Nature reserves and parks of Kazakhstan –
Tour from Almaty to Kolsay Lake and Kaindy Lake –
The Kolsay Lakes National Park is located at the foot of the northern slopes of the Tien Shan Highlands in southeastern Kazakhstan. The border with Kyrgyzstan, located to the south, is only a few kilometers. The main feature of the park are three Kolsai lakes and Lake Kaindy. The lower Kolsay Lake is located at an altitude of 1818 meters, has a length of one kilometer and a width of about 300 meters. The Middle Kolsay Lake is located at a distance of five kilometers from the lower lake at an altitude of 2,552 meters. Above it, at an altitude of 2,850 meters, is the Upper Kolsay Lake. It is about six kilometers from the middle lake. From Lake Superior, you can climb the 3278-meter-high Sary-Bulak Pass, which overlooks Issyk-Kul in Kyrgyzstan, the second largest mountain lake in the world.
Kaindy Lake in Kolsay Lakes Park –
At a distance of about eleven kilometers from the Kolsay lakes there is another lake – Kaindy, at an altitude of about 2000 meters. The lake was formed in 1911 as a result of a large landslide caused by an earthquake. Falling masses of stone and rubble formed a dam and prevented water from flowing into the gorge. The lake is fed by meltwater and rainwater, has a length of about 400 meters and a maximum depth of 30 meters. The trees that grew on dry land before the earthquake later died, and now only bare trunks stick out of the water. First of all, it is the Schrenks spruce (Picea schrenkiana), belonging to the pine family (Pinaceae).
How to get there, visit –
Kolsay Lakes National Park is located 292 kilometers from the city of Almaty, Talgar and Raimbesky districts, Almaty region, Republic of Kazakhstan.
GPS coordinates: 42°55'44"N 78°19'51"E
Information –
The Kolsay Lakes Nature Reserve was opened to those wishing to visit it several years ago, so the nature here has been preserved in its unexplored and original novelty. The land is ecologically clean and rich in wild plants, many of which are medicinal. Rare local plants include apricot, barberry, hawthorn, and Alberta iris. In the entire area of the Kolsay lakes and coniferous forests, after heavy rains, various mushrooms appear: champignons, honey mushrooms, chanterelles, bunches, etc. The nature of the Kolsay lakes lies in a beautiful mountain gorge. There are also special natural environments where people's economic life is not carried out. Rivers, rocks, lakes are painted in bright colors, and dense plants emphasize the attractiveness and beauty of this area. The weather conditions are favorable for rest and wellness, the winter is mild, the air is clean, you can relax here in winter. Kolsay Lakes can be reached on foot and horseback, and Kaindy Lake can be reached by car. In addition, you can use the services of guides, tour guides and tour companies. There is a mountain trail (route) from the lower Kolsay Lake up the gorge, along which you can walk to the middle Kolsay Lake and to the upper Kolsay Lake. To complete this route, you need to start it early in the morning and have good sports training.
Flora and fauna –
A large number of different plant species grow on the territory of the Kolsay Lakes National Park. The species include flowering plants, grasses, mosses and lichens. Most of the trees are made up of conifers. In higher regions, the Schrenks spruce is widespread, which is sometimes also called the Tien Shan spruce and reaches a height of up to 50 meters. In addition to a large number of invertebrates, the national park is also home to many mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and some species of fish. The most impressive mammal species include the bear (Ursus arctos isabellinus), Central Asian lynx (Lynx lynx isabellinus), Tianshan argali (Ovis karelini), wolves (Canis lupus) and martens (Mustelidae). The snow leopard (Panthera uncia) has also been observed in the mountainous areas of the national park, in the foothills of the Tien Shan. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) classifies this species as particularly "vulnerable".
Tourism –
The Kolsay Lakes National Park is increasingly visited by naturalists and tourists because of its scenic appeal and biodiversity. There are small guest houses and boat rentals on the shores of the lakes. Visitors have the opportunity to go hiking, mountain biking or mountaineering at any level of difficulty, and horses can also be rented. Visitors to the park can get acquainted with the fauna and flora of the area along the paved hiking trails.
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