Big Almaty Lake

Big Almaty Lake lies in the gorge of the Bolshaya Almatinka river in the Ile-Alatau National Park, about 15 km south of the city as the crow flies and at an altitude of roughly 2,500 metres. It was formed when an ancient landslide or moraine blocked the valley, and a dam now raises its level. Peaks of nearly 4,000 metres, including Sovetov, Ozerny and Tourist peaks, rise directly above it, and the water changes colour through the year from milky green to deep turquoise as glacial silt settles.

The setting

The lake is a reservoir for Almaty's drinking water, so swimming, boating and walking on the shore are prohibited and the banks are fenced in places. The classic views are from the dam and the road above it. Higher up the valley is the Tian Shan astronomical observatory, and the road continues towards the Ozerny pass and Kyrgyzstan, a route used only by hikers and not a legal border crossing.

Access

Road access has changed many times in recent years. Private cars have often been stopped below the lake, with park shuttles or walking the last section, and during periods of high fire risk the national park has banned all vehicles, including bicycles and scooters. Check the latest Ile-Alatau National Park announcements or ask your Almaty guide shortly before your visit, and pay the park fee at the entrance.

How to experience it

Go in the morning, when the water is calmest and the light falls on the peaks. Even in summer it is cool at the lake, and the altitude can make walking tiring for people who have just arrived; climb slowly. If the road is closed, Medeu and Shymbulak in the next valley offer comparable mountain views with easier access.