- Kyrgyz:
- Ysyk-köl
- Russian:
- Ozero Issyk-kul
Lake Ysyk
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What is Lake Ysyk?
Lake Ysyk, also known as Ysyk-Köl ("Hot Lake" in Kyrgyz), is a drainless lake in northeastern Kyrgyzstan. It is situated in the northern Tien Shan mountains and is one of the largest high-mountain lakes in the world.
Lake Ysyk is 113 miles (182 km) long and has a width of up to 38 miles (61 km). The lake has a surface area of 2,425 square miles (6,280 square km) and reaches a depth of 2,192 feet (668 meters). The lake gets its name, "Hot Lake", because it never freezes during the winter, which scientists attribute to slight salinity and geothermal activity.
Lake Ysyk has a rich history, serving as an important stopping point on the Silk Road. Artifacts found nearby suggest the area was once settled by the Scythian people.
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Where is Lake Ysyk located?
Lake Ysyk, also known as Ysyk-Köl ("Hot Lake" in Kyrgyz), is located in northeastern Kyrgyzstan within the northern Tien Shan mountains. It is bordered by the Kungöy Ala Range to the north and the Teskey Ala Range to the south. As one of the world's largest high-mountain lakes, it sits at an elevation of 5,270 feet (1,606 meters). The lake is part of the Ysyk-Köl province, with most of the population residing around the lake. The lake itself stretches 113 miles (182 km) in length and up to 38 miles (61 km) in width, reaching depths of 2,192 feet (668 metres).
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How big is Lake Ysyk?
Lake Ysyk in northeastern Kyrgyzstan, also known as "Hot Lake" because it doesn't freeze in winter, is one of the largest high-mountain lakes in the world. It is 113 miles (182 km) long and up to 38 miles (61 km) wide, with a surface area of 2,425 square miles (6,280 square km). The lake reaches a depth of 2,192 feet (668 meters) and averages about 920 feet (280 meters) in depth. It is situated in the Tien Shan mountains at an elevation of 5,276 feet (1,608 meters).
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What makes Lake Ysyk special or unique?
Lake Ysyk, located in the northeastern part of Kyrgyzstan, is special for a few key reasons:
* It is one of the largest alpine lakes in the world, resting high in the Tien Shan mountains at an elevation of 5,270 feet (1,606 meters).-
It is known as the "Hot Lake" because it never freezes, even with winter temperatures dropping to -15 °F (-26 °C). This is due to its slight salinity and geothermal activity.
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Lake Ysyk has a rich history, serving as a stopping point on the Silk Road. Scythian artifacts have been discovered nearby, and researchers explore its depths for a possible "Kyrgyz Atlantis".
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What plants and animals live in and around Lake Ysyk?
Lake Ysyk and its surrounding basin are home to various plants and animals. The western part of the basin features rocky deserts with sparse, saline vegetation. As you move east, steppes and meadows appear, along with a type of elm that thrives in the chestnut soils and black earth. Subalpine and alpine meadows can be found higher in the mountains.
Lake Ysyk is home to around two dozen fish species, including endemic species such as the Issyk-kul marinka, the Issyk-kul chebachok, and the endangered naked osman. Common carp and whitefish, which were introduced to the lake, are among the commercial fish species. The lake's shores serve as a wintering spot for waterfowl like pochards, mallards, bald coots, and teals. The area is also inhabited by hare, fox, and muskrat. In total, there are approximately 40 mammal species and 200 bird species.
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Lake Ysyk, a drainless lake in northeastern Kyrgyzstan. Situated in the northern Tien Shan (“Celestial Mountains”), it is one of the largest high-mountain lakes in the world and is famous for its magnificent scenery and unique scientific interest. It is situated within the bottom edges of the Lake Ysyk basin, which is bordered to the north by the Kungöy Ala Range and to the south by the Teskey Ala Range. The lake has a length of 113 miles (182 km), a width up to 38 miles (61 km), and a surface area of 2,425 square miles (6,280 square km). It reaches a depth of 2,192 feet (668 metres) and averages some 920 feet (280 metres) deep. The lake’s Kyrgyz name, Ysyk-köl, means “Hot Lake,” alluding to the fact that it does not freeze over during the winter.
The Kungöy Ala Range (with elevations up to 15,653 feet [4,771 metres]) and the Teskey Ala (up to 17,113 feet [5,216 metres]) frame the Lake Ysyk basin with steep slopes and rocky crests. The basin’s climate is warm, dry, and temperate. Air temperatures in July on the shore average about 62 °F (17 °C); in January, on the western edge of the basin, the temperatures average about 28 °F (−2 °C). The annual amount of precipitation increases sharply from west to east, from 4 inches (100 mm) to a maximum of 16 to 20 inches (410 to 510 mm) in summer. Strong winds blow frequently toward the lake, with velocities in the west reaching some 65 to 90 miles (105 to 145 km) per hour.
More than 50 streams and short rivers are found in the basin. The largest, the Dzhergalan and the Tyup, are each nearly 60 miles (97 km) long and are located in the eastern part of the basin. The Chu River flows along the western outskirts of the basin.
Lake Ysyk’s shores open out gently, with coves on the eastern and southeastern sides. Sandy soils predominate. The water of the lake is sky blue in colour, clear (visibility down to 65 feet [20 metres]), and moderately salty. Although the salinity makes its waters unsuitable for drinking and irrigation, it is possible to use them without freshening for watering cattle.
Rocky deserts with sparse, saline, semi-bushy vegetation lie in the western part of the basin. Toward the east are steppes and meadows and a type of elm that grows in the chestnut soils and black earth. Higher up in the mountains are found subalpine and alpine meadows.
Some two dozen kinds of fish live in Lake Ysyk, including such endemic species as the Issyk-kul marinka (Schizothorax pseudoaksaiensis issykkuli), the Issyk-kul chebachok (Leuciscus bergi), and the endangered naked osman (Gymnodiptchus dybowskii). Among the species of commercial fish are common carp and whitefish, the latter introduced into the lake.
The lake’s western and eastern shores serve as a wintering place for waterfowl. Pochards, mallards, bald coots, and teals are the main varieties. To conserve the wildlife, the Issyk-Kul Preserve (now National Preserve) was founded in 1948, encompassing a lake waterfront and a 1-mile (1.6-km) shore zone in which hunting is forbidden. Hare, fox, and muskrat live in the thickets. In all there are some 40 kinds of mammals and 200 types of birds. A much larger area was designated a UNESCO biosphere reserve in 2001, the intention being to correct or reverse some of the cumulative environmental degradation caused by human occupation and use in the region.
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The basin’s population consists largely of Kyrgyz, but there are also a number of Russians, Ukrainians, Tatars, Uzbeks, and Dungans. There are two large cities—Karakol (Przhevalsk) and Balykchy (Issyk-Kul)—and hundreds of villages. The principal occupation in the area is farming: wheat, potatoes, and vegetables are grown and livestock raised. The shores of the lake are noted for their health resorts.