{"id":8955,"date":"2021-03-08T21:06:26","date_gmt":"2021-03-08T21:06:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/visitsilkroad.org\/staging\/?post_type=destination&#038;p=8955"},"modified":"2024-06-06T01:41:58","modified_gmt":"2024-06-05T17:41:58","slug":"issyk-kul-lake","status":"publish","type":"destination","link":"https:\/\/visitsilkroad.org\/destination\/issyk-kul-lake\/","title":{"rendered":"Issyk-Kul Lake"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/api.mapbox.com\/styles\/v1\/visitsilkroad\/clvl3cel701dq01phev10aq9m\/static\/pin-s+ff0000(77.07898624139989,42.46203985)\/77.07898624139989,42.46203985,12.5,0\/725x300?access_token=pk.eyJ1IjoidmlzaXRzaWxrcm9hZCIsImEiOiJjbHV2YWEzbDMwMWRvMmpvYXd1NzRkNDcwIn0.iA4-BEz1MfIrSQRk3uxVkw\">\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Getting There<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Access to the shore by vehicle or on foot is possible across most of the lake, especially from any of the tourist towns along both shores. Private taxis in all towns shuttle tourists back and forth from guesthouses to beaches to restaurants, and limited marshrutka (routed shared taxi) access exists in Cholpon-Ata and Karakol.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"pixels-photo\">\n<a href=\"https:\/\/500px.com\/photo\/72046787\/Lone-fisherman-by-Michael-Shmelev\" alt=\"Lone fisherman by Michael Shmelev on 500px.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\n  <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/drscdn.500px.org\/photo\/72046787\/m%3D900\/v2?sig=707879b05748124e16ebf40ed063469356dda949894d976bcded1a68e5008289\" alt=\"Lone fisherman by Michael Shmelev on 500px.com\">\n<\/a>\n<\/div>\n\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\" src=\"https:\/\/500px.com\/embed.js\"><\/script>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What to Expect<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Issyk-Kul&#8217;s northern shore is known for better quality sandy beaches and more of a focus on resorts and nightlife, while the southern shore tends towards more rugged rocky beaches but also more seclusion. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"pixels-photo\">\n<a href=\"https:\/\/500px.com\/photo\/1013117232\/lake-IssykKul-Kyrgyzstan-by-Mikhail-\" alt=\"lake Issyk-Kul, Kyrgyzstan by Mikhail  on 500px.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\n  <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/drscdn.500px.org\/photo\/1013117232\/m%3D900\/v2?sig=d177e1fbe8835761b2a6f45ef5cff132bb8de897795f0291339d87ade9955b1d\" alt=\"lake Issyk-Kul, Kyrgyzstan by Mikhail  on 500px.com\">\n<\/a>\n<\/div>\n\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\" src=\"https:\/\/500px.com\/embed.js\"><\/script>\n\n\n\n<p>Motorsports on the lake tend to be focused around Cholpon-Ata and Bosteri on the northern shore, while kayaks are available for rental in Karakol to explore the calm waters of Prezhevalsk Bay and the Karakol and Jyrgalan rivers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"pixels-photo\">\n<a href=\"https:\/\/500px.com\/photo\/172777331\/Lake-IssykKul-by-Emil-Qazi\" alt=\"Lake Issyk-Kul by Emil Qazi on 500px.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\n  <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/drscdn.500px.org\/photo\/172777331\/m%3D900\/v2?sig=1a1a38dfe792cc5f8ac5a7b4af43388d5d41284bf383993f5bcd5e63869aa815\" alt=\"Lake Issyk-Kul by Emil Qazi on 500px.com\">\n<\/a>\n<\/div>\n\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\" src=\"https:\/\/500px.com\/embed.js\"><\/script>\n\n\n\n<p>In summer the southern shore village of Ton briefly becomes the centre of the lake&#8217;s party scene during the annual Kol-Fest music festival.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">History<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Issyk-Kul Lake has many centuries of history. It is truly known that a city was once built high in the mountains. It existed five centuries before the appearance of Jesus Christ. In the 16th century, the settlement was flooded.