Issyk Lake
The lovely lake that was naturally dammed, then naturally destroyed, then unnaturally saved.

šŸ“œ Stunning turquoise-blue-green lake in Kazakhstan.
šŸ” Originally formed 8,000 years ago by a rockslide, later destroyed by a mudslide and rebuilt.

Why Go

šŸŒŠ Picturesque turquoise waters
šŸžļø Contrasted against surrounding flowers and trees
šŸš¶ Easy access from Issyk town, one-hour bus ride from Almaty
ā›°ļø Views of snowy Tianshan Mountains in the distance

Why Avoid

šŸ˜” Site of a historical tragedy, massive mudslide in the 1960s
āš ļø Rebuilt lake is almost twice as small as the original

Tips

šŸšŒ Reach Issyk town by bus from Almaty, then a 20-minute drive to the lake.
šŸ›ļø Explore small markets, mosques, and churches in Issyk town.

Last updated 28 days ago

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