Lakes of Kyrgyzstan

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Water resources of Kyrgyzstan are one of the main national wealth playing the major role in ability to live of the person, formation of an animal and flora, development of productive forces not only our republic, but also of some areas of Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, China.
In Kyrgyz there is a saying: «Эл башы болбой, суу башы бол». In English it means: «not be at the head of the people and be at the head of water». The considerable stocks of fresh water fed with glaciers, and also high mountains - here compound water resources of the country.
Huge volumes of water resources are concentrated in 6580 glaciers which stocks make about 760 billion in cubic meter. Water in glaciers differs high quality, a low mineralization and is suitable for an irrigation and water supply. The total area of all glaciers exceeds 8 thousand in sq. m. the largest square of a freezing in a river basin the Sary-jazz. Glaciers occupy 4,2 % of all territory of Kyrgyzstan. During the summer period at the expense of a glacial drain the considerable part of water resources of the rivers of high-mountainous areas is formed.

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2.3 Lakes of a glacial origin

Merzbacher Lake.

In the North-Eastern corner of Kyrgyzstan, two ridges of the Tian - Shan converge and some peaks rise to over 6000m.

The Inylchek glacier snakes down from the clouds, nestling at the foot of Khan Tengri (“Prince of Spirits” or “Rider of the Sky” – 6995m) on the borders with Kazakhstan in the North and Peak Pobeda (Victory Peak, 7439m – the second highest mountain in the former Soviet Union) on the border with China in the South. Stretching for 60 kilometers and covering an area of over 583 square kilometers with ice, some of it as much as 540 meters thick – this glacier is one of the most famous in the world.

Sandwiched between the Northern and Southern branches of the glacier lies the mysterious Merzbacher Lake, which form every summer and then, sometime in August, burst through the ice banks and the waters flow into the Inylchek River. (Actually, the timing varies – for example in 2002 and 2004 it happened in August, but in 2003, as early as July.) In reality, only part of the lake drains – the lake, which is 6 kilometers long and one kilometer wide, is in fact divided into two by a bridge of ice and whilst the lower half empties regularly, the upper part is always full of water. Also, the lakes empty twice a year – once in the summer and once in the winter – but most people only know about the August event.

In 1903 the German geographer and mountaineer, Gottfried Merzbacher, first discovered the lake while leading an expedition into the Tian Shan mountains aiming to reach the summit of Khan Tengri. Initially, Merzbacher attempted a route through the Byankol Pass and along the Semyonov and Mushketov Glaciers, but insurmountable ice – covered rock forced the group back. A subsequent approach via the Inylchek Glaciers, Merzbacher and his colleagues were able to reach the hills of Khan Tengri. Although the expedition failed to reach the peak, it was at least confirmed that Khan Tengri wasn’t located in the center of the Tian Shan knot, as an earlier expedition had suggested. It was, in fact, the highest point of prominent ridge that ran east of the knot, nor known as the Khan Tengri ridge. It was here, close to where the Khan Tengri ridge terminates abruptly as its western end, that Merzbacher made his real discovery. Trapped between the North and South Inylchek Glaciers, he came across a clear lake, now named after him, with its surface studded with floating icebergs. What made the lake so unusual was that it suddenly drained, while the expedition was still working in its vicinity.

Twenty-eight years later another group of explorers witnessed the same event. To their astonishment, Merzbacher lake emptied before their very eyes, leaving great blocks of ice stranded on the exposed bed of lake. They recorded the events in graphic details: “The end of Inylchek Glaciers was somewhat extraordinary with water spring up in different location making terrible noises. Some of them ran down the Glacier slopes, while other gushed forth from deep cracks in the Glacier surface. Our horses were so frightened by the great roar and Glacier pulsation that we hardly managed to get them down the slope. There was a moment when the Glacier seemed to be at the point of breaking away and rushing downward destroying everything in its way!” Some of the expedition group returned the following year in a renewed assault on Khan Tengri. To their amazement, Merzbacher lake was full of water and myriad small icebergs floated on its silent surface.

