Issyk-Kul

Issyk-Kul is one of the largest and deepest alpine lakes in the world, sitting at 1607 metres elevation and stretching roughly 180 kilometres in length between the Tian Shan ranges of northern Kyrgyzstan. Despite the altitude, it never freezes, a property whose Kyrgyz name reflects. The northern shore hosts resort towns with sandy beaches, while the southern shore is wilder and quieter; the Terskey Ala-Too range provides a dramatic backdrop for photography from either shore.