol. Skiers come here from all over Kyrgyzstan and the CIS countries. There is a full-fledged sports base with everything necessary for active recreation.
5 km from Cholpon-Ata there is a small resort village of Bosteri. This is a great place to relax with children - a wide sandy beach, extreme rides and a water park. In addition, tourists are attracted by the largest selection of water activities in Issyk-Kul - boats, motorcycles, bananas, paragliders and parachutes. One of the largest hospitals is located here.
Tamchi is a small village on the northern coast, 45 km from Balykchy. Hotels and boarding houses are located almost in the coastal zone. In the immediate vicinity there are many mineral springs with warm and soft water, and in the village itself there are sanatoriums and hospitals. The main attraction is the Petroglyphs of Tamchy, which date back to 1 thousand BC. e.
The village of Chok-Tal, just 7 km from Tamchy, also has its own thermal well and several boarding houses specializing in treatment with mineral waters. For lovers of active recreation - windsurfing, sailing yachts and boats. Not far from the shore, the remains of a sunken settlement can be seen in the water. And after swimming to your heart’s content, you can go on an excursion to the ancient mounds.
Transport
The main transport of Issyk-Kul is buses. True, they go rarely, some - 2-3 times a day. Their main task is to connect Bishkek with the resorts of Karakol, Bosteri, Cholpon-Ata, Jeti-Oguz, Balykchy and others (the fare is 200-250 KGS), but you can also get from one settlement to another. Minibus taxis run a little more often and usually depart when they are full. The fare depends on the distance; a minibus will cost a little more (270-350 KGS), but the journey will also take less time.
Railway communication is poorly developed. The final stop of the only line is in the city of Balykchy (Rybachye), closest to the capital. The road to the lake takes about 5 hours, travel costs 69 KGS for adults and 34 KGS for children from 5 to 10 years old. This train runs only in the summer season.
Boats, yachts and even motor ships sail on the lake. The main piers are located in Balykchy, Karakol and Pokrovka. There are no scheduled connections between cities and towns; the only option for boat trips is to rent transport from local shipowners.
The most interesting tourist routes of Issyk-Kul lie where even the most versatile SUV cannot pass. There are hiking trails into the mountains, but it’s faster to travel on horseback, especially since horse tourism is well developed in the region. Many boarding houses offer their guests to go on excursions to the mountains on horseback.
Rent a Car
The highway encircles the entire lake in a circle and passes through the main resort towns and villages. If you plan to visit several settlements, then a car is the best way to travel in the vicinity of Issyk-Kul. It’s worth taking care of this in advance, since you can only rent a car in Bishkek and large cities.
The roads are very rough in some places, so it is better to choose a reliable car with good cross-country ability. In addition, it is easier to get to the sites of ancient man and other historical and natural attractions in an SUV than in a small passenger car. In some areas the latter will be completely useless.
There are few rental companies in the capital, there are local ones (Bishkek car rental, Russian Troika, Autotour) and international ones (Advantour). The rental price is relatively low - from 1500 KGS per day. The price usually includes insurance, and for an additional fee you can take child car seats.
Beaches of Issyk-Kul
The best places for a beach holiday are concentrated in the resort town of Cholpon-Ata and the town of Bosteri. One of the most comfortable and well-equipped beaches belongs to the Blue Issyk-Kul sanatorium, located on the outskirts of Cholpon-Ata. The entrance to the water is gentle, the coast and bottom of the lake are sandy. Sun loungers, umbrellas and sports equipment can be rented. Entertainment includes banana boat rides, catamarans and pleasure boats; admission is free.
The city beach of Cholpon-Ata attracts vacationers with clear water and a gentle entrance to the water; the bottom and shore are covered with clean, fine sand. There are rentals of catamarans, umbrellas and sun loungers. You can use the changing cabin and take shelter in the shade of the canopy for free.
For a quiet, secluded getaway, go to Laguna Beach in the suburbs of Cholpon-Ata. There are significantly fewer tourists here, as well as infrastructure - rare umbrellas, catamaran rentals and changing rooms. But right from the shore, crucian carp bites well, which attracts local and visiting fishermen here.
One of the most famous beaches of Bosteri, “Golden Sands”, belongs to the boarding house of the same name. A large selection of entertainment for all ages and tastes brings together young people and families with children. The bottom and shore are sandy, entry into the water is smooth, making it convenient to bathe children. There is a large Ferris wheel and other attractions on the shore. Lots of water slides, some of which lead directly into the lake. Entrance to the beach is free.
Treatment in Issyk-Kul
Health tourism is one of the main directions of the region. Issyk-Kul is a national health resort of Kyrgyzstan, which every year attracts more and more tourists from Russia, the CIS and Europe. The reason for this is the large number of mineral springs and thermal wells, boarding houses and hospitals.
For those who want to relax on a budget, a trip to a sanatorium is not the best option. You can save on food and accommodation by choosing one of the accommodation options in the private sector near the boarding house where you plan to undergo medical procedures.
The range of diseases for which treatment is offered by Issyk-Kul sanatoriums is very wide: these are diseases of the heart and digestive organs, musculoskeletal and nervous systems, skin and gynecological diseases. Depending on the specific diagnosis, specialists select the necessary procedures: Charcot showers, mineral baths, physical therapy, thalassotherapy and much more. Most of the hospitals are located on the northern coast of the lake, in the area of the popular resorts of Cholpon-Ata, Bosteri, Tamchi and Chok-Tal.
Health tourism on Lake Issyk-Kul is not limited to sanatorium treatment. Healing mountain air, a climate close to the sea and ample opportunities for active recreation contribute to the overall health of the body. Swimming in warm lake water, hiking and horseback riding, diving and mountaineering will strengthen the musculoskeletal and cardiovascular systems, and mineral water will cleanse the body of toxins and tone it up.
