Lake Markakol
Lake Markakol
Markakol Lake is known as “Pearl of the Altai”. The lake is located in the eastern part of Kazakhstan, nearby the Altai mountains, “behind” the Irtysh river. It is a 38 km long lake with 19 km width and the depth of about 30 meters. Markakol lake is situated about 1 400 m above the sea level and close enough to the Chinese border so that a border zone permit used to be required. This great mountain lake is the most scenic of its kind in Kazakhstan.
The lake’s northern shore displays a wonderful view of the Sarymsakty Ridge, with its snow-covered peaks of Burkitaul, Eagle’s Eyrie, 3 373 meters and Aksubas, Head of White Water 3 308 meters. For more than 100 rivers flow into Markakol Lake, however, only a single river, the Kalzhyr, flows out, south towards the Black Irtysh. The lake is famous for its crystalline water.
The Markakol lake and its surroundings of marvelous mountain taiga forests form a nature reserve of the size of 102 979 hectares that was originally founded in 1976. The surrounding hills are forested with larch and silver fir, which host at least brown bear, elk, fox, lynx and maral. There are also fish in the lake and rivers. The most known ones are a fish locally called the uskush, a variety of the Siberian lenok, a trout. Some uskush can reach eight kilograms in weight and are a big draw for anglers. It is said that there are also more than 200 bird species in the Markakol area.
Markakol Sights
Urunkhaika village
A village next to Markakol with about 2000 inhabitants is called Urunkhaika. It is a sleepy paradise for the ones willing to have a rest for their brains. The village lives most out of agriculture and fishing but there are few guest houses to stay in and to enjoy the relaxed atmosphere.
Austrian road
The Old Austrian road, built in 1915-1916 by Austrian prisoners of war, passes through the Marble Pass, Markakol to the Katon-Karagai valley. It is still an important link in the transport system of our country, laid through the most picturesque places of Kazakhstan’s Altai. A winding dirt track with numerous dangerous turns, bridges over mountain rivers, and, of course, beautiful views all around.
Travel to Lake Markakol
Lake Markakol is not the easiest place to reach. From Ust-Kamenogorsk / Oskemen, there is a distance of about 500 kilometers and a hard journey of 7 hours to reach Markakol Lake. From Zaysan it is about a 4 hour drive. The variety and beauty of the landscape along the way, however, goes some way to offset the length of the trip. The first view of the “real Altai” is revealed beyond the Marble Pass, when the route winds down into the green valley of Akzhaylyau (White Summer Pasture), before ascending to the Tikkabak Pass and down again to finally reach the Markakol Lake.
When the weather is dry, and with a 4×4 and an experienced driver who knows the route well, there is a more direct route connecting Lake Markakol through the road to the north between Katon Karagai and Rakhmanov Springs. But this route, known as the Austrian Road, as because it was constructed by Austrian prisoners of war in World War I, is a white-knuckle ride of a journey and only recommended for the adventurous ones.
Sights & destinations near Markakol
Page updated 1.11.2024
