Ala-Kul

Ala-Kul
Location Terskey Alatau
Coordinates 42°19′3″N 78°32′8″E / 42.31750°N 78.53556°ECoordinates: 42°19′3″N 78°32′8″E / 42.31750°N 78.53556°E
Lake type Rock-dammed
Catchment area 9.46 km2 (3.65 sq mi)
Basin countries Kyrgyzstan
Max. length 2.3 km (1.4 mi)
Max. width 0.7 km (0.43 mi)
Surface elevation 3,560 m (11,680 ft)
For a lake in Kazakhstan, see Lake Alakol.

Ala Köl, also Ala-Kul, ((Kyrgyz: Алакөл) is a rock-dammed lake in the Terskey Alatau mountain range in the Ak-Suu District of the Issyk Kul Province of Kyrgyzstan. It lies at an altitude of approximately 3560 meters.

History

Lake Ala-Kul

A Russian traveller named Putimtsoff was the first to visit the lake in 1811. He gave a good description of it, mentioning about rocks of different colours in the lake, and the furious winds blowing around the lake. Thirty years later Alexander Schrenk explored the lake and its surroundings.[1]

Literally, the name Ala-kul would mean 'variegated lake,' although it probably takes its name from the Ala-Таu mountains lying further north.[2]

See also

References

External links