Kolsai Lakes
In the Kolsay Gorge, the wildlife lovers can enjoy the beauty of the three mountain lakes. They are rightly called the "blue necklace" of the Northern Tien Shan. They are located at different heights, coming up in a cascade 1000, 2500 and 2850 meters above the sea level. The middle lake called Mynzhylgy is the largest of them (which means "the millennial") and the topone is the coldest.
The ponds surrounded by a palisade of Tien Shan spruce trees harbor rainbow trout. The depth of picturesque lakes reaches 80m in some places. Each of the Kolsai Lakes is unique in its own way. Centuries-old pine forests, birch woods, alpine meadows and lofty mountain tops make every traveler feel the enchantment of these places. Experienced hikers recommend horseback riding tours in order to be able to feast the eyes on the beauty of each of the lakes within one day. There are
comfortable guest houses, camp sites and yurt camps pitched around the lake, ready to take in all of the nature lovers and fans.
At some distance, 11 km to the east of the "Kolsai trio", in the Kungei Alatau gorge, there is Kaindy Lake, which is just as attractive for the active lifestyle fans and wildlife lovers. The lake formed a little over 10 years ago as a result of an earthquake and a rock-fall. Here upright and tall spruce trees reach out to the skies right out of the water. Curiously, there is no fish in Kaindy, therefore, sometimes the lake is called "dead."
