| Kyrgyzstan boasts a number of spectacular mountain | | | | beach holiday, Lake Issyk Kul offers beaches |
| lakes. It is possible to travel through spectacular | | | | surrounded with beautiful mountains. |
| mountain scenery and experience the traditional life | | | | Lake Issyk Kul is 182 kilometers long, and up to 60 |
| of the Kyrgyz while staying in yurts. There are also | | | | kilometers, and covers an area of 6,236 square |
| opportunities for spectacular horse treks and hikes | | | | kilometers. This makes it the second largest mountain |
| throughout. | | | | lake in the world behind Lake Titicaca in South |
| Lake Issyk Kul, which means "hot lake" in the Kyrgyz | | | | America. Located at an altitude of 1,607 meters, it |
| language, is situated in the northern Tian Shan | | | | reaches 668 meters in depth. It is also the site of an |
| mountains in eastern Kyrgyzstan. It is the tenth | | | | ancient city from 2500 years ago, and archaeological |
| largest lake in the world by volume and the second | | | | excavations are still going on. |
| largest saline lake after the Caspian Sea. Although it is | | | | Over 100 rivers and streams flow into the lake; the |
| surrounded by snow-capped peaks, it never freezes; | | | | largest are the Djyrgalan and Tyup. It is fed by |
| hence its name. | | | | springs, including many hot springs, and snow |
| The lake's southern shore is dominated by the | | | | melt-off. The lake has no current outlet, but some |
| ruggedly beautiful Teskey Ala-Too Range of the Tian | | | | scientists reckon that, deep underground, lake water |
| Shan mountains. The Kyungey Ala-Too Range of the | | | | filters into the Chu River. |
| Tian Shan runs parallel to the north shore. | | | | Kyrgyzstan can offer adventure travel at its best. |
| A number of small towns surround the lake. These | | | | This is an unspoilt country where you can still enjoy |
| fell on hard times after the break-up of the USSR, | | | | simple pleasures in relative solitude. Make the most of |
| but now hotel complexes are being refurbished and | | | | it now. In the next few years, the tourism industry |
| simple private bed-and-breakfast pensions (guest | | | | will develop, and there will be many more visitors to |
| houses) are being established for a new generation | | | | this beautiful country. |
| of health and leisure visitors. For those who like a | | | | |