Issyk Kul Lake

Issyk Kul: The sea lake of the Kyrgyz people. The Kyrgyz refer to it as a sea, and around the lake, there are many beaches as seen on Google Maps (beach).

Issyk Kul: Warm lake, hot lake.

Despite being located at an altitude of 1,600 meters amidst the snowy Tian Shan mountains, Issyk-Kul DOES NOT FREEZE in winter due to:

- Slightly salty water (salinity ~6‰)
- Underground hot springs
- An average depth of 270m (maximum 668m) → retains heat well

This is the second-largest saline lake in the world (after the Caspian Sea). Locals call it the "Pearl of Kyrgyzstan."

In summer, many Kyrgyz people come here for vacation, but in winter, there’s hardly anyone. From October onwards, the lake's water temperature is around 6 degrees. The lake is stunning when the sun is out, but without sunlight, photos can look quite ordinary 🤣

Post by _TI***da | Oct 24, 2025