Negative water balance of the lake over the last decades causes the decline in the lake level.

    Those travelling to Torugart may be tempted to make a detour and stop here, but the land surrounding the lake is swampy and can be treacherous – and you need a special border permit. Nearby there are some hot springs.  There is a nature reserve here and a mausoleum at the Western end of the lake.

    General ecological features:

    Due to the high water transparency and the shallowness of much of the lake basin, there is a luxuriant growth of submerged macrophytes over much of the bottom of the lake. The dominant macrophyte is a Potamogeton species with filiform leaves similar to P. pectinatus. A Myriophyllum species is also common. Most banks slope gently into the water, with little or no emergent macrophytes. Large accumulations of decaying Potamogeton are found around the edges of the lake, which presumably have been detached during stormy weather.

    The invertebrate fauna is interesting, with very high populations of the amphipod of Gammarus krevetki associated with the submerged macrophyte beds, but also being found in plankton samples. Other species of zooplankton consist of large forms. There are two species of calanoid copepods, the larger of which may be as long as 4 mm. Many individuals of this species are colored an intense red due to deposition of arytenoids, presumably as a protection against the intense UV radiation. A large daphnia is also present. The rotifer fauna is sparse, with Brachionus species being dominant.

There are no fish in the lake, which may explain the very large size of the zooplankton species, due to a lack of predation.

     Fish seem only to be found in some of the inflow streams coming from the south and the west. The major species is Severtzov’s scaled osman, which is considered to be a dwarf form of the Scaled osman, Diptychus maculates.

Around the main world breeding area of the Bar-headed Goose (Tibetan Plateau) there are several areas where this rare goose species is also breeding. Son-Kul and Chatyr-Kul belong to these areas as the geese prefer rather high-mountain water bodies. For most locations the food for their juveniles is very critical and it seems that Chatyr-Kul fulfils their needs. Next to this the lake is important for a large population of mounting ducks. All ducks are vulnerable during this period. In West-Europe large areas are protected to assist another Tadorna-species during their molting period; full protection and easy available food are essential for such mounting populations.

    Moreover, at the end of the summer period, there is a large variety of birds which rests around the lake before they continue their migration over the Himalaya Mountains.     Chatyr-Kul provides a last stop before they will cross the mountains. More information is needed to fully establish the importance of the lake in this regard, and more research and field surveys are sorely needed. However, far more than one hundred species are using this route. It is the only place where typical Pamir-species like Brown-headed Gull can be observed.

    Social and cultural values:

    The lake basin makes up part of the Silk Road, which runs into the basin and into China via the Torugart Pass. There is a 10^th Century caravanserai, Tash-Rabat, in the At-Bashi Mountains immediately to the north of the lake. The valley is served as pastures in summer.

Current land (including water) use:

(a) within the Ramsar site: The lake’s resources are virtually unutilized by humans.

(b) in the surroundings/catchment: There is a very low population in the basin, being confined to livestock grazers who spend the short summer season (June to September) in the basin in order to graze horses, and an army garrison close to the border with China near the southern side of the lake. There are no boats on the lake.

The basin forms a very important trade route in China via the Torugart Pass, with the road running along the southern edge of the lake. Practically, it is the only connection between Kyrgyzstan and China.

    Stricter conservation measures are needed together with awareness rising on the regional/global uniqueness of the lake in order to prevent the possibility of fish introductions into the lake. Protection against poaching should be increased also in winter-periods. The military presence should be developed as assistance in the aims of the protected areas and not regarded as a threat.

2.2 Lakes of a blocked origin

Table 2.

 

Kara-Tokoi Lake.

    On the Chatkal ridge, to the north from lake Sary-Chelek there is a place with a considerable quantity of high-mountainous lakes. The kind of these picturesque lakes amazes with the natural, photogenic beauty. Slopes of mountains are covered by fir forests. Well and in the uppermost part of lifting, in a valley formed by high rocks, there is a big bowl of dark blue lake the Penalty-tokoj which was formed on merge of the rivers Ishenkul and the Penalty-tokoj.

