The most beautiful sights in the mountains of Almaty -
Mountain hike to Big Almaty Lake -
Big Almaty Lake, or BAL for short, is one of the most picturesque natural wonders of Kazakhstan, located in the Zailiyskiy Alatau mountains 15 kilometers south of Almaty. The lake is known for its crystal clear turquoise water, which changes color depending on the season and lighting, attracting travelers, photographers and nature lovers. The lake is located at an altitude of 2511 meters above sea level. Its length is about 1.6 kilometers, width 1 kilometer, depth 30 meters. The water in the lake is always cold, even in summer the temperature rarely rises above 10 ° C, which preserves its transparency and unique color. The lake serves as the main source of drinking water for the city of Almaty, so swimming in it is prohibited. It is believed that the lake was formed as a result of the movement of tectonic plates and glacial action thousands of years ago. It has always played an important role as a natural source of water and a place for local residents to relax.
How to get there, visit -
Big Almaty Lake is located 15 kilometers from the city of Almaty in the upper reaches of the Big Almaty Gorge, Almaty region, Republic of Kazakhstan.
GPS coordinates: 43°02'58"N 76°59'07"E
Information -
There is a mountain route to Big Almaty Lake, which runs along the Big Almaty gorge along the Bolshaya Almatinka River (Big Almaty). The route is very picturesque, not difficult, you can go along the asphalt road, there is also a shorter route along the pipe through which water from the lake goes to the hydroelectric power station. Above the lake is the famous Tien Shan Astronomical Observatory, there is a small hotel where you can stay. The lake is closed to cars, but there is an expensive life hack: you need to book a room at the Alpine Rose Hotel and then you can drive there by car with a special pass. Above the lake there is the Dzhusaly-Kezen mountain pass, where there is a space station where they study cosmic particles. There are also several mountain routes from the pass that you can take to the Big Almaty peak, Wild Lake (Scotland), Tourist peak and Turan peak (Institute of Nuclear Physics). The lake offers a beautiful mountain panorama of such mountain peaks as Sovetov peak and Ozerny peak, and there is also Skalisty peak (Yumba Mountain), which also has a mountain route that passes through Lunnaya Polyana (Moon Glade). This entire area is located on the territory of the Ile-Alatau Nature Reserve.
Safety -
Big Almaty Lake is accessible all year round. When going on a mountain hike to the lake, be sure to use the services of certified mountain guides, they will prepare you for the hike, instruct you and safely lead you along the route. Do not go to the mountains alone, do not leave the path, do not go close to cliffs, to turbulent rivers, watch the weather and choose clear sunny days for your trip. Do not walk in the mountains at night and in the dark. Calculate your time in the mountains wisely. Do not forget about altitude sickness and the need for acclimatization in the mountainous region, for a further comfortable stay in the mountains.
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