Diving
Diving in Issyk-Kul is different from diving in the sea - you are unlikely to see bright corals and schools of colored fish. However, there is something to see here too; the most interesting area is wreck diving. At the bottom of the lake, ancient settlements and other settlements are preserved, the age of which exceeds 2,500 years. Of course, it is often difficult to discern almost completely destroyed buildings in silhouettes covered with silt, but you can find household items and even items made of gold and silver.
The cost of services is relatively low. For certified athletes it starts from 1700 KGS per dive, for beginners - from 2000 KGS. The price includes guide services, equipment rental and video filming.
Divers should choose Cholpon-Ata or Bosteri for their vacation - the summer bases of Bishkek diving clubs are located there. They usually operate from mid-June to the end of August, when the water temperature allows diving to a depth of 17 m. Training is provided for beginners, the first swim is only accompanied by an instructor.
Hotels in Issyk-Kul
Hotels, inns and other accommodation options are scattered along the entire coast of Issyk-Kul, but the largest number of them are concentrated on the northern shore. Since health tourism is widespread in the region, it is worth highlighting sanatoriums that, in addition to accommodation and meals, offer their guests medical procedures. The range of prices per night in a double room is large - from 3,000 to 10,000 KGS.
For those who just came to relax, Issyk-Kul has hotels, apartments and guest houses of different price categories. Prices for a room in Cholpon-Ata mini-hotels start from 1000 KGS. Many of them include breakfast in this price.
There are a couple of 2 and 3* hotels in Bosteri and Cholpon-Ata. A night in a double room will cost 4000-5000 KGS. In addition, there is the option to rent a holiday house or apartment for 4-10 people. In some cases, this is more profitable than taking several double rooms in a hotel, and for a cheerful company or a large family it is an ideal option. The asking price is from 6,500 KGS (for 4 people) to 40,000 KGS (for 10 guests).
What to bring
The top souvenirs from Issyk-Kul are crowned with delicious and healthy delicacies - honey and jam. You can also take with you mushrooms, fresh berries, fruits and local fish, Issyk-Kul chebachek. In dried and dried form, it will definitely not leave foam lovers indifferent.
For honey and jam at the Bishkek airport, you need to fill out a phytosanitary certificate so that there are no problems with transportation across the border.
Among inedible souvenirs, felt products are in demand. As a gift for the older generation, take warm and comfortable slippers; young girls will love jewelry and accessories (bags, wallets and cosmetic bags), and children will love funny animals and dolls. The most popular felt souvenir is the national Kyrgyz headdress ak-kalpak. Also, miniature yurts, folding out like our nesting dolls, and dolls in national costumes convey local flavor. In addition, souvenir shops are full of T-shirts, mugs and magnets with symbols of Kyrgyzstan.
What to try
The national culinary traditions of Kyrgyzstan are close to the cuisine of Uzbekistan and other Central Asian countries. A special place is occupied by meat dishes, one of the most famous is “beshbarmak”. And although this is a festive dish, for the preparation of which a sheep is traditionally slaughtered to treat the most dear guests, you can try it in many restaurants in Issyk-Kul. Other lamb dishes typical of these places are pilaf, shish kebab and lagman.
As for dairy products, be sure to try kumis (mare’s milk) and “kurut” (white balls that taste like our kefir). Two more rather specific fermented milk delicacies are ayran and suzmo.
For lovers of baking, Issyk-Kul prepares flatbreads (necessarily in the tandoor or “kattama” with filling), samsa, “hoshan” (pies) and much more. Local manti are very tasty; you definitely won’t find these in Russia.
Among alcoholic drinks, Kyrgyz cognacs and balms are in demand; they are even taken home as souvenirs. Many tourists prefer the “Kyrgyzstan” variety due to the optimal combination of price and quality. Those who prefer elite drinks should pay attention to “Manas” and “Enesai”, the cost of which is close to French cognacs.
Entertainment and attractions
In addition to the mild climate, mountain air and healing bright blue water, which have already been mentioned, Issyk-Kul attracts with its golden beaches, hot mineral springs and healing mud: the lake is essentially a large health resort. But in addition to the health benefits of relaxing here, there are also a lot of impressions, because Issyk-Kul has a lot of entertainment and places that you can’t help but visit. So you are definitely not in danger of a boring sanatorium holiday! You can go trekking, mountaineering, go rafting on the Chu River or take a yacht ride on the lake. The Kyrgyz also managed to organize educational tourism well.
4 things to do in Issyk-Kul:
- Take to the skies on a hang glider, see the lake from a bird's eye view and make sure that it is amazingly blue and transparent: you can even see the bottom!
- Visit the Santash Pass, about which there is a legend: Tamerlane tried many times to conquer the tribes living on the shores of the lake, on one of his campaigns he ordered his soldiers to take stones in their hands and build a mountain out of them, on the way back the survivors did the same, the mountain turned out to be half the size. These mounds were called Santash, which means counting.
- Get a telescope and at night admire the stars that hang at arm's length in Cholpan-Ata. Although, you can do without a telescope! In the metropolis there is definitely no such luxury due to the constant smog.
- Dive into the depths of Issyk-Kul in equipment and see with your own eyes the ruins of ancient settlements found at the bottom of the lake.
Cholpon-Ata
The resort center of the northern coast of Issyk-Kul, Cholpon-Ata, is famous for its health resorts. There are many thermal springs, hydrogen sulfide and silt mud. The largest water park and attractions in Kyrgyzstan operate on the beach.
Be sure to take a ride on the Ferris wheel: it’s definitely worth seeing Issyk-Kul from a 70-meter height!
