Markakol and its shores are fabulously picturesque: the purest transparent water, the shores are rich in various vegetation (fir, larch and herbs). With a light breath of wind, the lake is covered with scallops of white small waves, which resembles the wavy delicate skin of a young lamb. Perhaps that is why this lake has such a funny name.
The word “marka” means the local name of a young lamb, and “kol” means a lake.
About where Lake Markakol is located, what it is, about the sights of its environs and much more you can learn in more detail by reading this article. But first of all, we will briefly present general information about the reservoirs of Kazakhstan.
Reservoirs of Kazakhstan
The water resources of Kazakhstan are not very rich, and they are unevenly distributed on its territory. In total, there are more than 85 thousand temporary (periodically drying up) reservoirs, lakes and rivers in the republic. Their main food source is glaciers and snow.
Most rivers belong toclosed inland basins of two seas (Caspian and Aral), as well as the largest lakes: Alakol, Balkhash and Tengiz. Only the Irtysh, Ishim and Tobol carry their waters to the Kara Sea.
The water resources of Kazakhstan include the largest lakes, which include Tengiz, Zaysan and Seletteniz. The most beautiful, not only in the country, but throughout the world, are Kulsay (Almaty region), Borovoye and Bayanaul (Northern Kazakhstan), as well as Zaisan and Markakol in East Kazakhstan.
These lakes are rich in a variety of freshwater fish. Perch, carp, crucian carp, bream, etc. are found here. There are also considerable reserves of underground water in Kazakhstan. Almost the entire mountain system here is rich in excellent mineral springs, which make it possible to develop resort and sanatorium services in these amazingly beautiful places.
East Kazakhstan region
The region borders China and Russia. Its territory expanded in 1997, when the former Semipalatinsk region was included in the republic. The city of Ust-Kamenogorsk is the administrative center. The region was formed in March 1932.
3 large hydroelectric power stations have been built on the main river - Ust-Kamenogorsk, Shulbinsk and Bukhtarma. There are lakes Zaisan, Alakol, Sasykkol and, as noted above, the most beautiful lake Markakol.
In terms of the saturation of natural resources, the East Kazakhstan region is comparable to a sheet of paper crumpled and crumpled into a ball, which in a smoothed state has a more extensivean area with endless water and other natural resources. A wide variety of altitudinal belts and landscape zones are mixed here: flat steppes, mountains, forest-steppes, etc. Among all this we alth, this purest lake is located, which is described in more detail below in the article.
Lake Markakol
Kazakhstan among numerous natural reservoirs has an amazingly beautiful mountain lake. Markakol is the largest lake in the Altai Mountains, spread over the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan (Kazakhstan Altai). Its surface area is 455 square meters. kilometers, and its maximum depth is 30 meters. The lake is 38 kilometers long and 19 kilometers wide.
The reservoir delights with various shades of the water surface in different weather. The water has a blue or blue tint on a clear day, when the weather changes, the surface of the lake becomes gray-black, with wonderful silvery tints.
Lake Markakol is located in the mountains, at an altitude of 1448 meters. Baikal is 70 times larger in area, but the water in both of them is fresh, and some types of fish are exactly the same.
The location of the lake is a hollow between the Kurchum and Azutau mountains. About 70 rivers flow into Markakol, and only one (Kaldzhir River) originates from here. It should be noted that the Kaldzhir River, leaving the lake, flows into the Bukhtarma reservoir after a hundred kilometers.
The southern shores of the lake are steep, and the northern ones are low. Water on the surface in summerwarms up to 17 °C, and at the bottom - up to 7 °C. The lake freezes in November and opens up in May.
Origin
According to geologists, the lake is very old - it has existed since glacial times. It also feeds on groundwater. Markakol is also called the lake of a hundred rivers.
The origin of the reservoir is associated with one of the glacial phases of the Alpine tectonic cycle (Quaternary period). In ancient times, as a result of uplifts and subsequent faults, a certain system of modern intermountain depressions and ridges was created, which were later affected by glaciation. Traces of the last event are especially pronounced on the Kurchum Range, on its watershed parts.
Legend
Markakol is a lake about which surprisingly beautiful legends are composed. For example, one of the most common tells about a story that happened to a little lamb.
Between the mountains, in the valley near the purest spring, one day a father and son were tending sheep. In their flock there was one playful lamb-marka (the word means "born in winter"). At one point, the lamb ran to drink water from the spring. Suddenly, he was pulled into the water. The shepherd boy, seeing this, rushed to the aid of the lamb to help him get out, but nothing came of it, after which he called his father for help. Only the two of them were able to save Mark. From the place where this happened, water gushed out in a huge stream, which flooded the entire pasture, and then the entire valley … Since then, according to the stories of local residents of the southern Altai, the lakeMarkakol - "the lake of the winter lamb". However, many scientists adhere to their own, scientific point of view of the origin of the reservoir.
Reserve
Markakolsky State Reserve, located in the southern Altai, is a wonderful place where deciduous forests grow on rocky ledges of mountains, occasionally interspersed with fir trees, where birch, Siberian spruce and aspen grow near rivers and meadows. This nature reserve is a wonderful place where you can find shrubs such as raspberries, honeysuckle, rose hips and currants.
It's hard to get to. You need to cross the stormy “Zhaman Kaaba” (river) 5 times and overcome the most picturesque, but difficult pass. The main attraction of these amazingly beautiful places is the mountain lake, which is the crown of beauty not only of the reserve, but of the entire Southern Altai.
Fish, mammals and birds
The most common types of fish from Lake Markakol are grayling and lenok (uskuch).
It should be noted that uskuch is found only in this lake. It is a local analogue of the lenok fish, which has acquired its own individual features over the long years of isolation. It is quite a valuable fish comparable to salmon.
Unfortunately, although it is at a decent distance from civilization, Markakol is suffering greatly from human invasion. Poachers also get here for the sake of extracting valuable caviar. Therefore, a reserve was created in these places.
By storiesthere were so many local old-timers in the streams and rivers flowing into Lake Markakol in the middle of the last century that even cows and horses could not enter the water during spawning (they were afraid) - shoals of fish knocked cattle down. Fishermen came across even bored weighing up to 30 kilograms. Today there are no such…
Among the mammals there are wolverines, sables, red wolves (the rarest) and even moose.
Markakol is a lake, on the coastal territory of which many birds live: wild ducks, black storks. The latter are the attractions of these places. These very rare birds nest on the crowns of large trees and on the rocks along the shores of Lake Markakol. It should be noted that they are monogamous, and their pairs remain for life.
Today Markakol is a lake along the banks of which a lone black stork roams from dawn to dusk. A cautious and secretive bird is not at all afraid of people. There are many other birds in the reserve. Loons, gulls, ducks, grebes and sandpipers nest here. The forests have become a haven for hazel grouse, black grouse, capercaillie and partridge.
A bit about the climate
The climate is typically continental. Winter here is quite severe, there is a lot of snow. The temperature is 55 degrees below zero. The average annual value is 4.1 degrees Celsius, and it corresponds to the lowest temperature in the Southern Altai.
In the summer, the air temperature can rise up to 29 degrees. The average daily temperature stays above zero for 162 days a year, and below zerotemperature - 203 days.
Conclusion
The nature of these places is fabulously rich and multifaceted. Absolutely all the local natural corners are magnificent.
Everyone who has ever visited these fabulously beautiful places wishes to return again and be at least some time alone with the amazing unique nature.
