▲In recent years, Kaindy and its sunken forest has become a popular tourist attraction.

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Almaty (pictured), is an ideal base from which to explore Kolsai Lakes National Park and its fabulous lakes. And of course, the city is well worth discovering for its own unique character.

▲While nature conservation is an important part of the park's mission, with 72% of the territory under strict protection, around 13% of the region is set aside for tourism and recreation.

▲How did an entire forest end up being swallowed up by lake? Well, you have to journey back to the early 20th century for the answer.

▲Known as the Kebin earthquake, or Chon-Kemin earthquake, the violent tremors triggered a huge landslide that effectively blocked a narrow gorge to form a natural dam.

▲That said, in certain light the lake's surface takes on an eerie almost ethereal veneer. And its mysterious character is further heightened when mist drifts lazily over the water.

▲Altered by limestone deposits, the water maintains a bluish-green color which is accentuated in bright sunshine, when the surface looks almost Caribbean in hue.

▲In winter Lake Kaindy takes on an entirely different complexion.

▲Kaindy, however, is also known for an unusual natural feature that sets it apart from the park's other lakes.

▲In winter, plummeting temperatures and the high altitude conspire to freeze the surface of the lake so it resembles a giant ice rink spiked with toothpicks.

▲Kolsai Lakes National Park is a year-round visitor attraction, but is a particular favorite of adventure tourists during the harsh mid-winter season.

▲Lower Kolsay Lake is accessible by road and features guest houses and campsites. Traditional yurts dot the campground at Kaindy Lake, but this lake together with the Middle and Upper lakes are more difficult to reach. April to late September are standard periods for camping in the area.

▲This avalanche of rock proved impermeable to water. Subsequently, rain fall and mountain river water slowly filled the gorge to create a lake.

▲Lake Kaindy was formed in 1911 after an earthquake struck the Tian Shan Mountains in Russian Turkestan.

▲At 2,000 m (6,600 ft) above sea level, Kaindy sits at a higher altitude than Lower Kolsay Lake (1,818 m/5,964 ft). Middle Kolsay Lake is 2,252 m (7,388 ft) above sea level. But at 2,850 m (9,350 ft), Upper Kolsay Lake is the loftiest of the park's stunning crowd pullers.

▲Ice diving, which should only be attempted by experienced scuba divers using specialized equipment, rewards the eyes with enchanting views of Kaindy's unseen marine environment.

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Set within Kolsai Lakes National Park, Lake Kaindy—known for its series of picture-postcard lakes and reservoirs—is especially celebrated for its scenic beauty.

▲Piercing the lake's dazzling mirror-like surface are the needle-like trunks of dozens of Schrenk’s spruce trees.

▲Because of the clear mountain water, visibility below the surface is extraordinarily good. In fact, the unwordly atmosphere of this age-old forest is best appreciated underwater.

▲Kaindy's water is cold. Even in summer, temperatures rarely exceed 6°C (42 °F).

▲While the exposed tips of the trees have become worn and brittle, below the surface a submerged forest still features intact pines.

▲The frigid conditions have helped preserve the submerged tree trunks, which are overgrown with algae and other freshwater flora.

▲The lake's submerged tree trunks look like ancient Roman columns supporting the ceiling of a vast dimly lit villa.

▲Schrenk's spruce, also known as Asian spruce, is a spruce native to the Tian Shan mountains of Central Asia in western China (Xinjiang), Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan. Its name was given in honor of Baltic German naturalist Alexander von Schrenk (1816–1876).

▲Lake Kaindy is around about 400 m (1,312 ft) long and nearly 30 m (98 ft) at its deepest point.

▲The trunks appear like the bleached masts of stricken, long-forgotten ghosts ships. In fact, they are the visible tips of a sunken forest.

▲Divers can explore the lake's hidden wonders, in pristine (though somewhat chilly) conditions.

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Lake Kaindy is located in the south of Kazakhstan, around 129 km (80 miles) southeast of Almaty, the country's largest metropolis.

▲Lake Kaindy, sunk deep within Kolsai Lakes National Park in Kazakhstan, is a natural landmark that was created out of a disaster. In 1911 an earthquake struck the Tian Shan Mountains in what was then Russian Turkestan. Known as the Kebin earthquake, the tremors triggered avalanches and landslides that killed over 450 people, flattened more than 700 buildings in Almaty, and forever altered the geography of the region.

One particularly violent landslide sent limestone debris crashing into a gorge to form a natural dam. Over time the gorge was flooded by rainfall and mountain river water. The rising water levels created an attractive lake, subsequently named Lake Kaindy.

But what makes this lake especially appealing is its incredible sunken forest, a collection of Schrenk’s spruce that was submerged as the gorge filled up. Only the needle-like tips of these once mighty trees remain visible, and stand like the masts of stricken ghost ships.

Another draw is the lake's iridescent hues. The limestone deposits have left the water a bright palette of bluish-green, colors that positively glow in sunlight to leave Kaindy looking like a Caribbean lagoon rather than a lake set in a Central Asian mountain range.

A year-round destination, Kolsai Lakes National Park is noted for its water features. Besides Kaindy, visitors are regaled with other lakes, all spectacular in their remote setting and scenic beauty.

Outdoor enthusiasts and adventure tourists are drawn to this part of the world for its unspoiled splendor and relative accessibility (Lake Kaindy is only 129 km (80 miles) southeast of Almaty). Many choose to hike the region in summer, camping in traditional yurts set near some of the lakes. In winter, it's still possible to explore the area. This time of year sees Kaindy caked in ice, the sunken forest quiet and still in the watery gloom.

Browse the gallery and find out more about this enchanting natural wonder.

The amazing sunken forest that was created after an earthquake

Kazakhstan's scenic and eerie underwater natural wonder

04/10/24 por StarsInsider

TRAVEL Lake kaindy

Lake Kaindy, sunk deep within Kolsai Lakes National Park in Kazakhstan, is a natural landmark that was created out of a disaster. In 1911 an earthquake struck the Tian Shan Mountains in what was then Russian Turkestan. Known as the Kebin earthquake, the tremors triggered avalanches and landslides that killed over 450 people, flattened more than 700 buildings in Almaty, and forever altered the geography of the region.

One particularly violent landslide sent limestone debris crashing into a gorge to form a natural dam. Over time the gorge was flooded by rainfall and mountain river water. The rising water levels created an attractive lake, subsequently named Lake Kaindy.

But what makes this lake especially appealing is its incredible sunken forest, a collection of Schrenk’s spruce that was submerged as the gorge filled up. Only the needle-like tips of these once mighty trees remain visible, and stand like the masts of stricken ghost ships.

Another draw is the lake's iridescent hues. The limestone deposits have left the water a bright palette of bluish-green, colors that positively glow in sunlight to leave Kaindy looking like a Caribbean lagoon rather than a lake set in a Central Asian mountain range.

A year-round destination, Kolsai Lakes National Park is noted for its water features. Besides Kaindy, visitors are regaled with other lakes, all spectacular in their remote setting and scenic beauty.

Outdoor enthusiasts and adventure tourists are drawn to this part of the world for its unspoiled splendor and relative accessibility (Lake Kaindy is only 129 km (80 miles) southeast of Almaty). Many choose to hike the region in summer, camping in traditional yurts set near some of the lakes. In winter, it's still possible to explore the area. This time of year sees Kaindy caked in ice, the sunken forest quiet and still in the watery gloom.

Browse the gallery and find out more about this enchanting natural wonder.