The Songkol ,Son Kul Lake ,also Song Kul, Son Kul, Sonkul, etc. is a mountain lake in the north of the Kyrgyz region Naryn in Central Asia. Is a high mountain lake of Central Asia located in the which is located in the Naryn oblast, about 280 kilometers from Bishkek in the central part of Kyrgyzstan.
The Song Kol Lake is located at an altitude of 3,016 m, and has an area of about 270 km² and a volume of 2.64 km³. The maximum length of the lake is 29 km, about 18 km wide and a maximum depth of 13.2 m. It is the second largest lake in Kyrgyzstan, after Issyk Kul, and the largest freshwater lake in the country
The area around the Song Kol Lake is very picturesque, especially in the summer. Son-Kul is surrounded by low hills, behind which peaked peaks and snow peaks of the Central Tien Shan ridges. Due to the high height, trees are completely absent here, since only low hard grass and numerous edelweisses grow in such conditions.Around the lake are inhabited in summer by about 1000 nomads spread over some 300 yurts.
The area around the Song Kol Lake is very picturesque, especially in the summer. Son-Kul is surrounded by low hills, behind which peaked peaks and snow peaks of the Central Tien Shan ridges. Due to the high height, trees are completely absent here, since only low hard grass and numerous edelweisses grow in such conditions.Around the lake are inhabited in summer by about 1000 nomads spread over some 300 yurts.
On the northern shore of the lake is the only stone building in the entire valley – the Taylak Baatyr mausoleum, built at the end of the 19th century.
On January 23, 2011, Song Kol Lake was designated as the third wetland of international importance in Kyrgyzstan and included in the Ramsar List (No. ref. 1943), with a protection area of 36,869 hectares. It is a potential object of ecological tourism. Around the lake are virgin pastures and a protected area. The nearest large settlement is the village of Chaek.
Access : Coordinates: 41.833333, 75.166667 / The best access seems to be an 85 km road from Sary-Bulak, which starts from the main north-south road, although there are other routes that require 4×4 vehicles. / 4 motor passes lead to the lake. The most popular and easily accessible is Kalmak-Ashuu at northeastern part of the lake, the turn of which is located on the Bishkek-Torugart highway, 3 kilometers from the village of Sary-Bulak./ You can also get to the lake by car through the Terskey-Torpok passes -also called 33 parrots, located in the southeastern part of the lake, Moldo-Ashuu -the southern shore of the lake and Kara-Keche -south-western shore.
By tour : organized day trip by horse or hiking from Kochkor or from Naryn / The Song Kol Lake can be reached by marshrutka from Bishkek / By shared taxi from From Kyzart village, it is 28 km /
Tip : There are no facilities on the lake, but local shepherds provide rental supplies and yurts.The area is inhabited safely and is accessible only from June to September, when the access routes are free of snow.
Activities : photo opportunities- photography trips / sightseeing / guided hourse tour around the lake / cycling / Swim in the lake / active tour around Kyrgyzstan / Nomadic Culture & History Tour / Spent the night in yurts -nomadic traditional dwellings /
Go next : Jumgal valley / Naryn , a city in southeastern Kyrgyzstan / Tash Rabat caravanserai / Jalal-Abad / Bishkek / Kazarman / At-Bashy
