Lake Alakol

Alakol is a picturesque lake located in a desert region in eastern Kazakhstan. It is spread out in the valley of the Dzungarian Alatau, surrounded by low foothills. Mineralized waters of the vast reservoir, abundance of healing springs and impressive landscapes caused the creation of a resort zone on the shores of the lake. Today, tourism is developing in this region remote from large cities, and a biosphere reserve is operating here. From the capital of Kazakhstan, the city of Nur-Sultan, to the resort area of the lake is about 1000 km, from Almaty – 460 km, and the nearest town to Alakol – a small district center Usharal – is 40 km west of its coast.

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Video: Lake Alakol

Contents

Highlights

The lake’s name means “multicolored, variegated” in Kazakh. The waters of Alakol reflect sunlight differently during the day, thanks to its unique chemical composition. At dawn the water surface is turquoise, at noon it plays all shades of azure, by sunset the waves become purple with scarlet. In bad weather powerful storms roll across the lake lead-gray shafts with brown foam on the crests.

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For a long time this area, bordering China, was closed to visitors. In the early 2010s, Kazakhstan’s tourism industry set out to transform the lake’s deserted shore into a balneological resort region. Three resort villages – Akshi, Kabanbay and Koktum – are actively developing infrastructure to serve domestic tourism. In the area of Lake Alakol there is a railroad, a highway connects the region with the capital of Kazakhstan – Nur-Sultan. The recently repaired highway leading from Almaty to Ust-Kamenogorsk also passes here.

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Meanwhile, according to travelers’ reviews, the level of service here still leaves much to be desired, transport communication in the region is not well established. In the villages there are no large shopping centers, catering outlets. Few restaurants and canteens operate mainly on the territory of recreation centers and mini-hotels. Not too diverse program of excursions and entertainment.

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The waters of Lake Alakol and abundant mineral springs on its shores have healing properties. Recreation centers, boarding houses, small resort hotels are erected here. In 2019, about 150,000 tourists visited the coastal resorts of Lake Alakol.

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Geography of Alakol

Lake Alakol is located in the eastern part of the Balkash-Alakol lowland, dividing the East Kazakhstan and Almaty regions of the republic. The lake lies in the foothill valley of the Dzungarian Alatau. The valley is a stony sandy desert and grassy steppe with rare hills overgrown with wormwood, sagebrush and bushes. There are no major cities in the immediate vicinity. In the southeast there are mountain ranges Kaikan, Kungei Tastau, Zhabyk. In the northeast, along the border with China, Tarbagatai ridge (up to 2992 m) rises. The Urjar River, one of the main tributaries of Lake Alakol, originates in its glaciers. In the east opens a mountain passage to China – the Dzungarian Gate gorge.

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The length of Lake Alakol is 104 kilometers, and at its widest point its shores are 52 kilometers apart. The area of the water mirror is 2696 km², at the bottom there are depressions up to 54 meters deep. Several rivers flow into Alakol, but the lake has no drainage. In the neighborhood are lakes Sasykkol, Uyaly and Zhalanashkol, connected by winding marshy straits. This blue necklace forms the Alakol lake system. On a geographical map, the long chain of reservoirs resembles a curved lizard stretching from east to west.

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The bitter waters of Lake Alakol are saturated with salts, minerals, and have a high content of bromine, radon, and fluorine. Its vast lowland environs, surrounded by low mountain spurs and deserts, are known as the Alakol artesian basin. In its subsoil, over 26,000 km², aquifers have been explored at depths ranging from 15 to 300 meters. Through drilled wells, mineralized water rises without the aid of pumps under the natural high pressure of the rocks. The springs spout 16 to 18 meters high. There are locations with therapeutic hydrogen sulphide mud on the clay shores.

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In 1998, the Alakolsky Reserve was established here. Part of its territory (3300 hectares) is located on three large islands in the center of the water area of Lake Alakol. The reserve also includes 17,422 hectares of wetlands in the delta of the Tentek River, near the southern shore of the neighboring Sasykkol Lake. Here, in reed beds and reed beds there are 149 species of birds. Among them are swans, dalmatian pelicans, ducks, cormorants, herons, gulls and loons. There are amphibians and snakes, there are perch, white amur, carp, pikeperch, a total of 17 species of fish.

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Climate

Lake Alakol lies in the belt of sharply continental climate. The sky over the foothill valley is often covered with clouds, the prevailing north wind, often causing storm waves on the lake. The temperature in January rarely drops below -12 °С, the absolute minimum in 2006 was -37.8 °С. Thaws begin here in March, the air warms up to +4…+6 °С in the daytime. The resort season starts in the first days of June. All summer day temperature is quite comfortable and keeps within +22 … +26 °С. There are also very hot days: the maximum recorded in July 1980 exceeded the mark +42 °С. Summer water temperature at the shores of the lake varies within +20 … +22 ° C.

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By the beginning of fall on the coast gets colder. Already in September at night the temperature drops to +9…+11 ° C, but during the day it is still warm: +20…+23 ° C. In this period, the resort season on the coast of Lake Alakol comes to an end.

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Beaches

The beaches on the shores of Lake Alakol are covered with dark pebbles rolled by waves. Most of them are pieces of shungite, a coal-black rock formed from volcanic magma, ancient sediments and minerals in the water. Tourists collect storm-polished black shungite pebbles as souvenirs. Kazakh folk healers claim that shungite has healing properties, and even a few hours spent on such a beach can improve health. It is said that vacationers who have rested in summer on the shores of Lake Alakol acquire immunity against winter colds.

