Kolsai Lakes National Park is located on the north slope of the Tian Shan Mountains, in southeastern Kazakhstan, close to Kyrgyzstan. Often referred to as "Pearls of Tien Shan", the park's main feature are the Kolsai Lakes located between the Raiymbek District and Talgar District of Almaty Region. The scenic Lake Kaindy is also within the park. The park boundary is 120 kilometres southeast of Almaty. These picturesque lakes are of landslide-tectonic origin, approximately formed in 1887 and 1911 on the Kaindy and Kolsay rivers.
Watch my other Kazakhstan videos: [ Ссылка ]
Lake Kaindy, meaning birch tree lake or landslide, is located within the Kolsai Lakes National Park in the southeast of Kazakhstan. At 2,000 metres above sea level, this bluish-green lake was formed as the result of a major limestone landslide, triggered by the 1911 Kebin earthquake and creating a natural dam. Lake Kaindy is nearly 30 meters deep, some 400 meters long, and located not too far from Almaty. Technically, Kaindy is part of the Kolsai Lakes National Park, but you have to pay the entrance fee here separately, and its location is in a completely separate valley.
Lake Kaindy is famous for the number of dead and bleached Asian spruce trees that stick out of the water, remnants of the trees that were flooded when the lake was formed. The trees, native to the Tian Shan mountains, together with the improbable turquoise water of the lake make an incredibly scenic sight. Kaindy lake sees few visitors as it it harder to reach than other lakes in the national park.
Kolsai Lakes are located around 12km by paved road from Saty village, these three spruce-and-mountain-hemmed lakes are Alpine-esque beauty at its best and a Kazakhstan highlight. As you hike between the lakes, graze on wild strawberries and raspberries in summer and take frigid dips in the clear waters. The hiking trails between the lakes are steep in places and can get very muddy. You need your own wheels to reach the lakes, or go as part of a tour from Almaty.
From 1km-long Lower Kolsai lake has an altitude of 1800m. It's 6km up from the lower lake via a hike of about three hours to Middle Kolsai lake at 2250m. This is the biggest lake and some say the most beautiful. From the middle lake to the smaller Upper Kolsai lake at 2800m, where the forests give way to alpine grasslands. Inquire at the entrance about permission to visit Upper Kolsai lake, since it's part of the border zone with Kyrgyzstan.
Music: Jean Dar - Tears of Joy
Album: Tears of Joy
[ Ссылка ]