For extreme sports enthusiasts, surfing, spearfishing and towed parachute flights, trips to caves and mountain gorges are available. One of the popular routes is the Kungey Ala-Too ridge, from which you can see the mountain gorges of Chon-Koi-Suu and Cholpon-Ata with their famous petroglyphs and burial mounds. Here, alpine meadows coexist with eternal glaciers and waterfalls.
You can go fishing with the whole family or go to the hippodrome to see the breed of Kyrgyz horses bred at a local stud farm.
If you are in Cholpon-Ata, go to the Stone Garden. The open-air museum stretches over 42 hectares - the ruins of the city from the Great Silk Road era are preserved here. And in the Rukh-Ordo cultural center there are 5 white chapels, each dedicated to a different religion.
Pearl of Kyrgyzstan
Dead Lake
Just 200 m from Issyk-Kul, although this proximity is only apparent on the scale of the lake itself, there is another interesting attraction - Kara-Kol or Dead Salt Lake. In search of this natural miracle, it is better to focus on the city of Balykchy: from it to Kara-Kol is a little more than 70 km. The lake is notable for the fact that it is impossible to drown in it - such a concentration of salt! It is often compared to the Israeli Dead Sea; people come here to treat skin diseases. The silt mud of Kara-Kola - black, blue and green - is credited with an even wider range of healing properties.
Barskoon
Travelers who choose the wild southern coast of Issyk-Kul should visit Barskaun. The locals call it in their own way - Barskoon. This is a gorge in the Terskey-Alata mountains, its length is 10 km. This is where the Great Silk Road to China ran. But Barskoon is famous primarily for its waterfalls, each with its own unusual name. For example, Tears of a Leopard falling from a 100-meter height, or Splashes of Champagne. Local guides will tell you an incredible legend about each waterfall.
Hot spring Altyn-Arashan
There are many healing thermal springs in Issyk-Kul, but the Kyrgyz themselves consider Arashan the best, for which they call it golden. It is located 10 km from the city of Karakol, near the village of Ak-Suu. The main magic of this place is that here springs of different temperature and composition of water flow out of the ground: in the Juuku spring the water temperature is +34 °C, in Jilisu - +40 °C, in Arashan - +50 °C. The first two are hydrogen sulfide, the last is radon. It is believed that spring water helps with diseases of the digestive system, heart, liver and joints.
You can swim in the springs of Arashan all year round!
Tanga Tash
Even if you are not a Buddhist, Tanga Tash is worth a visit. The local shrine, which is of global value, is a chain of three giant stones located approximately 1 km from each other. Often, of course, travelers only get to one. On the stones there are engravings with Tibetan rock writings that have a sacred meaning. This place, as those who have been here assure, charges with energy.
Jety-Oguz Gorge
In the mountain valley of Jety-Oguz there is a famous resort, and it is known for being located at an altitude of 2200 m above sea level and built on hot hydrogen sulfide springs. The resort is surrounded by rocks with eloquent names: Broken Heart, Seven Bulls - the Kyrgyz have a clear order when describing their native beauties. In Jety-Oguz there was once an ancient settlement where the headquarters of the Usun ruler was located. The Jety-Oguz gorge stretches for 37 km and is literally strewn with dark green spruce trees.
Hiking the Arabel Wind
Horses are sacred animals for the Kyrgyz; they have always lived next to people. That’s why equestrian tourism is thriving here. You can go on horseback for an hour-long ride, or you can go on a 15-day hike through passes and high-mountain glaciers under the wonderful name “Beyond the Arabel Wind.” The instructors will explain to you what kind of wind you have to look for and what Arabel syrts are, if you dare. Tourists on this trip cook their own food over a fire, using what they shoot or fish, and take care of the horses - in general, it’s good for the office plankton, and they’ll have something to brag about to their colleagues.
Before you go on a multi-day horseback riding trip, make sure you have the strength and health to do it. This tour is contraindicated for people suffering from vascular diseases.
Weather in Issyk-Kul
The climate of Issyk-Kul is temperate continental and, despite the distance from the seas and oceans, is somewhat reminiscent of the sea. In summer the weather is mild and comfortable; in winter there is no severe cold. Humidity is very different in the east and west. In the Balykchy area, precipitation falls several times more often than in Karakol.
Beach lovers should plan their vacation for the period from May to September. At this time, the air and water temperatures allow swimming and sunbathing. But since this is not the only tourist destination in the region, the flow of vacationers does not dry out all year round. In winter, the ski resort in Karakol is especially popular. And for those who come to improve their health in sanatoriums, the time of year does not matter much at all.
Issyk-Kul is one of the world's largest mountain lakes. In terms of transparency, it is compared to Lake Baikal. It is drainless and is fed by more than 80 rivers and water from glaciers. The lake is located in the Tien Shan mountains, its climate is maritime, it is determined by the natural isolation of the basin in which the lake is located. Hurricanes sweep over Issyk-Kul several times a year. The high season here lasts from June to the end of September.
Several reasons why you should visit Issyk-Kul
The lake is the pride of Kyrgyzstan; about 2 million tourists come here every year. It is located at an altitude of about 1600 meters above sea level and is famous for its extraordinary beauty. Why Issyk-Kul attracts tourists:
- visa-free entry for citizens of 44 countries;
- low prices for holidays;
- for Russians - no language barrier;
- majestic mountain landscapes;
- healing mineral springs;
- clean mountain air and beautiful beaches;
- acquaintance with the culture, national cuisine and traditions of the hospitable Kyrgyz people.
The most popular resorts - cities Karakol And Cholpon-Ata, sat down Bosteri, Sary-Oh And Chok-Tal, gorges Barskoon And Jeti-Oguz. The main beaches are concentrated on the northern shore of the lake between the villages Tamchy And Korumdu.
