Lake Sary-Chelek
Lake Sary-Chelek is a picturesque high-mountain water body, which is considered one of the most beautiful lakes in the west of Kyrgyzstan. In the Kyrgyz language, the name “Sary-Chelek” means “yellow bowl”. The freshwater lake lies at an altitude of 1848 meters above sea level. According to scientists, it appeared 10 thousand years ago as a result of a large mountain collapse, which was caused by a strong earthquake. The reservoir stretches for 7.5 km and has an average depth of 98 meters and a maximum depth of 234 meters. It is the second deepest lake in Kyrgyzstan. The rushing Kojo-Ata River flows out of Sary-Chelek.
Video: Sary-Chelek Lake
ContentsHighlights
In summer, the temperature of the mountain lake does not rise above +19.8 ° C, and in winter it stays at the marks from 0 to +4 ° C. Ice covers the surface of the reservoir in December, and usually comes off in April. The coastline is rugged and steep. From the north the coastal slopes are covered with dense spruce and fir forests. The southern shores of Lake Sary-Chelek are covered with natural fruit and nut forests, where walnuts, wild apple and pear trees grow in abundance.
.The best time to travel to these places is from June to September. Tourists come to the lake Sary-Chelek to admire the beautiful landscapes, the purest lake water, to climb mountains, to fish, and also to pick berries of wild raspberries, thickets of which can be found on the surrounding slopes. It is especially beautiful here in autumn, when the forests surrounding the lake are painted in different shades of yellow and orange. At this time of year, Sary-Chelek begins to live up to its name and becomes like a large bowl of honey.
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Apart from tourists, the reserved lake has long attracted pilgrims, as the Kyrgyz consider it sacred. On the southern shore of Sary-Chelek there is a mazar revered by Muslims – the burial place of St. Torskool-Ata. According to legend, it was from his powerful blow with a staff that the beautiful mountain lake was formed. There are two mosques and a spring that flows out of a poplar grove. Once a community of Buddhist hermits-arhats lived in this place. Today the water from the spring is considered healing by the locals.
.Sary-Chelek Reserve
Sary-Chelek Lake is located in the foothills of the Chatkal Ridge, in the state reserve, which since 1979 is part of the international network of UNESCO biosphere reserves. The territory of the Sary-Chelek Reserve covers 23.8 thousand hectares. Besides Sary-Chelek, there are seven more mountain lakes on it. There are beautiful gorges, peaks, waterfalls, glaciers, swamps and arboretum. The protected lands are home to teke goats, Tien Shan bears, roe deer, argali, red deer, wild boars, porcupines, foxes, marmots, muskrats and stone martens. There are also 157 species of birds of prey in the protected area.
.It should be borne in mind that fishing is allowed only in the Sary-Chelek Lake itself and is prohibited in the rivers and streams feeding it. And hunting on the territory of the reserve is prohibited everywhere.
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How to get there
Sary-Chelek Lake is located in the Jalal-Abad region of Kyrgyzstan, 500 km from Bishkek and 300 km from Osh. It can be reached here only by rented or private vehicles. Up to the village of Kara-Zhygach in Aksy district there is an asphalted road, further on there is a dirt road, but ordinary cars can pass through it.
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The base of the reserve is located in the village of Arkit, 20 km south of the lake Sary-Chelek. Travelers get to the northern shore by motorboat or by horse trail, which is laid along the western shore of the lake.
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