Lake Kaindy is a 400-meter-long (1,300 ft) lake located in Kazakhstan. The lake reaches depths near 30 meters (98 ft) (in some areas). It is located 129 kilometers (80 mi) east-southeast of the city of Almaty and is 2,000 meters (6,600 ft) above sea level.
History : Lake Kaindy is located in the south of Kazakhstan, within Kolsai Lakes National Park. It is located 2,000 meters above sea level, and 129 kilometers east and southeast of the Almaty city in Kazakhstan.
The lake was formed as the result of a major limestone landslide forming a natural dam. It blocked the gorge and was filled by mountain river water. This was triggered by the 1911 Kebin earthquake. The track to Lake Kaindy has numerous scenic views to the Saty Gorge, the Chilik Valley, and the Kaindy Gorge. Lake Kaindy is about 400 meters long, reaching depths of nearly 30 meters at its deepest point.
Altered by limestone deposits, the water maintains a bluish-green color. The lake is well known for its scenery, particularly its trunks of submerged Picea schrenkiana trees that rise above the surface of the lake. The area is often referred to as a “sunken forest”. The cold water helps preserve the tree trunks, which are overgrown with algae and various other water plants.
In recent years, Lake Kaindy has become a popuar international tourist destination. It is considered a natural landmark of Kazakhstan. The lake is also known for Ice Diving and Trout Fishing in the winter season.
Activities : Diving Kaindy lake , Wildlife, hunting and fishing , Hiking around lake Kaindy.
Access : The lake is a 280km drive from Almaty, it will take you around 5-7 hours to get there. There is a park fee levied for entry to the national park: 500 tenge per person, 700 if you plan to sleep there. By car : The road from Saty to the lake is bad and you have to cross a river twice, you need a good 4×4 ,
By bus or shared taxi (The shared taxi should cost around 3000 tenge per person (about $9 at the current exchange rate) : There is an early bus leaving for Saty every morning from Sayachat bus station at 7am. It goes from Saty to Almaty at 5am. Alternatively, there are buses going to Kegen and Narynkol from Sayahat bus station (Almaty) to Saty, the closest village to the lakes. You will need to get off at the turn-off Zhalanash to get a ride to Zhalanash and then to Saty. Coordinates : 42.9875, 78.463889
Better is to track down a private taxi at Sayachat, cost is 12000 tenge for access Saty. Because of the bad road, you will need to rent someone a good 4×4 to get you to Kaindy if you don’t want to walk. If you want to walk to the lake you need about 5 hours to get there . Coordinates:42.9875, 78.463889