Natural and historical attractions, well-organized tourist infrastructure, an abundance of fruits, entertainment - all this is available in the resorts of Issyk-Kul. And one more thing - it is never hot here, light breezes do not allow the temperature to rise above 30°C even in the warmest month - July. When is the best time to relax on Lake Issyk-Kul?
May is a time for a wellness holiday
May- the time when tourists who want to improve their health in mineral waters and mud begin to flock to the resorts of Issyk-Kul. On the shores of the lake there are sanatoriums and boarding houses that provide a full range of balneological services:
- radon, pine and pearl baths;
- mud therapy;
- therapeutic and wellness massage.
And also - a local, completely unique way - kumiss treatment. The May weather is already pleasantly warm. During the day the temperature rises to 20°C, everything around blossoms. Only here you can admire the huge fields of blooming scarlet poppies in May.
June - opening of the season
The beginning of summer in the Issyk-Kul region coincides with the calendar; during the day the air warms up to 20-23°C, at night the temperature can drop to 7-10°C. At the beginning of the month the water is still cold - 12-19°C. From the middle June The swimming season opens.
June is not a suitable month for a beach holiday with children - the water for children remains quite cold even at the end of the month.
For other vacationers, a vacation in June has undoubted advantages - a small number of people and still low prices for housing and food. Swimming and sunbathing in June will be successfully replaced by interesting excursions, health treatments in local sanatoriums, and horseback riding in the picturesque surroundings of the lake.
July - high season
IN July Mountain meadows begin to bloom, and the air is filled with the aromas of forest and herbs. The July temperature stays at 25-29°C, the water warms up to a comfortable 24°C. The sandy beaches of the lake are filled with vacationers; there are no vacancies in sanatoriums and boarding houses.
At this time, resort life is in full swing - famous artists give concerts, entertainment venues operate at full capacity.
July is a noisy, fun time. For those who want peace, beauty and peace, it is better to reschedule the trip to the end of August or September. In addition, July marks the peak in prices for everything - accommodation, excursions and entertainment.
August is the velvet season
Until the very end of summer, the weather in Issyk-Kul remains warm, even sometimes hot (up to 36°C). The water in the lake is still suitable for swimming. people in August It’s not getting smaller, but prices continue to remain high.
To travel to Issyk-Kul at the end of summer, accommodation must be booked at least a month in advance.
The most popular activities are boat trips, fishing and, of course, visiting picturesque gorges, thermal springs, temples and historical monuments. For diving enthusiasts, there is a separate entertainment - diving to the ruins of ancient cities resting at the bottom of the lake.
August is the time for grapes, apricots, peaches and fresh vegetables, which are sold at very reasonable prices. In the evenings the lake is already cool, so it’s worth stocking up on a couple of warm clothes.
September - end of the tourist season
September- a fertile time for those who are alien to the bustle and noise, who want to admire nature alone, lie on a half-empty beach and swim in a still warm lake. The temperature in September during the day drops to 23-25°C, the evenings become even cooler, and rain may begin.
But they are not able to ruin your vacation - there are still plenty of sunny days in September. Vacation prices are approaching June prices. But August has a significant advantage - the swimming season continues and fresh fruits ripen. September is a suitable month for romantic couples seeking solitude.
This is also the time for mountain hiking. There is no sweltering heat, the weather is mostly cloudless, which allows you to admire stunning views.
Winter holidays in Issyk-Kul
in winter Hospitable Issyk-Kul opens its arms even wider to tourists. Despite the fact that not all recreation centers operate, you can be sure that the best of them will welcome you. In winter, you can relax in luxurious suites for money that in summer is only enough for a run-down double room. Prices for food and excursions are reduced significantly.
What could be better than spending the New Year holidays among the sparkling “crystal” winter nature, listening to local legends, taking a steam bath, and then diving into a clean, non-freezing lake?!
Winter activities in Issyk-Kul:
- sledding, skiing and snowboarding;
- winter fishing;
- impressive photo shoots against the backdrop of mountain peaks.
They also work here in winter sanatoriums. The average air temperature in December is around -5°C, in January - around 0°C, and in February it begins to tend to positive values.
There are about two thousand high-mountain lakes on the territory of Kyrgyzstan, but the pearl of the country and the entire Tien Shan is considered to be Lake Issyk-Kul or Issyk-Kel (translated from Kyrgyz - “hot lake”, from ancient Turkic - “sacred lake”) with an area of 6236 sq. . km with a maximum depth of 702 m.
The first mention of Issyk-Kul is found in Chinese chronicles of the late 2nd century BC, where it is called Zhe-Hai (“warm sea”). The lake lies in the northeast of Kyrgyzstan, at an altitude of 1606.7 m above sea level, in a vast tectonic basin formed more than 50 million years ago. Directly adjacent to the lake is a narrow lakeside plain, dissected by the channels of many rivers (about 80). The basin is surrounded in a ring by the Terskey-Ala-Too (“facing the sun”) and Kyungoy-Ala-Too (“facing the sun”) ridges, rising to heights of 4500-5000 m. The ring of mountains seems to protect the lake basin from the penetration of cold air from the north and hot air from the deserts of Central Asia, because the climate here is quite mild, which turns Issyk-Kul into one of the largest resorts in Central Asia. The water temperature in summer reaches +24 C, in winter - +4 C (this is the source of origin of his name). The swimming season lasts 6 months, and outdoor recreation is possible all year round.
The cleanest rivers flowing from the mountains constantly replenish the lake basin, but the water in Issyk-Kul itself is salty (5.8 ppm at the surface, up to 18 in the depths), which, coupled with the unique mineral composition of local rivers, gives the lake’s never-freezing water a thick blue color . At the same time, depending on the place and time of day, the color of the water can change from soft blue to dark blue tones. And the transparency of the water in the open part of the reservoir reaches 12-16 m. The beauty of the lake is simply amazing; P.P. Semenov-Tien-Shansky compared it with Lake Geneva in Switzerland, and gave preference to Issyk-Kul. The coastline of the lake is quite indented - there are about 20 picturesque bays and bays. Crystal clear water, mineral springs, combined with a mountainous and at the same time mild, almost marine climate, create unique conditions for a resort holiday with mud and thermal treatment.
