12 Most Beautiful Lakes in Kazakhstan (with Images)

Are you looking for the most beautiful lakes in Kazakhstan? If so, you’ve come to the right place.

Kazakhstan is a tourist-rich country. There are a lot of tourist places in Kazakhstan that are worth visiting. Each destination is full of adventure and excitement.

The natural heritage of this country like waterfalls, beaches, mountains, national parks, and forests, and human heritage like museums, amusement parks, skyscrapers, etc. attracts tourists from all over the world.

Lakes have an important role among the most popular tourist destinations in Kazakhstan. There are plenty of popular lakes in Kazakhstan.

In the winter, the lakes become frozen, and in summer, the lakes become normal, so you can see the frozen as well as water lakes there. You can go hiking, trekking, and camping near the lakes which will be another great experience for you.

Most Beautiful Lakes in Kazakhstan

1. Big Almaty Lake

When it comes to the most beautiful lakes in Kazakhstan, Big Almaty Lake is a lake that comes first on that list. It is located in the Trans-Ili Alatau mountains, 15 km south of the center of Almaty in Kazakhstan.

The lake is spread over a length of 1.6 km and a width of 1 km. The lake reaches its deepest point in the middle which is about 30-40 meters deep.

The lake is a natural heritage of Kazakhstan that attracts tourists from all over the world with its beauty. The bluish water of the lake makes it more beautiful.

Various types of fish and other water animals live inside it. You can see them and have an excellent experience there.

2. Lake Balkhash

Lake Balkhash is the largest lake in Kazakhstan, one of the largest lakes in central Asia, and the 15th largest in the world. The lake is spread over a length of 600km covering 16,400 square km area.

It reaches a depth of 9–19 km in the eastern part to 74 km in the western part. The interesting thing about this lake is that it contains both fresh and saline water.

From a tourism perspective, this lake is very popular among tourists. People from different countries visit there and enjoy the moments.

The greenery around the lake adds beauty to it. The government spends a good budget to encourage tourism in that region. I recommend you to visit this one of the most beautiful lakes in Kazakhstan.

3. Kolsay Lake

The next travel-worthy lake on our list is Kolsay Lakes. It is located between the Raiymbek District and Talgar District of the Almaty Region.

The lake is the soul of Kolsay Lakes National Park which is also worth exploring destinations in Kazakhstan. The lake is surrounded by hills and peaceful conifer forests.

The clear, shimmering blue water of the lake is very attractive. The reflection of sunlight from the upper surface of the lake dazzles the entire surrounding.

This enhances the beauty of the lake. If you are a camera person, you will find a lot of spots out there that are good for photography.

4. Lake Kaindy

If you are planning to visit Kolsay lake, definitely include Lake Kaindy in your plan because it is located only 11 km east of the Kolsay Lakes.

So, if you don’t include this in your plan, you will miss out on a chance to experience this beautiful lake in Kazakhstan. It takes only 10 to 15 minutes to get there.

The interesting thing about it is that it was formed in 1911 when an earthquake caused a landslide that blocked one end of the gorge. The lake contains bluish-green colored water which is also a reason for its uniqueness.

Due to the clear water, you can easily see different kinds of fish inside the water. The lake is about 400 meters long, reaching depths of nearly 30 meters at its deepest point. 

5. Lake Alakol

Talking about the most beautiful lakes in Kazakhstan and not mentioning Lake Alakol in the list, is not possible. Lake Alakol has an important place on the list of best lakes in Kazakhstan.

It is a lake located in the Almaty and Shyghyz provinces, in east-central Kazakhstan. In 2021, the Kazakhstan authority selected this lake as one of the top 10 tourist destinations in Kazakhstan.

In the winter season when the surrounding hills and mountains are covered with snow, a large number of tourists visit there and enjoy nature’s beauty.

In the spring season, the greenery around the lake adds more beauty to it. You can also enjoy trekking hiking and fishing there. This lake is one of the best fishing places in Kazakhstan.

6. Lake Tengiz

Lake Tengiz is also a very famous lake in Kazakhstan. It is located in the north-central part of Kazakhstan.

If you take an interest in birds, this place will be best for you as 318 species of birds have been recorded there 22 of which are endangered. Apart from enjoying the lake, you will get to know a lot more about the birds there.