    Here, at height of 3000 meters, rock paintings wild animal (1-2 century of century) is found. The way lies on a wood zone, leaving on the Alpine meadows and further on the Alpine meadows under pass. 

Kel-Suu Lake.

     The lake is in Naryn Region, Ak-Say valley, on the border with China. It is located in the upper Kurumduk River, a right tributary of Kack-Kiya, at an altitude of 3600 meters above sea level. This is a slide-rock type lake formed as a result of strong earthquake.  Length – 9 km, width – 0, 5-2 km, mirror square – 4, 5 sq.km, water volume – 338 million in cubic meter. According to the map there is no road to the lake, but those who have been there say that it is possible to get there. But they say it is possible to get there only on jeeps or on off-road vehicles. Kel-Suu Lake is one of the most beautiful alpine lakes in Kyrgyzstan.

    Having reached lake, you will be charmed a fantastic landscape. From a dam the fine kind on lake with its fantastic kinds – steep rocks in hundreds meters in height, falls, rocky island, bays, caves and grottoes opens. The turquoise bowl of water is surrounded with the steep peaks which tops are covered by snow even in the most hot summer.

Approximately in two kilometers in the distance, between steep walls of a canyon, the rock-island in height of meters fifty is seen. Rocks have a freakish relief, – they are spotted by grottoes, caves and deepening’s.

To see lake completely and to take pleasure, it is necessary to float on it by boats

Caves are very interesting also. The basic cave has the narrow input which has hidden in rocks on the right side of a dam. At first you get to an extensive high hall with "altar", and then the cave is omitted and divided into two narrow passes. Stalactites are not present, though walls of the bottom corridors are covered by the interesting invoice similar to coral reeves which decorate water crystals. Even in the summer there it is very cold. Extremely and unforgettably.

    Diving at Kel-Suu Lake is possible, but it is rather extreme. The height above sea level is 3600 meters. For an ordinary person it is rather difficult to be at such altitude without acclimatization. Even after living in mountains for a certain period of time you will not get used to it at once. Decompression regimes for such altitude are also difficult to calculate. But, I think, all that is possible, if everything is done accurately.  The lake is a clean sheet in terms of diving.  Not a single diver has tried this lake before.  The depth of the lake is unknown, but judging by the rocky relief the lake is rather deep.   Water temperature in summer varies within the range 6-8 °С.  Visibility is different – from 2-3 meters to 9-12 meters. Visibility depends upon the weather.  After rain the visibility drops sharply.  Flora and fauna of the lake are not known.

    Once seen, it is impossible to forget this fantastic scenery of the lake and its surroundings. The peaks covered with eternal ice and framed by turquoise water beckon to them again and again.

 
 
 

Sary - Chelek Lake.

    Some 500 km from Bishkek and 300 km from Osh is located The Sary- Chelek biosphere reserve, which lies in the Arkit Gorge, a relatively small mountain hollow in the Chatkal Mountains.  It was founded in 1959 to protect and research the pristine natural landscapes - lowland steppes and ridges with snow-capped peaks; rapid rivers and mountain lakes; blossoming valleys and alpine meadows (lying between 1200 m and 4274m). 

    Generally the climate is damper and milder than in the rest of Kyrgyzstan.  The high mountain ridges protect the reserve from the cold northerly winds in winter and the temperature here is much higher than elsewhere in the valleys (although it can fall to -27.)  Snow cover in winter, which lasts for over 100 day each year, is fairly uneven – on the southern slopes, often there is no settled snow, but elsewhere it can be over a meter deep.  In early summer (May and June) there is a combination of warmth and humidity, which gives way in late summer to warm, dry, windless days. 