A whole string of resort towns and villages stretches around the lake, many of which had all-Union importance and popularity during the Soviet era. The best resorts are Cholpon-Ata on the northern shore (it was once a resort of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Kyrgyzstan, now the Museum of Local Lore is interesting here), Karakol with its wooden Orthodox Church of the Holy Trinity, a wooden Dungan mosque and the Przhevalsky Museum is the best starting point for exploring the lakeside and surrounding areas mountainous areas, the towns of Tyup, Ottuk, Balykchi (Rybachye) and others. Also good are the famous Altyn-Arashan gorge (located 30 km east of Karakol at an altitude of 3000 m) with its beautiful landscapes and hot springs, the nearby Issyk-Ata mineral water deposit (77 km southeast of Bishkek), the Kumtor gold mines (southern the coast of Issyk-Kul), the majestic Jolbors gorge, the cliffs of the Jety-Oguz canyon, the Boom gorge with its fantastic red rocks and the waterfall in the Barskaun gorge (the height of the waterfall is about 100 m).
On the territory of the Issykul region there are about 1,500 historical monuments, of which 320 are under state protection. The most significant of them include the Saka “Royal Mound” (VII century BC - II century AD) near the village of Kurmenty, the Kok-Bulak and Karashar burial grounds (in total about a thousand burials of the Usun tribes), covered with Tibetan religious inscriptions on the Tamga-Tash stone (VI-I centuries BC), a cluster of petroglyphs (II millennium BC - 8th century AD) near Cholpon-Ata and further along the coast to Tamchy, as well as Cape Holy Nose on the northeastern tip of the lake - the location of the legendary monastery of the Armenian Christian Church (IV-V centuries) in which, according to legend, the tomb of St. Apostle Matthew is located. And at the bottom of the lake there are the ruins of about two dozen flooded ancient cities - Sary-Bulun, Koisary, Ulan (XII century) and so on, which died with rising water levels in Issyk-Kul. Many historical and cultural values of the Saka-Usun period (1st millennium BC) and the early Middle Ages were discovered in them.
The best time to visit Issyk-Kul is September, although trekking in the mountains is best done between July and August.
Lake Issyk-Kul is one of the largest lakes in the world. It is located in central Asia, in the Republic of Kyrgyzstan. The amazing beauty of the reservoir and its healing properties have made it the pearl of Central Asia. If you translate the name “Issyk-Kul” from the Kyrgyz language, the translation will sound like “hot lake”. The reservoir received its name due to the fact that it does not freeze in the winter season.
Issyk-Kul is located in the valley of the Tien Shan Mountains. More than 80 mountain streams and rivers feed the reservoir. huge: the length is 178 kilometers and the width is about 60 kilometers. Such impressive dimensions made it the second largest lake in the world. Only Lake Titicaca, located in South America, is larger in size. The volume of water in Issyk-Kul is 1738 km2, and the area of the water surface is 6236 km2. The coastline is 688 kilometers long.
Large sizes – many legends and mysteries
There are many legends around the reservoir about its appearance. One of the legends is this: in a Kyrgyz village there lived a girl of magnificent beauty, and two brothers, Tyrskei and Kyngei, fell in love with her. Without dividing the girl, they decided to measure their strength in a mountain valley. Having learned about this, the girl immediately rushed there, but could not stop the argument. Begging to stop the stupid idea, she began to cry. Salty hot tears immediately filled the entire valley. As a result, a lake was formed that swallowed up the poor beauty. And the brothers, unable to withstand such grief, turned into mountain ranges that protect the peace of the reservoir to this day.
Although whether to believe in legends or not is up to everyone, but, as you know, there is some truth in every story. It is probably no coincidence that the reservoir received its name because of the hot and salty tears.
Being a real historical place, Issyk-Kul is famous in many poems and songs of that region. Here, for example, is one such work:
If you're a lucky vacationer
And looked at the globe,
Don't be smart - get behind the wheel
And come to Issyk-Kul.
What is the Black Sea? - it,
It shouldn't even be equal!
And the old Caspian is just zero,
When there is marvelous Issyk-Kul.
As we can see, the lake plays a big role in the local culture.
Currently, the lake is home to 21 species of fish, which serve the fishing industry. 14 species are natives that live only here. The rest of the fish was imported.
Issyk-Kul(Kyrgyzstan Ysyk-Kol - Yzyk-Kol, Yyyk-Kol (There was a transformation of the Kyrgyz Yyyk - sacred, into Yssyk) - “ Sacred Lake - Yyyk") - the largest lake in Kyrgyzstan, endorheic, is one of the 25 largest lakes in the world by area and in sixth place in the list of the deepest lakes. Located in the northeastern part of the republic, between the ridges of the Northern Tien Shan: Kungoy-Ala-Too and Terskey Ala-Too at an altitude of 1609 m above sea level. The lake is drainless; up to 80 relatively small tributaries flow into it. Of these, the largest are Tyup and Dzhergalan, flowing from the east. In the western part, the Chu River comes very close to the lake, which, along the 6 km long Kutemaldy channel, sometimes gives it part of its waters during spring floods. The water level in Issyk-Kul changes cyclically (it rises and then falls); the cycle occurs over several decades. The water is brackish (water salinity - 5.90 ‰).
The volume of water is 1738 km³, the area of the water surface is 6236 km², the length of the coastline is 688 km, the average depth is 278 m, the greatest depth is almost 2.5 times greater and equals 702 m. The length of Issyk-Kul from west to east is 182 km, and from south to north - 58 km.
