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Big Almaty Lake (Big Almaty Lake)

Үлкен Алматы көлі, Алматы, Kazakhstan

Located 15km south of Almaty city center and at 2,511 meters above sea level, the Great Lake Almaty is the main source of water for Almaty residents. Like most lakes in the Tien Shan mountains, the lake was formed after natural earthquakes. Located not too far from Almaty city center, this natural lake gives visitors a very special feeling, far from urban life. The scenery here is beautiful, changing with the seasons of the year, which makes it one of the famous destinations of Kazakhstan.

Great Lake Almaty is a natural water reservoir located atop Mount Ili Alatau ca at 2,511 meters above sea level, set against the background of three peaks jutting over a craggy gorge including Sovetov (4,317 m), Ozyorny (4,110 m) and Turist (3,954 m). The color of the great Almaty Lake changes depending on the time of year, but the most beautiful and brightest is turquoise during September and early October. The lake is lighter blue in spring due to the influence of snow. melt.

The basin of the lake has tectonic origin, complex shape, the lake has a slope inclined gradually to the North. The lake has a length of 1.6 km and a width of about 0.75 to 1 km, a depth of 30–40 m, a water volume of about 14 million m³, the average water temperature of the lake is 8-10 degrees C. Water level The largest of the lake is in August, the lowest is in February.

Located at an ideal height, the climate around the lake is cool all year round, and the most striking feature is that the lake water changes from green to sweet blue, depending on the time of year. In addition, the natural scenery around the lake will also be one of the highlights of your journey with a variety of precious birds, ancient fir trees and beautiful Siberian pine trees. The main recommended tourist activities here include: hiking to see the beautiful natural landscape adorned with snow-white peaks and sparkling lake water in the morning sun or enjoying the beauty of nature. beauty of rare birds. The best time to visit the lake is in May and June or September and October. Avoid weekends as it is quite crowded with tourists.

The lake is the main source of drinking water for the Almaty city area, so swimming is not allowed here. Visitors can reach the lake by car (about an hour's drive from the city center), bicycle or hiking (about a half-day walk). The lake is 15 km from the city. To enter the lake, you have to pay the entrance fee to the national park (~450KZT).

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Nearby attractions

Big Almaty Lake (Big Almaty Lake)

Kok Zhailau plateau (Kok Zhailau plateau)

Kok Zhailau (Kazakh means 'summer meadow as blue as the sky') is a plateau in the territory of Bang Ile-Alatau National Park located at an altitude of 2251.2 meters above sea level. Located between the Small and Large Almaty Gorges, 10km from the city of Almaty, this area was once a vast grassland for wildlife, today it has become an ideal destination for nature lovers. . From the plateau, you can enjoy views of famous sights such as the ski resort of Shymbulak, Medeu, and the great Almaty peak.

Shymbulak Ski Resort (Shymbulak Ski Resort)

Shymbulak is a ski resort near Almaty. It is the largest ski resort in Central Asia, about 25 km south of Almaty along Medeo Road. Located in the Medeu valley in the Zailiisky Alatau mountain range, at an altitude of 2,200 meters above sea level, Shymbulak is famous for its mild climate, abundant number of sunny days and large amount of snow during winter (from November to November). to May). Coming here, visitors will have the opportunity to immerse themselves in the scenery of majestic mountains with snow-covered slopes.

Ile-Alatau National Park (Ile-Alatau National Park)

Established in 1996 with an area of 200,000 hectares, Ile-Alatau National Park is one of the top destinations for nature lovers. Coming here, visitors will have the opportunity to admire the majestic and vast natural landscape including forests, alpine meadows, rivers and lakes, including the great lake Almaty. In addition, Ile-Alatau National Park is also home to more than 300 species of birds and mammals, including many rare species such as snow leopards, Central Asian lynx, Tian Shan brown bears, bearded vultures, giants golden eagle, Himalayan snowbird, conifer, Eurasian owl and Eurasian three-toed woodpecker.