A vast alpine lake that never freezes
Issyk-Kul is one of the largest mountain lakes in the world, lying at around 1,600 metres and, being slightly salty, it does not freeze in winter. The north shore has beaches and resorts at Cholpon-Ata, where petroglyphs are scattered across a boulder field. Karakol, at the eastern end, is a base for trekking and skiing, with its wooden Orthodox cathedral and Dungan mosque. The quieter south shore has yurt camps, the red rocks of Jeti-Oguz and the Fairy Tale Canyon of Skazka.