Climate
The climate of the coast is moderately maritime. Issyk-Kul has a softening effect throughout the lake’s water area. Average January temperature: Tamga −2°, Cholpon-Ata −3°, Karakol −6°. Average July temperature: +17°.
The amount of precipitation is minimal on the western shore of the lake and maximum in the eastern part of the basin.
The number of hours of sunshine is 2700 hours, which is more than on the Black Sea. For comparison, the number of hours of sunshine in Moscow is 1,700 hours.
Name
The Russian spelling of the name of the lake "Issyk-Kul" most likely comes from the Kyrgyz spelling - "Yiyk-Kol". The words “yyyk kel” translated from the Kyrgyz language mean “sacred lake”, since the Kyrgyz treated the lake as a spiritualized hydronym. In addition, the mild winters of the basin, the heat reserves in the huge water column, and the salinity of the lake prevent it from becoming covered with ice. However, according to geographer and toponymist E.M. Murzaev, the name goes back to the ancient “yzyk, ezykh” (sacred). The sanctity of the lake and the reverent attitude towards it on the part of the Kyrgyz go back to the distant past and persist to this day.
History of the study
The first mention of Issyk-Kul is found in Chinese chronicles of the late 2nd century BC, where it is called Zhe-Hai, which means “warm sea”. However, the scientific study of the lake began only in the 19th century by Russian scientists, including N. M. Przhevalsky, who bequeathed to bury himself on the shore of Issyk-Kul.
Ichthyofauna
There are currently 21 species of fish in the lake, belonging to 5 families. 14 species are endemic, and the remaining species were introduced from other bodies of water. Until 2011, about 90% of the total fish biomass was the Issyk-Kul chebak (Leuciscus bergi Kaschkarov). From 2007 to 2011, the chebak in the lake was almost completely exterminated by rainbow trout.
Vegetation
The vegetation off the coast of Issyk Kul is quite poor. Mostly sea buckthorn (Hypophae rhamnoides) grows near the lake. There is no woody vegetation in the lake valley itself, only small groves of poplar and other trees are found along the rivers. Woody vegetation is represented mainly by forests of Schrenk spruce. Spruce forests are distributed mainly on the northern slopes of the mountains bordering Lake Issyk-Kul. Spruce grows in separate tracts, islands, interspersed with glades, scree and rock outcrops, alternating with meadows. The mountain slopes are rich in thickets of rosehip, barberry, currant, rowan, and juniper. In the lower reaches along the banks of rivers, in places with more moisture, willows and birches are abundant. In the east of the valley they form small deciduous forests.
Tourism
The rare combination of sea and mountain climates attracts numerous holidaymakers and tourists. Lake Issyk-Kul is the main source of tourism income in Kyrgyzstan. Nevertheless, there are still a lot of undeveloped places on the coast of Lake Issyk-Kul, in the place of which new comfortable vacation spots are gradually appearing.
The most popular places among tourists on Lake Issyk-Kul are the cities of Cholpon-Ata and Karakol, the resort villages of Bosteri, Sary-Oy, Chok-Tal, Bulan-Sogyottyu, Chon-Sary-Oy, Tamchy, as well as the gorges of Barskoon, Jeti- Oguz, Grigorievskoe and Semyonovskoe.
Beach tourism is concentrated mainly from the village of Tamchy to the village of Korumdu on the northern coast. The season lasts from mid-June to the end of August.
The majority of tourists vacationing on Lake Issyk-Kul are residents of Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, and Russia.
Ecology
The environmental situation is generally favorable. There are no large industrial polluting enterprises in the lake area.
In the summer of 1998, during the transportation of toxic substances, as a result of an accident, from 0.5 to 1.7 tons of poisonous sodium cyanide fell into one of the tributaries of the lake - the Barskoon River. Every year, monitoring is carried out at the accident site, and indicators indicate that there is no threat to life.
Tests
During Soviet times, underwater weapons were tested in the lake. The Karakol test base of the Russian Navy still exists today (2016).
Also, at one time, tests of the An-10 aircraft took place on the shore of the lake, in which the designer O. M. Antonov himself took part. In particular, the possibility of landing a heavy aircraft on a dirt (in this case, pebble) strip was tested. Landings, among other things, were carried out with an imitation of a failed engine. This was described in more detail in the book of the famous designer.
Legends
The Legend of the Relics of the Apostle Matthew
There are many legends associated with the lake. One of them says that near the northern shore there is a flooded Armenian monastery, where the relics of the Apostle Matthew are located. For example, on the so-called Catalan world map, dated 1375, on the northern shore of Lake Issyk-Kul there is a building with a cross, and next to it there is an inscription: “A place called Issyk-Kul. In this place is the monastery of the Armenian brothers, where the body of St. Matthew, the Apostle and Evangelist resides.”
There was a particular excitement in 2003 during the arrival of former dissident Sergei Melnikov, who enlisted the support of the government and the Metropolitan of Central Asia and Bishkek and promised to find a Nestorian monastery and a treasure of either Genghis Khan himself or the Nestorian monks.
The Legend of Tamerlane
Other legends
There are also a number of legends about sunken cities and treasures. Most of them are based on real facts. As underwater excavations have shown, in the coastal zone of the lake there are indeed a number of medieval cities that were flooded at a later time, including the capital of the Wusun, Chigu.
In literature and cinema
- E. A. Popov - The Mystery of Lake Issyk-Kul (1959), fantastic story.
- The action of Ch. T. Aitmatov’s story “The White Steamship” takes place on the shore of Lake Issyk-Kul.