The process whereby a glacier lake suddenly drains its water is called Jokulhlaup or glacier burst. It has been reported that several lakes around the world have its specialty, says Professor Andrew Russell of Keele University, a specialist in this field. In the early days the century, Graenalon, a lake impounded between a rock wall and one of the major outlet glaciers of Vatnajokul! In Iceland, used to drain sub glacially every four years, but later drained more frequently. In Switzerland, the Marjelen See glacier lake was reported to have drained 19 times among 1813 and 1900.

“It’s unusual and spectacular to see”, says Russell who has recently returned from trip to Greenland where he has been studying glaciers lakes. “While there has been a lot of written about the subject, it’s still very rare to actually see it draining”. Russell goes on to say that there is no universal theory to explain why they drain. “Linking a particular theory to a particular type of lake cannot be done. It depends on so many things like the configuration of the ice and the depth of ice to water”.

There are several theories to explain the regular outflow of water from Merzbacher. Some scientist suggests that when the depth of water in the lake reaches a critical level, that portion of the South Inylchek Glacier that damns the lake begins to float. Once this happens, water from the lake empties rapidly under the glacier, spurting to the surface via crevasses that extend to the glacier bed. A second possibility is that pressure exerted by the water of the lake on South Inylchek Glacier becomes sufficient, once the lake reaches a certain depth, to cause deformation of the Glacier. If this deformation causes gaps to develop between the Glacier and its bed, the lake will drain.

The expeditions done to the borders of the ice-covered lake wasn’t enough to find an answer to the outburst, but only increasing the hypothesis.

A canyon-lake feature in the South Inylchek Glacier, known as The Crack, may also play a part in the drainage of the lake. If the Crack fills up with water, the water drains away via tunnels in and under the glacier. These tunnels may enlarge to such an extent that a suction effect is caused on the smaller tunnels between the Crack and the lake, producing an increased flow of water from Merzbacher lake. An increase in flow would accelerate the melting of the glacial ice surrounding the tunnels, thereby enlarging them and further allowing the lake to empty rapidly.

Unfortunately, none of these theories are entirely convincing and much more research is need to determine which, if any, is correct. Meanwhile, more recent observations have established that Merzbacher sometimes empties twice a year- one in summer and once in winter. We need to wait to see whether the mystery surrounding the vanishing Merzbacher will ever be explained.

There are several trekking routes in the area, but as part of the border zone special permits are needed.

Ala-Kol Lake.

Ala-Kol Lake is on the popular trekking routes between Altyn-Arashan and the Karakol gorge at an altitude of 3532m. It is often the first overnight stop on the route between Altyn -Arashan to Djety-Oguz, but it can be reached in a (long) day from either of the Altyn- Arashan or Karakol valleys - but only in the summer months - and, although the trek is popular, the route is not regarded as "easy". To get to it is possible or from below, or through one of simple passes through rocky crests surrounding lake. The car of roads to lake is not present. It is necessary to reach on foot or on horses.

It is set in a barren, rocky depression and surrounded by the peaks of the Terskey Ala-Too range. The lake is approached along rocky paths and screen slopes.

The lake is 2.3 km long and 700m wide which makes it the largest of the 729 lakes in the Issyk-Kul basin. No one seems to know how deep it is, at least, (we can't find a recode of its depth anywhere in the literature), but the Kyrgyzstan’s Encyclopedia says that the volume is 4.3 million cubic meters.

The name of Lake on Kyrgyz means «Motley Lake». It is located in riverheads of Kurgaktor, the right inflow of Karakol, at height of 3532 meters. Has a glacial origin: the glacier after deviation and now occupies the top part of a valley.

The crystal clear waters of the lake are fed by glacial streams and the outflow forms a waterfall. It freezes from October until May.

The lake's color changes according to the time of day, the season and the weather – the waters can seem violet, dark blue or even pink.

Diving: For diving the lake of interest does not represent, in connection with low visibility and difficultly availability.

History

A Russian traveler named Putimtsoff was the first to visit the lake in 1811. He gave a good description of it, mentioning about rocks of different colors in the lake, and the furious winds blowing around the lake. Thirty years later Alexander Schrenk explored the lake and its surroundings.