    Spring and autumn are rainy but warm seasons in the reserve. In the summer conversely the temperature here is lower than in the valleys. In the forest zone, forests alternate with high grass meadows. Sub-alpine pastures are situated higher than the trees and bushes. Such conditions: a moderate climate, abundant precipitations and heightened air moisture are very favorable for many heat-loving plants. The variety of altitude, climate, lights and soil is the reason for the richness and diversity of colors of the flora.

The Sary-Chelek biosphere reserve has a rich biological diversity, especially of herbs. There about 1000 herb species, 73% of all herb species in the Western Tian-Shan. The fauna of Sary-Chelek Reserve is very rich too: 42 kinds of mammals ( such as deer, bear, lynx, wolves, foxes, badgers, porcupine…even snow leopard), 159 of birds, 7 reptile species,5 creepers, amphibians and 5 kinds of fish are under state protection.

    In the walnut and fruit forests there are many wild boars, which do a lot of damage to unique plants of the reserve, due to their strength. The fauna also includes badgers feeding on berries, mushrooms, rats, lizards, frogs and worms. Only at night does the hedgehog leaves its burrow looking for food. One of the rarest animals the snow leopard or ilbirs, lives in the alpine zone of Chatkal Ridge. In the reserve there are many ordinary forest birds- permanent residents of the southwestern Tian-Shan and ones alike. On the lake live wild ducks, teal, duns, cots, grey herons.

    The fast-flowing Khodja-Ata River starts at the western edge of the reserve and runs through the whole territory, creating picturesque waterfalls in places. The river and its various tributaries flow for twelve to fifteen km through deep gloomy gorges.

    The Avletim valley has attractive gorges and forested mountains. Cliff paintings of wild animals (dating from the 1^st and 2^nd centuries) are located in the Kara-Tokoi gorge and height 3000m. Detailed archaeological investigations, however, have not been carried out in the area. There are a few well known sites such as the Toskol-Ata Graveyard (Mazar) located on the southern shore of the lake and a place of worship by local Muslims. Another historical monument – Shah Fasil maosolium (11^th -12^th centuties) - is located near the lake and the village of Safed – Bulan.

    The Park and area comprises of the river valleys and settlements of the Kara Suu, Hodzha Ata (which flows along a winding course through almost all the territory of the reserve, in places between steep banks, strewn with boulders forming rapid cascades and waterfalls up to 3 meters high), Avletim, and It Agar and Pacha Ata rivers. Glaciers and permanent ice fields and high mountain lakes lie on the north facing slopes. Steep sided, wooded, valleys are cut deep into the ridges by fast flowing streams –and where they open onto the plains of the Ferghana Valley, and the villages of Kyzyl Tuu, Avletim and Kashka Suu grew up.

    In the northern part of the reserve lies the Sary-Chelek Lake. To the south-east are a few smaller lakes: Kyla-Kol, Iri-Kol, Chocha-Kol and Krugloe (meaning round). All the lakes were formed due to a subsidence in ancient times, which blocked the river like a dam, but Sary-Chelek is regarded as the “gem” – the “Jewel in the Crown”. The mountain ridges with variously colored rocks encircle the lake and are reflected in its calm waters.

    The lake itself is situated some 1873 meters above sea level, it stretches for some 7.5 kilometers, varying in width from 350 m . to 1500 m. and it at its deepest point reaches a depth of 234 m – it is the second deepest lake in Kyrgyzstan.  The shoreline is deeply indented and lined by steep forested slopes – which descend into the depths of the lake.  Shallow areas have developed only in the larger of the bays.

    The water level rises with the seasons – varying by about 65 cm.  It is fed by the Sary Chelek River, many numerous streams, and underground thermal streams.  The outflow is via the TusKaul River.

    There is some dispute about how it was formed – some scholars think it resulted from the collapse of two ridges of mountains which blocked the river and held back the waters and others as a result of a shift along a fault line some 2000 years ago.  The waters often appear a greenish shade of blue – and make attractive photographs.

