Discover Issyk-Kul Lake

Issyk-Kul occupies a tectonic basin some 25 million years old, cradled between two parallel ranges of the Tian Shan—the Kungey Alatau to the north, whose name means “facing the sun,” and the Terskey Alatau to the south, “turned away from the sun.” These mountains shelter the lake from extreme continental weather while over 100 rivers and glacial meltwater feed its 6,236 square kilometers of surface area. At 668 meters deep, Issyk-Kul ranks among the world’s deepest lakes. Its slightly saline waters—about 0.6% salt content—prevent it from freezing even when winter temperatures plunge well below zero, earning the Kyrgyz name that translates to “warm lake.”

The lake has witnessed the passage of history like few places on Earth. Chinese envoy Zhang Qian passed through in 138 BCE during his mission to forge alliances against the Xiongnu. Buddhist monk Xuanzang crossed the Tian Shan to reach its shores in 629 CE on his journey to India. Silk Road caravans rested here for centuries, and researchers believe the Black Death may have originated in settlements near the lake around 1338–1339 before spreading along trade routes to devastate Eurasia. Today, divers explore the ruins of medieval cities submerged when the lake level rose eight meters—a reminder that Issyk-Kul keeps its deepest secrets beneath the surface.