<\/p>\n\n\n<style>.kb-gallery-id-8955_0b5ec4-94.kb-gallery-ul.kb-gallery-type-fluidcarousel .kt-blocks-carousel figure .kb-gal-image-radius, .kb-gallery-id-8955_0b5ec4-94.kb-gallery-ul.kb-gallery-type-fluidcarousel .kt-blocks-carousel figure .kb-gal-image-radius img{height:300px;}.kb-gallery-id-8955_0b5ec4-94 .kadence-blocks-gallery-item .kb-gal-image-radius{border-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;;}<\/style><div class=\"kb-gallery-wrap-id-8955_0b5ec4-94 alignnone wp-block-kadence-advancedgallery\"><div class=\"kb-gallery-ul kb-gallery-non-static kb-gallery-type-fluidcarousel kb-gallery-id-8955_0b5ec4-94 kb-gallery-caption-style-bottom-hover kb-gallery-filter-none\" data-image-filter=\"none\" data-lightbox-caption=\"true\"><div class=\"kt-blocks-carousel kt-carousel-container-dotstyle-dark\"><div class=\"kt-blocks-carousel-init kb-blocks-fluid-carousel kt-carousel-arrowstyle-whiteondark kt-carousel-dotstyle-dark\" data-slider-anim-speed=\"400\" data-slider-scroll=\"1\" data-slider-arrows=\"true\" data-slider-dots=\"true\" data-slider-hover-pause=\"false\" data-slider-auto=\"\" data-slider-speed=\"7000\" data-slider-type=\"fluidcarousel\" data-slider-center-mode=\"true\" data-slider-gap=\"10px\" data-slider-gap-tablet=\"10px\" data-slider-gap-mobile=\"10px\"><div class=\"kb-slide-item kb-gallery-carousel-item\"><div class=\"kadence-blocks-gallery-item\"><div class=\"kadence-blocks-gallery-item-inner\"><figure class=\"kb-gallery-figure kb-gallery-item-has-link kadence-blocks-gallery-item-hide-caption\" \"><a href=\"https:\/\/visitsilkroad.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Issyk-Kul-Lake-Kyrgyzstan1.jpg\" class=\"kb-gallery-item-link\"><div class=\"kb-gal-image-radius\"><div class=\"kb-gallery-image-contain\" ><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/visitsilkroad.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Issyk-Kul-Lake-Kyrgyzstan1.jpg\" width=\"640\" height=\"359\" alt=\"\" data-full-image=\"https:\/\/visitsilkroad.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Issyk-Kul-Lake-Kyrgyzstan1.jpg\" data-light-image=\"https:\/\/visitsilkroad.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Issyk-Kul-Lake-Kyrgyzstan1.jpg\" data-id=\"13707\" class=\"wp-image-13707 skip-lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/visitsilkroad.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Issyk-Kul-Lake-Kyrgyzstan1.jpg 640w, https:\/\/visitsilkroad.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Issyk-Kul-Lake-Kyrgyzstan1-300x168.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/div><\/div><\/a><\/figure><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"kb-slide-item kb-gallery-carousel-item\"><div class=\"kadence-blocks-gallery-item\"><div class=\"kadence-blocks-gallery-item-inner\"><figure class=\"kb-gallery-figure kb-gallery-item-has-link kadence-blocks-gallery-item-hide-caption\" \"><a href=\"https:\/\/visitsilkroad.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Issyk-Kul-Lake-Kyrgyzstan2.jpg\" class=\"kb-gallery-item-link\"><div class=\"kb-gal-image-radius\"><div class=\"kb-gallery-image-contain\" ><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/visitsilkroad.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Issyk-Kul-Lake-Kyrgyzstan2.jpg\" width=\"640\" height=\"359\" alt=\"\" data-full-image=\"https:\/\/visitsilkroad.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Issyk-Kul-Lake-Kyrgyzstan2.jpg\" data-light-image=\"https:\/\/visitsilkroad.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Issyk-Kul-Lake-Kyrgyzstan2.jpg\" data-id=\"13706\" class=\"wp-image-13706 skip-lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/visitsilkroad.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Issyk-Kul-Lake-Kyrgyzstan2.jpg 640w, https:\/\/visitsilkroad.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Issyk-Kul-Lake-Kyrgyzstan2-300x168.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/div><\/div><\/a><\/figure><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p>For the first time Issyk-Kul was described in Chinese chronicles, that date back to the 2nd century BC. They call the lake Zhe-Hai, which literally translates as &#8220;warm sea&#8221;.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Thanks to the scientist Alexander Golubev in 1864 the exact image of the lake on the map appeared.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"pixels-photo\">\n<a href=\"https:\/\/500px.com\/photo\/76752733\/Issyk-Kul-Lake-Kyrgyzstan-by-Anton-Konyukhov\" alt=\"Issyk Kul Lake, Kyrgyzstan by Anton Konyukhov on 500px.