Kolsay Lakes National Park (Kazakh: Көлсай көлдері ұлттық паркі, Kölsai kölderı ūlttyq parkı) is found on the northern side of the Tian Shan Mountains in southeast Kazakhstan, about 10 kilometers from the border with Kyrgyzstan. The park is often called "Pearls of Tien Shan" because of its beautiful Kolsay Lakes, which are located between the Raiymbek District and Talgar District in the Almaty Region. The scenic Lake Kaindy is also part of the park. The park is 120 kilometers (75 miles) southeast of Almaty. The lakes were formed by landslides and tectonic activity and were created around 1887 and 1911 on the Kaindy and Kolsay rivers.
Conservation
Protecting nature is a key goal of the park. Seventy-two percent of the area is strictly protected, and thirteen percent is used for tourism and recreation. UNESCO has included the park in the World Network of Biosphere Reserves.
Topography
The park's lakes are lined along the Kolsay River, which flows from south to north out of the Tian Shan mountain range. Two parts of the Tian Shan contribute to this area: the Küngöy Ala-Too Range and the Trans-Ili Alatau Range. The major lakes include:
- Lower Kolsay Lake. A natural lake formed by landslides that block the Kolsay River. The lower lake is about 1 kilometer long, 400 meters wide, and 80 meters deep. It is reachable by road and has guesthouses and campsites. (altitude: 1,818 meters).
- Middle Kolsay Lake (Mynzholky – meaning "1000 years old"). Five kilometers upstream from the lower lake, the middle lake is the largest of the three and reaches a depth of 50 meters. (altitude: 2,252 meters). It is known as the most scenic of the three Kolsay Lakes.
- Upper Kolsay Lake. Six kilometers above the middle lake, the upper lake is surrounded by spruce trees and alpine meadows. It is 6 kilometers from the Sara-Buluk pass and Kyrgyzstan. (altitude: 2,850 meters).
- Lake Kaindy. Located 11 kilometers east of the Kolsay Lakes, Kaindy Lake is near the Chilik River. The lake is famous for its smooth, mirror-like surface and groups of dead spruce trees rising from the water. It was formed in 1911 when an earthquake caused a landslide that blocked one end of the gorge.
Ecoregion
The protected area of the Kolsay lakes became open to visitors only a few years ago. Because of this, the natural environment remains untouched. The park is located in the Tian Shan montane steppe and meadows ecoregion (WWF #1019), which includes the mid to high elevations of the Tian Shan mountains in Central Asia. This region receives enough rainfall to support meadows and forests. Its remote location helps protect many rare plant and animal species.
Climate
The climate in the Kolsay Lakes region is classified as a "Humid continental climate, cool summer subtype" (Koeppen Classification Dfb). This area experiences significant temperature changes throughout the day and across seasons, with summers that are mild and winters that are cold. In July, daytime temperatures can reach 30 °C (86 °F), while nighttime temperatures may drop to −5 °C (23 °F).
Plants and animals
The area has a clean and healthy environment with many wild plants, some of which are used for medicine. Some rare plants found there include apricot, ili barberry, hawthorn, and Alberta iris. In the Kolsay lakes region, after heavy rains, many types of mushrooms grow in the pine forests. Scientists have found 704 types of plants in the park, and 12 of these are rare. The park is home to 50 types of mammals, 197 types of birds, 2 types of reptiles, 2 types of amphibians (green toad and süyirtumsıq frog), and 2 types of fish (rainbow trout and Tibetan bare kökbas). Six mammals in the park are considered rare in Kazakhstan. These include the Tian Shen brown bear (U. a. isabellinus), Central Asian river kamşatı, Turkestan lynx, Snow leopard, Tien Shan argali, and the stone marten.
Tourism
There are guesthouses and campsites in the nearby village of Saty. A 25 km hiking trail starts at the lower lake, passes by the Kolsay lakes, and crosses the Sary-Bulak pass (3,278 m). The trail takes three days to walk or one day to travel by horse. The Kolsay Lakes are a well-known mountain tourism destination in the region. Hiking paths to the Kolsay Lakes are easy for people who are new to hiking. Activities in the area include picnics, horseback riding, and mountain biking. Camping is common in the area from April until late September.