- A. Sytin’s story “Smugglers of the Tien Shan” and its film adaptation “Scarlet Poppies of Issyk-Kul”
- Song of the creative duet of bards Alexey Ivashchenko and Georgy Vasilyev (“Ivasi”) “Rain over Issyk-Kul”
- Sheet NK 43-6, from the United States Military Ordnance Survey map set of Western Siberia. Series 502. 1955. Scale 1:250,000
USSR map NK 43-6 Rybach"ye.jpg
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Notes
see also
Literature
- Golubev A.F. “A brief report on the results of the Issyk-Kul expedition” (“Notes of the Imperial Russian Geographical Society”, 1860);
- Kublitsky G.I. Across continents and oceans: Stories of travel and discovery. - M.: Detgiz, 1957. - 326 p.
- Uzin S. V. Hot Lake // Secrets of geographical names / S. V. Uzin; Artist E. S. Skrynnikov. - M.: Geographgiz, 1961. - P. 11-20. - 104 s. - 40,000 copies.(region)
- Rukavishnikov B. I. Lake Issyk-Kul and the Terskey-Alatau ridge. - M.: Physical education and sport, 1970. - 120 p. - (Across native expanses). - 25,000 copies.(region)
Links
- // Around the World, No. 3 (2510), March 1983 (Retrieved October 30, 2009)
Excerpt characterizing Issyk-Kul
And finally, the last departure of the great emperor from the heroic army seems to us by historians as something great and brilliant. Even this last act of flight, in human language is called the last degree of meanness, which every child learns to be ashamed of, and this act in the language of historians receives justification.Then, when it is no longer possible to stretch such elastic threads of historical reasoning any further, when an action is already clearly contrary to what all humanity calls good and even justice, the saving concept of greatness appears among historians. Greatness seems to exclude the possibility of measuring good and bad. For the great there is no bad. There is no horror that can be blamed on someone who is great.
- “C"est grand!" [This is majestic!] - say historians, and then there is no longer either good or bad, but there is “grand” and “not grand”. Grand is good, not grand is bad. Grand is a property, according to their concepts, of some kind of special animals they call heroes. And Napoleon, walking home in a warm fur coat from the dying not only of his comrades, but (in his opinion) of the people he brought here, feels que c"est grand, and his soul is at peace.
“Du sublime (he sees something sublime in himself) au ridicule il n"y a qu"un pas,” he says. And the whole world has been repeating for fifty years: “Sublime! Grand! Napoleon le grand! Du sublime au ridicule il n"y a qu"un pas". [majestic... From majestic to ridiculous there is only one step... Majestic! Great! Napoleon the Great! It’s only a step from the majestic to the ridiculous.]
And it will not occur to anyone that recognition of greatness, immeasurable by the measure of good and bad, is only recognition of one’s insignificance and immeasurable smallness.
For us, with the measure of good and bad given to us by Christ, there is nothing immeasurable. And there is no greatness where there is no simplicity, goodness and truth.
Which of the Russian people, reading descriptions of the last period of the campaign of 1812, did not experience a heavy feeling of annoyance, dissatisfaction and uncertainty. Who hasn’t asked himself questions: how they didn’t take and destroy all the French, when all three armies surrounded them in superior numbers, when the frustrated French, starving and freezing, surrendered in droves, and when (as history tells us) the goal of the Russians was precisely that to stop, cut off and take prisoner all the French.
How did that Russian army, which was weaker in number than the French, fight the Battle of Borodino, how did this army, which surrounded the French on three sides and had the goal of taking them away, did not achieve its goal? Do the French really have such a huge advantage over us that we, having surrounded them with superior forces, could not beat them? How could this happen?
History (the one called by this word), answering these questions, says that this happened because Kutuzov, and Tormasov, and Chichagov, and this one, and that one, did not make such and such maneuvers.
But why didn't they do all these maneuvers? Why, if they were to blame for not achieving the intended goal, why were they not tried and executed? But, even if we admit that the failure of the Russians was due to Kutuzov and Chichagov, etc., it is still impossible to understand why and in the conditions in which the Russian troops were located at Krasnoye and near Berezina (in both cases the Russians were in excellent forces), why was the French army with its marshals, kings and emperors not captured, when this was the goal of the Russians?
The explanation of this strange phenomenon by the fact that Kutuzov prevented the attack (as Russian military historians do) is unfounded because we know that Kutuzov’s will could not keep the troops from attacking near Vyazma and near Tarutin.
Why was that Russian army, which with weaker forces won a victory at Borodino over the enemy in all its strength, at Krasnoe and near Berezina with superior forces defeated by frustrated crowds of the French?
If the goal of the Russians was to cut off and capture Napoleon and the marshals, and this goal was not only not achieved, but all attempts to achieve this goal were each time destroyed in the most shameful way, then the last period of the campaign quite rightly seems to be close to the French victories and is completely unfairly presented by Russian historians as victorious.
Russian military historians, to the extent that logic is obligatory for them, involuntarily come to this conclusion and, despite lyrical appeals about courage and devotion, etc., must involuntarily admit that the French retreat from Moscow is a series of victories for Napoleon and defeats for Kutuzov.
But, leaving national pride completely aside, one feels that this conclusion itself contains a contradiction, since a series of victories for the French led them to complete destruction, and a series of defeats for the Russians led them to the complete destruction of the enemy and the purification of their fatherland.
The source of this contradiction lies in the fact that historians who study events from letters of sovereigns and generals, from reports, reports, plans, etc., have assumed a false, never-existent goal for the last period of the war of 1812 - a goal that supposedly consisted of to cut off and catch Napoleon with the marshals and the army.
This goal never existed and could not exist, because it had no meaning, and achieving it was completely impossible.
This goal did not make any sense, firstly, because Napoleon’s frustrated army fled from Russia as quickly as possible, that is, it fulfilled the very thing that every Russian could wish for. Why was it necessary to carry out various operations on the French, who fled as quickly as they could?
