KYRGYZSTAN LAKE ISSYK-KUL–PEARL OF THE TIEN SHAN

by V. Kadyrov

Lake Issyk-Kul, which means “the hot lake” in the Turkic languages of Central Asia, holds the title as one of the largest alpine lakes in the world. At an altitude of 1609 meters above sea level it is exceeded only by Lake Titicaca in Bolivia as one of the highest of the large mountain lakes. Two mountain chains of the Central Tien Shan range border the lake – in the north the Kungei – Alatau (in Turkic: “facing the sun”), and in the south the Terskei – Alatau ( in Turkic: “turned away from the sun”). About one hundred large and small rivers flow down into the lake from these peaks carving gorges and canyons into the mountain flanks