The area where one of the most beautiful lakes in Tajikistan - Karakul is located, is harsh and difficult to access. However, the flow of travelers does not dry out here, because this is one of those rare places where you can admire the virgin beauty of nature, which is very rare in our age.
Introducing Karakul
Lake Karakul is the largest drainless lake in Tajikistan. It is located in the eastern part of the Pamirs on the lands of the autonomous Gorno-Badakhshan region of the country, in the Murghab region. You can get here both by helicopter and by car. If you drive along the Pamir Highway in the direction of the city of Osh, then the desired point will be 130 km away from the village of Murghab.
The name from the Turkic name can be interpreted as "black lake". However, this is not entirely true. Depending on the refraction of the light of the sun, the water surface can take on a greenish, ultramarine, piercing blue hue, but not black at all. Most likely, the name is due to the fact that in warm calm weather the waters of the lake are transparent, and in strong winds the waves take on an ominous dark color.
Lake Karakul in Tajikistan is not a place for swimming. Its bitter-s alty waters remain all year roundcold. In winter, the reservoir freezes. Anglers will not be very interested here either - due to the nature of the waters, fish are almost never found here. Only at the mouths of small mountain rivers flowing into the Karakul do flocks of small loaches scurry back and forth.
But people come to Lake Karakul not for this. Here one enjoys a beautiful unique view - a reflection of the harsh heights of the Pamirs in the seemingly bottomless blue waters, the gap of a small picturesque valley. The view is especially fabulous for those descending from the Kyzylart pass. But in general, the Karakul region is the most suitable place for mountain climbing.
Lake Karakul (Tajikistan): numbers
Let's offer a brief information about the lake:
- The reservoir lies in a basin, which is located 3914 m above sea level (Titicaca in the Andes is 100 m inferior to it).
- This is the largest glacial-tectonic lake - its area without islands is 380 m2. The maximum depth of the reservoir is 236 m.
- Length - 33 km, width - 23 km.
Karakul, a lake in the mountains, is conditionally divided into two parts by the southern peninsula and the northern island (it used to be connected to the shore by an isthmus). At the same time, the eastern half is quieter, shallower (the maximum depth is 22.5 m), with flat capes and cozy small bays, and the western half is deeper (the greatest depth is recorded here). There is a kilometer-long strait between them.
Lake Karakul: interesting facts
Karakul is an unusual place on the map. And here's why:
- For the vast majority of the coastreservoirs lie on ice. Its layer even lies on the lake bottom. Researchers are still debating about the appearance of these ices: whether it is part of the most ancient glaciers, or a "descendant" of the ice "shield" that filled the basin during the Ice Age, or it was formed today under the influence of certain factors.
- The lake is constantly changing its size. This comes from the melting of ice on the shores - dips, straits, islets, mini-lakes are formed.
- The basin of the lake is considered the most deserted in the entire Pamir - only 20 mm of precipitation falls here a year.
- Oshkhona was discovered here, a site of Stone Age hunters dating back to the 8th millennium BC. e.
Description of Karakul area
Across its entire diameter, Karakul, Pamir Lake, is surrounded by majestic rocky ridges. In the west they come close to the reservoir, in the east they retreat a little, opening the entrance to the valley.
The lake is fed by many mountain rivers - Muzkol, Karaart, Karadzhilga. It is drainless, considered "dead" because of the high s alt content. Its water tastes like sea water - bitter-s alty.
The shores of Karakul are solemnly deserted: in some places you can only find sedge, s altwort, Pamir buckwheat, and on the islands there are a few settlements of Tibetan terns and brown-headed gulls.
Versions of the origin of the lake
According to one of the hypotheses, it is believed that Karakul is a lake whose basin is of tectonic origin. And the ancient glaciation influenced its changestructures.
According to the second version, more modern, based on satellite images and geological research, it can be concluded that Karakul is a lake formed as a result of the fall of a considerable meteorite 25 million years ago. The crater resulting from the landing of the cosmic body was 45 km in diameter.
Outskirts of Karakul
There is a motorway near the eastern part of the lake. Not far from it is the Kyrgyz village of Karakul, where travelers come to gain strength before a new campaign.
After admiring Karakul, you can go down to the famous Markansu valley, which lies very close - a few kilometers from the reservoir. Its name is frighteningly translated as "dead water", "valley of death", "valley of tornadoes". Now it is difficult to determine the true origin of the concept, but most researchers tend to think that this is due to the contrast of Markansu with the bright flowering Alai Valley, from where ancient travelers descended traveling through the Pamirs. Looking at the photo, their emotions become clear.
Many will be interested in visiting the ancient architectural ensemble of the middle of the first millennium AD. e., located in the area of the village of Karaart, which is located one kilometer from the Murgab-Osh highway. The structure is remarkable in that it combines an observatory and artifacts of animal worshipers.
Karakul is one of the most wonderful places on earth, untouched by handperson. Getting here is like being in timelessness, surrounded by the harsh beauty of the rocky ridges, reflected in the endless blue water mirror of the ancient lake.