Secondly, it was pointless to stand in the way of people who had directed all their energy to escape.
Thirdly, it was pointless to lose their troops to destroy the French armies, which were destroyed without external reasons in such a progression that without any blocking of the path they could not transfer across the border more than what they transferred in the month of December, that is, one hundredth of the entire army.
Fourthly, it was pointless to want to capture the emperor, kings, dukes - people whose captivity would greatly complicate the actions of the Russians, as the most skillful diplomats of that time admitted (J. Maistre and others). Even more senseless was the desire to take the French corps when their troops had melted halfway to Krasny, and convoy divisions had to be separated from the corps of prisoners, and when their soldiers did not always receive full provisions and the already taken prisoners were dying of hunger.
The entire thoughtful plan to cut off and catch Napoleon and his army was similar to the plan of a gardener who, driving cattle out of the garden that had trampled his ridges, would run to the gate and begin to beat this cattle on the head. One thing that could be said to justify the gardener would be that he was very angry. But this could not even be said about the drafters of the project, because they were not the ones who suffered from the trampled ridges.
But, besides the fact that cutting off Napoleon and the army was pointless, it was impossible.
This was impossible, firstly, because, since experience shows that the movement of columns over five miles in one battle never coincides with plans, the likelihood that Chichagov, Kutuzov and Wittgenstein would converge on time at the appointed place was so insignificant , that it amounted to impossibility, as Kutuzov thought, even when he received the plan, he said that sabotage over long distances does not bring the desired results.
Secondly, it was impossible because, in order to paralyze the force of inertia with which Napoleon’s army was moving back, it was necessary to have, without comparison, larger troops than those that the Russians had.
Thirdly, it was impossible because cutting off a military word has no meaning. You can cut off a piece of bread, but not an army. There is no way to cut off an army - to block its path, because there is always a lot of space around where you can go around, and there is night, during which nothing is visible, as military scientists could be convinced of, even from the examples of Krasny and Berezina. It is impossible to take prisoner without the person being taken prisoner agreeing to it, just as it is impossible to catch a swallow, although you can take it when it lands on your hand. You can take prisoner someone who surrenders, like the Germans, according to the rules of strategy and tactics. But the French troops, quite rightly, did not find this convenient, since the same hungry and cold death awaited them on the run and in captivity.
Fourthly, and most importantly, this was impossible because never since the world existed has there been a war under the terrible conditions under which it took place in 1812, and the Russian troops, in pursuit of the French, strained all their strength and did not could have done more without being destroyed themselves.
In the movement of the Russian army from Tarutino to Krasnoye, fifty thousand were left sick and backward, that is, a number equal to the population of a large provincial city. Half the people dropped out of the army without fighting.
And about this period of the campaign, when troops without boots and fur coats, with incomplete provisions, without vodka, spend the night for months in the snow and at fifteen degrees below zero; when there are only seven and eight hours of the day, and the rest is night, during which there can be no influence of discipline; when, not like in a battle, for a few hours only people are introduced into the realm of death, where there is no longer discipline, but when people live for months, every minute struggling with death from hunger and cold; when half the army dies in a month - historians tell us about this and that period of the campaign, how Miloradovich was supposed to make a flank march this way, and Tormasov there that way, and how Chichagov was supposed to move there that way (move above his knees in the snow), and how he knocked over and cut off, etc., etc.
The Russians, half dying, did everything that could be done and should have been done to achieve a goal worthy of the people, and they are not to blame for the fact that other Russian people, sitting in warm rooms, assumed to do what was impossible.
All this strange, now incomprehensible contradiction of fact with the description of history occurs only because the historians who wrote about this event wrote the history of the wonderful feelings and words of various generals, and not the history of events.
For them, the words of Miloradovich, the awards that this and that general received, and their assumptions seem very interesting; and the question of those fifty thousand who remained in hospitals and graves does not even interest them, because it is not subject to their study.
Meanwhile, you just have to turn away from studying reports and general plans, and delve into the movement of those hundreds of thousands of people who took a direct, immediate part in the event, and all the questions that previously seemed insoluble suddenly, with extraordinary ease and simplicity, receive an undoubted solution.
The goal of cutting off Napoleon and his army never existed except in the imagination of a dozen people. It could not exist because it was meaningless and achieving it was impossible.
The people had one goal: to cleanse their land from invasion. This goal was achieved, firstly, by itself, since the French fled, and therefore it was only necessary not to stop this movement. Secondly, this goal was achieved by the actions of the people's war, which destroyed the French, and, thirdly, by the fact that a large Russian army followed the French, ready to use force if the French movement was stopped.
The Russian army had to act like a whip on a running animal. And an experienced driver knew that it was most beneficial to hold the whip raised, threatening it, and not to whip a running animal on the head.
When a person sees a dying animal, horror seizes him: what he himself is, his essence, is obviously destroyed in his eyes - ceases to be. But when the dying person is a person, and the loved one is felt, then, in addition to the horror of the destruction of life, one feels a gap and a spiritual wound, which, just like a physical wound, sometimes kills, sometimes heals, but always hurts and is afraid of an external irritating touch.
After the death of Prince Andrei, Natasha and Princess Marya felt this equally. They, bent morally and closing their eyes from the menacing cloud of death hanging over them, did not dare to look life in the face. They carefully protected their open wounds from offensive, painful touches. Everything: a carriage driving quickly down the street, a reminder about lunch, a girl’s question about a dress that needs to be prepared; even worse, the word of insincere, weak sympathy painfully irritated the wound, seemed like an insult and violated that necessary silence in which they both tried to listen to the terrible, strict chorus that had not yet ceased in their imagination, and prevented them from peering into those mysterious endless distances that opened for a moment In front of them.