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Beaches belonging to recreation centers and resort hotels are well equipped. They offer umbrellas, deck chairs, boat rentals, equipped locker rooms and toilets. True, there are not many such locations. However, the coast is enough convenient for beachgoers “wild” places where you can swim and have a picnic.

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Active recreation on Lake Alakol

On Lake Alakol you can have a wonderful fishing. In the catch – perch, carp, pikeperch. Recreation centers rent gear, boats, organize fishing tours, organize trips to picnics.

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Rafting on mountain rivers is developing. Those who wish have the opportunity to join a group of mountaineers and go to conquer the peaks of the Alatau. On the stony off-road in the vicinity of the lake organized jeep safaris, recently there are motorized hang gliders, on which you can fly with a pilot-instructor.

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For resort guests organized bus tours to the mountain pass Dzungarskie Gates (in Kazakhstan the pass is called Zhongarskie or Zhetysuskie Gates). Through this picturesque 50-kilometer gorge once passed the Great Silk Road from China to Central Asia, now the Kazakh-Chinese state border runs here. Lake Zhalanashkol is located in this area. It is believed that its mineral waters are especially useful for the female organism. Local thermal springs have been known since ancient times. Interestingly, here is located the continental pole of relative inaccessibility – a geographical location, as far as possible from the coasts of the World Ocean.

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Where to stay

Dozens of recreation centers and hotels have been built on the shores of Lake Alakol. The range of offers – from budget houses with a low level of service to luxury apartments. Unpretentious tourists also stay in private estates of local residents.

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The season here does not last long, and during the summer months prices at recreation centers increase every three to four weeks. Compared to the beginning of June, the cost of accommodation in local hotels in the second half of August increases approximately twice, returning to the original figures in early September. The most developed infrastructure of hospitality is created in the resort village of Akshi, which is on the south-western coast of Lake Alakol.

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The mini-hotel Aquamarine Resort is located 600 meters from the coastal strip. The hotel has its own beach, on the well-maintained territory of the complex operates outdoor and indoor pools, lounge-bar, dining room. At the disposal of vacationers – Wi-Fi network, free parking, sauna, spa, massage rooms. There is a children’s playground, kids are entertained by animators. In the evenings show programs are arranged. Range of prices for accommodation – from 19,590 to 22,390 tenge (about 3500 to 4000 rubles).

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Family recreation center “Alazis-Alakol”, built in a five-minute walk from the beach, has rooms of different categories, located in 2-3-story log cottages. The rooms have kitchenettes, a restaurant is open, there is a paid billiards, and transfer from Almaty airport is possible. The price range for a daily stay is from 10,000 tenge in a standard room to 41,000 tenge for a suite. Meals are paid separately.

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The recently built recreation center “Africana” is popular. Double room “standard” will cost here in 16 000 tenge per day, for suites ask from 18 000 to 24 000 tenge. Luxury apartments are also offered for 50,000 tenge.

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Tourists are satisfied with the rest in the park-hotel “Pelican”, located in Akshi. On the territory erected stylized wooden bungalows with conical thatched roofs. A bar, a cafe with a veranda, a summer movie theater, billiards are at guests’ disposal. The beach is equipped with umbrellas, awnings, sun beds, game equipment rental, scooters for rent. Here you can rent a room relatively inexpensively – from 5700 tenge per day. Two-room cottage-bungalow with a bedroom, living room, kitchenette and bathroom with Jacuzzi is rented for 24 000 – 30 000 tenge.

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Transportation

Public transportation in the area of Lake Alakol is practically absent. You should rely on cabs, hitchhikers or your own car.

How to get there

From the airport Nur-Sultan to the resort region of Alakol is convenient to get by airplane. Small turboprop airliners of local airlines land at Urjar and Usharal airports, travel time is 2 hours. 20 min. Flights operate once a day.

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If you have chosen Koktuma or Akshi, which is on the southwestern shore of Lake Alakol, you should fly to Usharal airport. From there to the goal of the trip – 60 km.

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To Kabanbay (the village is located on the opposite, eastern shore of Lake Alakol) is better to get to the airport in Urjar, and then take a cab for the remaining 120 km. There is no regular bus service between the coastal resorts of Alakol and the airports yet – there are few passengers, and public transportation along these routes is unprofitable. A cab from Urjar airport to Kabanbai village will cost about 12,000 tenge (for 4 seats in a car). For a trip from Usharal to Koktuma and Aksha cab drivers ask from 8,000 tenge. Some hotels organize to meet guests at regional airports with their own buses.

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In summer, a seasonal train runs from Nur-Sultan to Lake Alakol. It stops near Aksha (railway station 13th Passenger Station), in Koktum and near Kabanbai (Zhalanashkol station). Passenger trains from Semipalatinsk and Ust-Kamenogorsk run to Zhalanashkol station. The final stop is the border railway station Dostyk on the pass Dzungarian Gates. Travel time is about a day.

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From Almaty airport to the resorts on the southwest coast of Lake Alakol is about 460 km. Buses run from this city to the resorts of Lake Alakol in the summer season. Travel time is 10 hours. From June to early September a tourist train runs from Almaty. The trip takes 16 hours, the train arrives at the railway station of Koktuma village.

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Motorists traveling to Lake Alakol from Nur-Sultan can choose one of two routes: via Karaganda (to Aksha 1170 km) or via Semipalatinsk (1416 km).

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