The lake contains saline water as a result it is undrinkable. If we talk about its beauty, it is one of the most beautiful lakes in Kazakhstan.

You can see various natural creations around the lake. Since it is a bird-rich area, you can easily capture rare bird photos. So, don’t go there without taking your camera or else you will have to regret it.

7. Lake Zaysan

Lake Zaysan is the next beautiful lake which is located between the Altai and the Tarbagatai Mountains in the eastern Kazakhstan region.

It maintains 105 km of length and 22–48 km of width with a maximum depth of 15 m. The lake, as well as its surroundings, attract tourists from across the world.

The lake generally freezes from the beginning of November to the end of April due to a fall in temperature. So, in this duration, you can enjoy ice fishing, and ice skating there.

The view of the lake at that time is very beautiful. You can see the different colored fish stuck inside ice which may be an excellent view for photography.

8. Lake Issyk

Lake Issyk is also one of the most beautiful lakes in Kazakhstan which is worth visiting. It is about 70 km east of Almaty.

This lake is one of the best tourist destinations in Almaty, so the government spends a lot to take care of it.

Near the lake, infrastructure for camping has been created, gazebos, tables, and benches have been built, and fireplaces have been organized by the government authorities.

The lake is surrounded by conifers and dense forests and spacious flower fields that continuously add beauty to the lake.

It is a paradise for photographers so don’t forget to take your camera there otherwise you will not capture the best moments of your journey and in the end, you will regret it.

9. Lake Chagan

Lake Chagan is a very unique lake as it is not formed naturally. On account of human experiments, this lake was formed.

It was created by the Chagan nuclear test on January 15, 1965, which was conducted as part of the Soviet Union’s Nuclear Explosions for the National Economy program. This lake is also known as the Atomic Lake by the people.

The lake is surrounded by small hills. During the winter season, the lake freezes, therefore, many tourists visit there and enjoy many ice sports. The lake is also used for fishing by the locals as there are a large number of fish living inside the lake. So, as a tourist, you can also enjoy fishing there which may be a new experience for you.

10. Barsakelmes Lake

Barsakelmes Lake is a part of Barsakelmes Nature Reserve. It is also a very famous lake in Kazakhstan. If you travel there, you will also have experience of Barsakelmes Nature Reserve.

Since Barsakelmes Nature Reserve is an immense desert expanse of plains, hills & wetlands, home to camels, reptiles & many birds, therefore, you may be able to experience all of them.

The journey to visit this lake is very adventurous and exciting, I’m pretty sure you will love this place.

There are various photography spots there where you can capture different types of photos. I would like to recommend you to definitely visit this lake

11. Lake Sasykkol

Lake Sasykkol is the next beautiful lake in Kazakhstan which is located in the eastern part of Kazakhstan.

The lake generally covers an area of 600 square kilometers but in the rainy season, it expands up to 736 square kilometers. The depth of the lake varies from 3.3 meters to 4.7 meters.

The lake is most commonly known for fishing. There is a large number of fish present in this lake. If you also want fishing, you can also do it there.

Apart from fishing, you can enjoy nature’s beauty around the lake. Moreover, you can easily spot the Mute Swan, Whooper Swan, and Spoonbill at this place.

12. Lake Markakol

Lake Markakol is the last lake on our list which is one of the most beautiful lakes in Kazakhstan. It is located in the East Kazakhstan region. It is well known for its incredible landscapes, especially during sunset or dawn.

The lake is surrounded by different types of landscapes. There are meadows, mountains, and taiga, where more than 700 plant species grow.

Moreover, there are rare animals that live in this region. You may spot Brown bears, snow leopards, wolverines, wild boars, wolves, moose, and other amazing animals in this region.

If we talk about its beauty, it is incredible. The peaceful environment of this place will definitely heal your mental problems. I will definitely suggest that you visit there.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Kazakhstan is not just about vast plains and mountains; it’s a land of breathtaking lakes that will enchant and amaze. Each of these lakes offers a unique experience, whether you’re an adventure seeker, a nature lover, or a history enthusiast.

Plan your trip to explore the most beautiful lakes in Kazakhstan and discover the wonders that this diverse country has to offer.

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