Kaindy is a lake located in Kazakhstan in the Kungei Alatau mountain system. Popular with hikers and divers.
Origin of the lake
Kaindy is a very young lake in the geological sense, it is a little over a hundred years old. The fact is that it was formed at the beginning of the last century as a result of a strong earthquake. The rocks that collapsed as a result of tremors blocked the path of a swift mountain river, forming a natural dam in its channel. This part of the gorge gradually filled with crystal clear water, and a beautiful lake appeared.
Kaindy is a lake reaching 400 meters in its longest part, not particularly deep. Its greatest depth is 30 meters, which, together with clear water, makes it possible to see the bottom almost everywhere. The second interesting feature is the flooded centuries-old fir trees. Despite a hundred years of being in the water, they did not rot. But they even retained most of their needles. True, the trees under water are entangled in mud. Probably, the very low water temperature served as the reason for such preservation of the fir trees.
Features of Kainda
The reservoir is located onan altitude of about 2000 meters above sea level. Kaindy is a very picturesque lake. The bare tops of the majestic centuries-old Tien Shan coniferous trees sticking out of the water create a special, indescribable impression of some kind of mystery, give a feeling of time and eternity stopped. And transparent water and a real fairy-tale underwater forest provide an opportunity for completely unique diving under water. True, the always low water temperature (about 3 degrees) forces scuba divers to use insulated suits.
Kaindy is a lake that changes its shade depending on the season and the weather. The color of the water ranges from pale blue to dark blue. This feature allows each time to look at the lake in a new way, revealing other facets of its beauty. An additional charm is given by the "frame" of steep rocky slopes, which, as it were, emphasize the gentle suppleness of the water surface. In the cold jets of the lake, you can still find trout, which was bred in the 30s of the last century for the needs of the fishing industry.
Lake area
No less picturesque and surroundings of the lake. The rocky slopes abound with diverse flora and fauna. Mighty fir trees are interspersed with beautiful birch trees.
Nearby (at a distance of 5 km) there is even a large birch grove, which, apparently, gave the name to the lake ("Kaindy" can be translated as "birch"). In the summer, strawberries and raspberries grow in abundance here.
Lake Problems
SometimesAlpine Lake Kaindy in Kazakhstan is adversely affected by various natural factors. Collapsing mudflows have a particularly strong influence on it, which make the water cloudy and unpleasant in appearance for a long time, and also reduce its depth. In particular, according to the marks on the rocks, one can understand that since its inception, the lake has become shallower by more than 2 meters. Fortunately, such catastrophic events as mudflows do not happen so often in these places. During the period of study of the lake, only two such cases were noted - in the eighties of the 20th century and at the beginning of this century.
It is noteworthy that before the 1980 mudflow, the majestic trees were completely flooded. After the tops were exposed, the wind and sun dried them over time, giving a unique look to the old masts of sunken ships protruding from the water. Their view becomes especially impressive when thick fog creeps onto the surface of the lake - the area immediately begins to resemble fantastic movies about pirates.
Travel recommendations
Lake Kaindy in Kazakhstan is located at a distance of about three hundred kilometers from the capital of this country. It takes about five hours to get there by car, so it's best to plan on a 2-3 day trip, taking everything you need with you. Despite the fact that there are no hotel complexes in the immediate vicinity of Kainda, tourist houses can be found in the village of Saty. Particular attention should be paid to the fuel supply, because the last decent gas station is located 150 km from the end of the route - inBayseite.
Since the lake is located on the territory of a natural park, you will have to pay a certain amount for staying on its territory (200 tenge - for the passage of vehicles, 650 - from each visitor, and another 750 - if you want to spend the night in a tent in the park).
Route
Lake Kaindy on the map seems not so far from Alma-Ata. But it is impossible to get in a straight line, as the mountains surrounding Kaindy (lake) block the path. You can find out how to get to this reservoir by following the route described below on the map. To reach the goal, you have to make a small detour. Getting to this picturesque reservoir from the capital of the republic, you first need to get to the village of Zhalanash (250 km from Alma-Ata).
Then, focusing on road signs, turn to the village of Saty (before the bridge of the Charyn River). Before reaching Saty, in front of the cemetery, you should turn into the gorge, and along it get to the barrier of the natural park and further to the lake. Since part of the road is not paved, you will have to wade across the river twice, it is best to use SUVs or other off-road vehicles.
Kaindy is a lake that will not leave anyone indifferent. Once you've been there, you'll definitely want to come back. It is worth a visit for lovers of beautiful views and fascinating photos. Lake Kaindy will never be forgotten.