Literally, the name Ala-Kul would mean 'variegated lake,' although it probably takes its name from the Ala-Таu Mountains lying further north. On ancient Chinese maps the name appears as Alak-tugul-nor or lake of the variegated ox, showing itself as only one lake and not as one divided into three.

In post-Pliocene times, Lake Ala-Kul was linked with Lake Balkhash, but now it stands about a hundred feet higher, connected to Lake Issyk-Kul, to the north-west, by a chain of smaller lakes.

conclusion

Among natural resources water takes a special place. Throughout a continuous geological history it has created the environment favorable for occurrence all live, including person on our planet. The problem at its finest and protection of water resources become more and sharper in process of society historical development, influence on the nature, caused by scientific and technical progress promptly increases.

Overall objective of an ecological policy of the states of the world is maintenance of ecologically safe conditions for residing of people, rational use and protection of natural resources, development of legal and economic bases of preservation of the environment in interests of the present and the future generations. For achievement of this purpose it is necessary to spend consistently, first of all, structural reorganization of industrial sphere to carry out the technical policy based on savings of resources, application of low-waste and technologies without waste.

Probably, problems of preservation of natural resources to solve only on the basis of objective international arrangements. The ultimate goal of preservation of natural resources consists in maintenance of favorable living conditions for the present and the subsequent generations of people, for development of a national economy, the industry and a science.

Kyrgyzstan possesses considerable tourist - recreational potential and has the big possibilities for development of tourism, both internal, and international. So our republic foreign experts, for example, characterize: “… there are not enough countries on the earth with such surprising combination of natural and cultural lines, as Kyrgyzstan. Undoubtedly, in mountain areas it is possible to see one of the most attractive landscapes in the world”.

As the most part of territory of Kyrgyzstan is occupied with mountains they are the most attractive resource for tourists of the far abroad. Adventure tourism uses a great demand in the world tourist market. Glaciers, lakes, the rivers are important possibilities of Kyrgyzstan for development of rafting, tracking on glaciers.

The serious obstacle on a way of tourist business of Kyrgyzstan remains not to solve many is material-financial questions and political instability in the country. World practice shows that tourism as an important direction of business and, hence, an income source can develop only under favorable conditions.

Unfortunately, brag in this respect Kyrgyzstan cannot. There are no modern means of a tourist infrastructure (hotels, camping, communication facilities, transport, high quality roads, is sociable-household services), and operating - are of little use and a little adapted for satisfaction of demand of foreign tourists.

In tourism information support before the country it is necessary to use the best efforts a problem on maintenance and distribution of image of Kyrgyzstan, as the area favorable for tourism.

Adventure tourism uses a great demand in the world market. Glaciers, lakes, the rivers, are important possibilities of Kyrgyzstan for development of tourism and creation of a network of halts and camping in the most popular areas.

I consider that in development of tourism it is necessary to use following principles:

1. Travel and tourism should help people is in harmony with the nature.

2. Travel and tourism should bring the contribution to preservation, protection and restoration of ecosystems.

3. Environment protection should make a necessary part of development of tourism.

4. The problem of development of tourism should dare with participation of local residents, taking into account decisions accepted on local level.

5. The states should warn each other concerning natural disasters which can mention tourist sphere.

6. Tourism should promote creation of workplaces for local residents.

7. Tourism development should support culture and interests of local residents.

8. Tourism development should consider legislative guidelines in sphere of protection of environment.

Applying this and other principles, Kyrgyzstan can enter in the international tourist market.

The list of references

Laurence Mitchell “Kyrgyzstan”. The Bradt Travel Guide. 2008 year
Magazine “Independent observer of the countries of commonwealth” 2002 year
Magazine “Discovery of Kyrgyzstan” supplement 2002 year
Magazine “Central Asia” 2000 year
Magazine “Kyrgyzstan Land of the Tian - Shan” # 1 nov., 2006 year
www.wikipedia.ru
www.welcome.ru

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