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\n  <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/drscdn.500px.org\/photo\/76752733\/m%3D900\/v2?sig=10ac7a72b21b63427a03fbf18034aebc34efa8e37d491a9f36d9c483924afe83\" alt=\"Issyk Kul Lake, Kyrgyzstan by Anton Konyukhov on 500px.com\">\n<\/a>\n<\/div>\n\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\" src=\"https:\/\/500px.com\/embed.js\"><\/script>\n\n\n\n<p>In 2006, a group of scientists and scuba divers explored the bottom of the lake. During the dives items, indicating the time of the death of the city, as well as various buildings were found. Currently, all artefacts are kept in the museum, and the gold bar, which served as a measure of payment, is kept in the bank of Kyrgyzstan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe title=\"Diving at ancient settlement Kara Oy. Kyrgyz Republic, Issyk-Kul Lake\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/plmQ_D4VIO8?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The mystery of Lake Issyk-Kul will excite the minds of scientists for a long time, and there are traces of an unknown civilization dating back 2.5 thousand years on its bottom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Facilities Available<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Tourist facilities are concentrated in Cholpon-Ata, Bokonbaevo, Karakol, and the regions surrounding each.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Tour operators in Cholpon-Ata organise trips across the northern shore, while <a href=\"https:\/\/destinationkarakol.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Destination Karakol<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/profile.php?id=100027918323964\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">CBT Karakol<\/a> are the best resources for the western side of the lake.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/destinationsouthshore\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Destination South Shore<\/a> can organise adventure and cultural activities in the areas near Bokonbaevo.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The pearl of Kyrgyzstan, Issyk-Kul is a high alpine lake, the world\u2019s 25th largest lake and the 7th deepest lake in the world. Located in the northeastern part of the republic, between the Kungei Ala-Too and Terskey Ala-Too ridges. Issyk-Kul means &#8220;warm lake&#8221;. Although it is surrounded by snow-capped peaks, it never freezes.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":8960,"parent":0,"template":"","destination_type":[17],"location":[88,22],"site_type":[166],"featured":[175],"class_list":["post-8955","destination","type-destination","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","destination_type-site","location-issyk-kul","location-kyrgyz-republic","site_type-nature-eco-tourism","featured-featured"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/visitsilkroad.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/destination\/8955"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/visitsilkroad.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/destination"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/visitsilkroad.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/destination"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/visitsilkroad.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/destination\/8955\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":20101,"href":"https:\/\/visitsilkroad.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/destination\/8955\/revisions\/20101"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/visitsilkroad.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8960"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/visitsilkroad.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8955"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"destination_type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/visitsilkroad.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/destination_type?post=8955"},{"taxonomy":"location","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/visitsilkroad.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/location?post=8955"},{"taxonomy":"site_type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/visitsilkroad.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/site_type?post=8955"},{"taxonomy":"featured","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/visitsilkroad.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/featured?post=8955"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}