Kyrgyzstan,
officially the Kyrgyz Republic, is a mountainous landlocked country in Central
Asia. Kyrgyzstan is bordered by Kazakhstan to the north, Uzbekistan to the west,
Tajikistan to the south, and China to the east. Its capital and largest city is
Bishkek. Ethnic Kyrgyz make up the majority of the country's six million
people, followed by significant minorities of Uzbeks and Russians. The Kyrgyz
language is closely related to other Turkic languages, although Russian remains
spoken and is a co-official language. Ninety percent of Kyrgyzstan's population
are Muslim, with the majority of its population following Sunni Islam. In
addition to its Turkic origins, Kyrgyz culture bears elements of Iranic,
Mongolian and Russian influence.
Song
Kul (also known as Sonkol, Song-Köl, and Son-Kul) is a large alpine lake in
northern Naryn Province, Kyrgyzstan. Sitting at 3016 meters above sea level.
has an area of about 270 km2 and volume of 2.64 km3. The lake's maximum length
is 29 km, breadth about 18 km, and the deepest point is 13.2 m. It is the
second largest lake in Kyrgyzstan after Issyk Kul Lake, and the largest fresh
water lake in Kyrgyzstan. the lake is surrounded by virgin pastures, a
conservation area, and the ridges of Sonköltoo and Moldotoo, making it the
perfect site for ecological tourism. The shores of the lake are low, swamped,
and in some places overgrown with reeds. The lake is glacier-fed and drains
into the Son-Kul river and eventually the Naryn river. Ice on the lake is
common from late September to late May.
Lake Song-Kol is just over 280
kilometers from Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan. Reaching Song Kol is easily arranged but requires some effort. You need
to access on horse, on foot or through a few bumpy hour's car-ride from Kochkor or Naryn. The road from the A365 up to the lake is paved
about half of the way. Without a 4x4s this route is challenging but possible.
CBT and other agencies, of which there are several alternatives in Kochkor, can arrange return transport for $80-$100 per
car. The various agencies in Kochkor also arrange for tracking or horses (with
guide) for trips of various lengths to and from Song Kul including yurt-stays
on the shore of the lake. Such tours start and end in Kochkor, but can be
combined to include hiking up and taking a car down from the lake.
The nearest large settlement is Chaek town, but in the summer
months, especially July through August, yurt camps built along the Song-Kol.
Most of them offer hostel-type services for cheap and romantic visits. At
Song-Kol, you can order fresh meat prepared according to traditional recipes as
well as dishes adapted at the request of tourists in yurt camps. Many people
call Song-Kol Lake “the soul of Kyrgyzstan” because the water is pure and
fresh. However, foreign tourists are advised not to drink water from streams or
lakes without boiling it first. The area is very popular for horseback tours from one to ten days, and
many also like hiking through the Jumgal region, with overnight stays in yurts
instead of tents.
While trekking and taking a horseback
tour, you’ll likely see a variety of animals, including varieties fish, such as
peled and rare carp species, and waterfowl, such as the demoiselle crane,
mountain goose, black stork, and black-headed giggle. The lake itself is a
natural beauty, and its surface color changes several times a day, becoming either
a saturated blue, then purple-blue, or lush green.
Asian destinations readers also can Climb the mountain behind the yurts for a great view over the lake. It takes several hours to get to the top. You can find a guided trek around the lake, horseback riding expedition, an overnight yurt camp stay, a journey to other sites in the oblast like Tash Rabat, or a drive to Naryn/Kochkor/Bishkek.
Sources :
https://kyrgyzstan-tourism.com/sights/lake-song-kol/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Song_Kol_Lake
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