The Sunken Forest of Lake Kaindy
Kaindy Lake is a 400 meter long lake in Kazakhstan’s portion
of the Tian Shan Mountains located 129 km from the city of Almaty. The
lake was created after an earthquake in 1911 that triggered a large
landslide blocking the gorge and forming a natural dam. Subsequently,
rainwater filled the valley and created the lake.
The lake is
famous for its scenic beauty particularly the submerged forest and the
imposing trunks of spruce trees that rises out of the lake water. Above
water, the sunken trees appear as large masts from lost ghost ships, or
perhaps the spears of a mysterious army hiding and waiting for the right
time to emerge.
The water is so cold (even in summer the
temperature does not exceed 6 degrees) that the great pines still remain
on the trees, even 100 years later. Because of the clear mountain
water, you can see deep into the depths of the lake. In winter, the
surface of the lake freezes over and during this time, Lake Kaindy
becomes a great spot for trout fishing and ice diving.
