Talas District and Its Attractions -
Gypsum Crystals on Lake Ashikol -
Gypsum crystals and frost mounds can be found in large numbers on Lake Ashikol. The formations appear as bulging areas on the ground in specific locations. In Germany, such formations are called "gonoma caves." The frost mounds are formed by water being forced from deep within the earth to the surface.
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How to Get There and Visit -
These natural phenomena can be found on Lake Ashikol, 50 kilometers from the village of Bostandyk. The main landmark here is the village of Akkol. Talas district, Zhambyl region, Kazakhstan. The lake is located at an altitude of 397 meters above sea level. The lake is 6 kilometers long and 5 kilometers wide.
GPS coordinates: 43°32'16"N 70°36'19"E
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Tourist information
The frost mounds are a natural landmark in this region and are the subject of scientific research. The area is very beautiful and unusual: a rolling plain of hills transitions to a flat plane and becomes steppe. These frost mounds are formed by the interaction of gypsum and anhydrite, increasing their volume due to water flowing from the depths to the surface.
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