Sights

Lake Tuzkol is one of the many alpine lakes in Kazakhstan, located in the Almaty region. Lake Tuzkol (Salt Lake), so salty that mineralization is behind only to the Dead Sea in Israel and the Great Salt Lake in the United States. The lake is located at an altitude of 1959 m. In a closed drainage hollow between the mountains Elshyn Buyryk and Karatau in the north and Zhabyrtau in the south. These mountains belong to one of the ridges of the Northern Tien Shan - Ketmen (Uzynkara). It is fed by the waters of springs flowing down from the surrounding slopes.

Kaindy Lake is located on the northern slope of the Kungei Ala-Too mountain range at an altitude of 1867 meters above sea level among a dense coniferous forest, which culminates at 2900 m. alt.. The top of the valley rises to nearly 3400 meters and marks the border with Kyrgyzstan. The bottom of the valley joins the village of Saty. Kaindy Lake lies in the second valley further east than the first lake Kolsay. The length of the lake is about 440 meters, by 110 meters wide , the greatest depth of the lake is 30 meters. 

The Bartogai reservoir was artificially created in the 1980s in the floodplain of the Chilik River, for the needs of agriculture and irrigation of fields. The height of the rock-fill dam is 60 meters, the length of 330 meters, the channel length is 160 meters. A place stunning with its beauty and picturesqueness with a powerful spillway from under the dam from a height of 25 meters. A stream of water with enormous pressure is released to freedom and is broken up into tiny particles of spray, which overflows and forms many rainbows.

Assy Plateau is a beautiful corner of nature, located 100 km east of Almaty. Assy Plateau, known since ancient times as a summer pasture, originates from the Kishi-Turgen River. The plateau is located at an altitude of 2800-3200 meters. Here Signs of a person’s being more than 5,000 years old, both nomadic and sedentary, were discovered. Plateau Assy goes east along the river Assy. Along the river you can see ancient burial mounds and rock carvings, which are one of the most high-altitude clusters of petroglyphs in the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

One of the amazing and beautiful places in Kazakhstan is the Turgen Gorge, located 90 km from Almaty. The Turgen Gorge is rich in thermal springs, waterfalls, coniferous and mixed forests, alpine and subalpine meadows, lakes and springs, medicinal herbs and berries. Turgen Valley is also known for its waterfalls: there are 7 large waterfalls in this area. The most famous are: Medvezhiy waterfall with a height of 30 meters, which is located at an altitude of 1450 m above sea level, and the Kairak waterfall - the pearl of the Turgen collection.

Lake Issyk is located at an altitude of 1756 m above sea level about 70 km east of Almaty.10,000 years ago, a huge collapse occurred in the mountains as a result of an earthquake that blocked the gorge and formed a huge dam. The noisy glacial river filled the basin. Lake Issyk was a truly perfect work of nature, the cleanest air, the coolness of the mountains and the mirror of malachite-colored water lured tourists here. It was so until July 7, 1963.

The hot spring of Bibi Fatima-Zahro (name of the daughter of the Prophet Muhammad) is located at 3200 meters alt. on the heights of the village of Yamchun, near the river. According to beliefs, it is also a place of worship.

The thermal spring would have healing properties against urological and gynecological diseases, digestive problems, etc. The locals also believe that being exposed to water improves female fertility. Although located in the high mountains, it has a temperature above 40 degrees Celsius all year round.

Karakol Zoological Park was founded in 1987. It is the only zoo in Kyrgyzstan. But after the collapse of the Soviet Union, the country's economy was severely eroded and in 2001 the zoo almost closed. Fortunately, partners and sponsors have been able to preserve the wildlife and keep the parks in relatively good condition.

Managed by NABU from 2003 to 2013, it is today managed by the Bugu-Enye Foundation. The aim of this park is not to increase the variety of animals, but to collect wild animals in difficulty.

The salty lake is known as a “Dead Lake of Kyrgyzstan”. The lake was opened as a tourist destination in 2001. The water is so salty that one can read a newspaper while floating on the surface. The water contains about 132 gram of salt per liter. This lake is also popular as a “medical tour”.  Mud is superheated deep beneath the earth’s surface. Many locals believe that it has healing properties. 
Address: Gagarina/Lenina                               
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Türkmenabat second-large city in Turkmenistan. Till 1924 and in 1927-40 the city had the name Chardzhuy, in 1924-27 Leninsk, in 1940-92. Chardzhou, in 1992-99 Chardzhev.

The great Silk way has played a huge role in the history and lives of this city. The grotto of Amul-this first name of Türkmenabat was one of important points, a reliable haven on this well-known road, also. Later it has been postponed also for the Construction Department river. She began to be called Amu Darya that is meant by the Amu-river.