The area where one of the most beautiful lakes of Tajikistan is located - Karakul, is harsh and inaccessible. However, the flow of travelers here does not dry out, because this is one of those rare places where you can admire the virgin beauty of nature, which is very rare in our century.
Acquaintance with Karakul
Karakul Lake is the largest closed lake in Tajikistan. It is located in the eastern part of the Pamirs on the lands of the autonomous Gorno-Badakhshan region of the country, in the Murghab region. You can get here by helicopter and by road. If you move by car along the Pamir Highway towards the city of Osh, then the desired point will be located 130 km from the village of Murgab.
The name from the Turkic name can be interpreted as "black lake". However, this is not entirely true. Depending on the refraction of the light of the sun, the water surface can take on a greenish, ultramarine, piercing blue hue, but not black at all. Most likely, the name is due to the fact that in warm, calm weather, the waters of the lake are transparent, and when the wind is strong, the waves take on an ominous dark color.
Lake Karakul in Tajikistan is not a place for swimming. Its bitter-salty waters remain cold all year. In winter, the pond freezes. It will also not be very interesting for fishermen here - because of the nature of the waters, there is almost no fish here. Only at the mouths of small mountain rivers flowing into Karakul flocks of small loaches scurry back and forth.
But this is not why they come to Karakul Lake. Here they enjoy a wonderful unique view - a reflection of the harsh heights of the Pamirs in the seemingly bottomless blue waters, the gleam of a small picturesque valley. Especially fabulous is the view for descending from the Kyzylart pass. But in general, the Karakul region is the most suitable place for mountain climbing.
Karakul lake (Tajikistan): figures
We offer a brief reference about the lake:
- The pond lies in a basin that is 3914 m above sea level (Titicaca in the Andes is inferior to it by 100 m).
- This is the most extensive glacial-tectonic lake - its area without islands is 380 m 2 . The maximum depth of the reservoir is 236 m.
- Length - 33 km, width - 23 km.
Karakul, a lake in the mountains, is conditionally divided into two parts by the southern peninsula and the northern island (it used to be connected to the shore by the isthmus). At the same time, the eastern half is quieter, shallow (the maximum depth is 22.5 m), with flat capes and cozy small bays, and the western half is deeper (the greatest depth is recorded here). Between them runs a kilometer strait.
Karakul Lake: interesting facts
Karakul is an unusual place on the map. And that's why:
- Overwhelmingly, the banks of the reservoir lie on ice. Its layer even lies on the lake bottom. Researchers are still debating the appearance of these ice: either it is part of the oldest glaciers, or the “descendant” of the ice “shield” that filled the basin during the ice age, or under the influence of certain factors, it formed in our days.
- The lake is constantly changing its size. This comes from the melting of ice on the shores - gaps, straits, islands, mini-pockets are formed.
- The hollow of the lake is considered the most deserted in the entire Pamirs - only 20 mm of precipitation falls annually.
- Here Oshkhon was discovered, a site of Stone Age hunters dating back to the VIII millennium BC. e.
Description of the Karakul area
Throughout its diameter, Karakul, Lake Pamir, is surrounded by majestic rocky ridges. In the west, they come close to the pond, in the east they retreat a little, opening the entrance to the valley.
The lake is fed by many mountain rivers - Muzkol, Karaart, Karadzhilga. It is closed, considered "dead" due to the high salt content. Its water tastes akin to sea - bitter-salty.
The shores of Karakul are solemnly deserted: in some places you can only meet sedge, hodgepodge, Pamir buckwheat, and on the islands there are a few settlements of Tibetan terns and brown-headed gulls.
Versions of the origin of the lake
According to one hypothesis, it is believed that Karakul is a lake whose basin is of tectonic origin. And ancient glaciation influenced the change in its structure.
According to the second version, which is more modern, based on satellite images and geological studies, it can be concluded that Karakul is a lake formed as a result of the fall of a considerable meteorite 25 million years ago. The crater resulting from the landing of a cosmic body was 45 km in diameter.
Neighborhood of Karakul
A highway has been laid near the eastern part of the lake. Not far from it is the Kyrgyz village of Karakul, where travelers come in order to gain strength before a new campaign.
After admiring the Karakul, you can go down to the famous Markansu Valley, which lies very close - a few kilometers from the reservoir. Its name frighteningly translates as "dead water", "Death Valley", "Valley of Tornadoes." Now it is difficult to determine the true origin of the concept, but most researchers are inclined to think that this is due to the contrast of Marcans with the bright flowering Alai valley, from where ancient travelers traveling down the Pamirs descended. Looking at the photo, their emotions become clear.
Many will be interested in visiting the ancient architectural ensemble of the middle of the first millennium BC. e., located in the area of the village of Karaart, which is a kilometer from the Murgab-Osh highway. The construction is noteworthy in that it combines an observatory and artifacts of worshiping animals.
Karakul is one of the wonderful places on earth, not touched by a human hand. To get here is to end up in timelessness, surrounded by the harsh beauty of rocky ridges, reflected in the endless blue water mirror of an ancient lake.