Sights and nature of the Zhetysu region -
Mountain lakes in the Dzhungar Alatau Mountains -
Upper Zhasyl-Kol Lake is a high-mountain lake located in the Dzhungar Alatau Mountains at an altitude of 2264 meters above sea level, surrounded by beautiful mountains. The length of the lake is 3 kilometers, the width is 630 meters, the depth of the lake is unknown, but presumably it is 40 meters. A mountain route leads to the lake, which goes along the Aganakty River and passes through the main lower lake Zhasylkol, which lies downstream of the river at an altitude of 1632 meters above sea level. The places here are very picturesque and rarely visited, you will never meet crowds of tourists and travelers here. The water here has a unique turquoise-emerald hue, which is especially intense in July-August, when the melting of glaciers reaches its peak. Both lakes belong to the Zhongar Alatau National Park and are located in a protected area. Even on the hottest days, the water temperature in the lakes does not rise above +7°C - this is the eternal coolness of the mountain peaks, locked in a stone bowl. The path to the lake starts from the village of Lepsi, which is 15 kilometers from the lower lake. You can drive to the lower lake by car, but you need to walk to the upper lake. The way there and back can take 2 days. To get to the lake, at the confluence of two rivers, the Agynakty River and the Kinozen River, you need to go to the left gorge along the Kinozen River.
How to get there and visit -
Upper Zhasylkol Lake is located in the Dzhungar Alatau Mountains in the Kinozen River valley above the "Lower Zhasylkol Lake" at a distance of about 14 kilometers, Alakol district, Zhetysu region, Republic of Kazakhstan.
GPS coordinates: 45°15'44"N 80°37'33"E
Information -
The water in Upper Zhasyl-Kol is incredibly clean and transparent, with a rich turquoise-green hue, which is especially bright in sunny weather. The water from the lake is drinkable, it is crystal clear and incredibly cold. The lake is fed by glacial streams and underground springs, so the water temperature here always remains cool. In spring and early summer, the shores are dotted with flowers - edelweiss, gentians, alpine asters. The surrounding landscapes give the place a special magic: the northern shore is framed by steep cliffs with glacial cornices, while the southern slope is more gentle, with alpine meadows. In the mornings, when the first rays of the sun break through the mountain passes, the lake flashes with a fantastic emerald light, and its surface becomes perfectly smooth, reflecting the surrounding peaks like a giant mirror. The water in the lake is so transparent that in calm weather you can see the bottom and stones at a depth of several meters.
The fauna in the Upper Zhasyl-Kol area is rich: here you can meet marmots, mountain goats, marals, and eagles and golden eagles often soar in the sky.
The path to the lake is a separate adventure. Usually people get here on foot or on horseback, climbing a mountain path from Lower Zhasyl-Kol. Along the way, stunning views of glaciers, mountain peaks and cascading waterfalls open up, and the lake itself often greets the traveler with fog or the reflection of clouds in its surface.
Locals consider Upper Zhasyl-Kol a sacred place and say that its water can "wash away fatigue" and fill you with strength. Tourists who have visited here often call it one of the most atmospheric and secluded corners of the Dzungarian Alatau. According to local legends, Upper Zhasyl-Kol is the "eye of the mountains" through which the earth looks into the sky. Modern travelers note the special energy of the place: here time seems to slow down, and thoughts become crystal clear, like the waters of this amazing high-mountain lake.
