Kara-Suu
Longitude: 73°15′05″ E
Kara-Suu (Kyrgyz: Кара-Суу, literally “black water”) is a landslide-dammed mountain lake in Toktogul District of Jalal-Abad Region, western Kyrgyzstan. It lies in a narrow valley on the northern spurs of the Fergana Range, within Alatay State Nature Park, at an elevation of about 2,000 metres above sea level. The lake should not be confused with several other places and bodies of water in Kyrgyzstan bearing the common name Kara-Suu.[1][2]
Geography
The lake occupies a mountain valley close to the Taktylyk ridge and south of the Toktogul Reservoir. Its surface covers approximately 4.2 km². Kara-Suu is about 6.5 km long and up to 2 km wide, with a shoreline of roughly 16.5 km. Its average depth is about 90 m and its volume is estimated at 0.22 km³.[1]
Kara-Suu formed when a large rockfall blocked the river valley and created a natural dam. The Kara-Suu River begins in the lake system associated with the smaller Kapka-Tash Lake. Water from Kara-Suu emerges below the natural dam and eventually joins the Naryn River, part of the Syr Darya basin.[1]
The northern shores are steep and partly covered by grass and thorny shrubs. Pastures and forest occupy sections of the southern shore. Tien Shan spruce, rowan, barberry, and other mountain vegetation grow around the valley. Alampasy, a 3,754-metre summit of the Fergana Range, rises in the surrounding area, while Kapka-Tash Lake lies several kilometres away.
Water level and temperature
The level of Kara-Suu changes seasonally. Snowmelt and inflowing mountain streams raise the water level during spring and early summer. The surface water remains cool even in summer, generally reaching about 17–19 °C because numerous mountain streams carry cold snowmelt and glacial water into the lake.[1]
The valley has a dry continental mountain climate. Summer days can be warm, while nights remain cool because of the elevation. Winters are cold and snowy, and access through the mountains becomes substantially more difficult.
Natural environment
Kara-Suu lies within Alatay State Nature Park. The protected landscape includes forested slopes, alpine and subalpine pastures, mountain rivers, and habitats for wildlife of the western Tien Shan.[2]
The lake's elongated surface, steep valley walls, forests, and rocky shores give it a markedly different appearance from the open high-altitude lakes of central Kyrgyzstan. Its remote position has also limited dense development along the shoreline.
Access and tourism
Kara-Suu is a destination for hiking, camping, landscape photography, and other forms of outdoor travel. There are no large hotels or urban services on the shore, so a prolonged stay requires independent camping equipment and careful planning.
The lake lies far from the main Bishkek–Osh road. The mountain approach can take several hours and may require a suitable high-clearance or four-wheel-drive vehicle. Visitors should confirm road and park conditions locally, arrange transport in advance, and allow enough time for a dedicated trip rather than treating the lake as a short roadside stop.[3]
The most convenient season is generally from late spring to mid-September. Even in summer, travellers should carry warm clothing, food, drinking water, navigation equipment, and shelter suitable for rapidly changing mountain weather. Swimming is possible only for visitors comfortable with cold water.
Gallery
- Kara-Suu Lake
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Beside the lake -
The shore of Kara-Suu -
View from a slope above the lake
Other lakes in Kyrgyzstan
See also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Кара-Суу (озеро) // Большая российская энциклопедия.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 List of water bodies in the Kyrgyz Republic // Ministry of Transport and Communications of the Kyrgyz Republic.
- ↑ Lake Kara-Suu in Alatay Nature Park // I Love Kyrgyzstan.