    The name “Sary Chelek” means “Yellow Bucket”.  There is a legend tells that one of the seven brothers, named Toskool – Ata, lived here. He was a beekeeper and made a bucked from juniper to hold honey. When he poured honey into the bucket he admired its yellow color. So he called the lake on whose shore he was born and grew up “sary” which means “yellow” and “chelek” which means “bucket” in Kyrgyz.

     However, the lake looks like a huge yellow bucket only in the autumn when the water reflects faded grass of the surrounding mountain slopes. The rest of the year the water is of Prussian blue color and reflects the amazing beauty of lush vegetation around the lake. The formidable, snow- covered peak of Muz – Tor (4247 m) on the north hangs over this beautiful landscape.

    The Lake’s picturesque shores are thought by many of the local population to be the most beautiful in Kyrgyzstan. The steep slopes, (in places sheer), are covered with pine, silver fir and archa trees. A dendrological park (tree garden or Arboretum) has been established in the reserve, and although this is nit highlighted as a visitor attraction, offers the opportunity to encounter the trees and bushes of the region, with living examples to complement the dried specimens found in museums.

    In the south-eastern part of the reserve, an ecotourism zone has been made accessible to the general public, visitors and even overnight visitors who will not disturb the tranquility of the reserve and that of its wild animals. As part of the attractions the    Ecotourism Zone offers are jeep-, horse and walking tours winding along the small lakes within its enclosure.

    Some fishing is permitted in the rivers feeding the lake, but not on the lake itself.  Swimming was prohibited after some fatal casualties in 1983.  Hunting is absolutely prohibited within the reserve. 

    Access to the lake is possible only from the North and the South.  From the North there is a trekking route over the mountains from Talas which crosses high mountain passes and deep canyons, and from the South there is a road almost to the lake shore from the village of Arkyt, 20 km away.

Kugaly Lake.

    To lake it is possible to raise on the rivers Koksarek and Gava.

    The lake Kugaly was formed as a result of a grandiose collapse in sources of anonymous inflow of Karaarchasaja. Extended in a northeast direction (length of 1,5 km at average width 500) it is located in a deep hollow with abrupt rocky coast, and excess top платообразной surfaces over a water mirror reaches 400 m. the Reservoir is very picturesque. Its dark blue perfectly is in harmony with the gray, lilac and red rocks abruptly breaking to a water surface. Bright green stains стелющейся арчи and separate trees give special color to vicinities. The lake eats several streams, in the majority originating on the top part of a plateau. Continuation of a lake hollow has the form of a short and deep trough valley that merges with same image a broad gull running at the left.

Depth of Lake Kugaly - 130 m. of the superficial drain it has no, and in the dam basis, below a water mirror (level nearby 2600), beats the small stream more low running in Karaarchasaj. On a crest of the left coast it is necessary to rise from lake to bypass sources of Gavy.

Kara-Suu Lake.

     The lake Kara-Suu is located in 80 km from small town of builders upstream the Kara-Suu highly enough in mountains, amazingly beautiful and rich with fish, but intolerably cold. Water in lake ice as replenishes with glacial water. Tell that the lake was formed during immemorial times as a result of earthquake. Rocky slopes of a canyon have fallen and have partitioned off a channel the Kara-Suu a natural dam. This not man-made dam exists and until now, ironed by winds and rains, covered with bushes, trees and high blossoming grasses.

    The river at first has stopped, and the cleanest, deep lake was formed. And then it has washed out to herself pass, and it is possible to find a grotto from which crystal-clear, raging, greenish Kara-Suu escapes.

Kulun Lake.

    Kulun— the mountain lake first on size in the Osh area of Kyrgyzstan. Is on the western slope of the Fergana ridge in territory of Kulunatinsky national park. The lake is a reservoir завального origins. The river Kulun runs into lake. Water filtering through a blockage forms Lake Kulun the small.

The maximum depth of lake is 91 m.