Markakol - lake in East Kazakhstan: description. Water resources of Kazakhstan

Markakol and its banks are fabulously picturesque: the clearest transparent water, the beaches are rich in various vegetation (fir, larch and herbage). With a gentle breeze of the wind, the lake is covered with scallops of white shallow waves, which resembles the wavy delicate skin of a young lamb. Perhaps that's why this lake has such a funny name.

The word "brand" means the local name of the young lamb, and "ring" - the lake.

About where the lake Markakol is, what it is, about the sights of its surroundings and many other things you can learn more by reading this article. But first of all we will briefly present general information about the reservoirs of Kazakhstan.

Reservoirs of Kazakhstan

The water resources of Kazakhstan are not very rich, and they are distributed unevenly on its territory. In total, the Republic has more than 85 thousand reservoirs of temporary (periodically drying out), lakes and rivers. Their main source of food - glaciers and snow.

Most rivers belong to the closed inner basins of the two seas (Caspian and Aral), as well as the largest lakes: Alakol, Balkhash and Tengiz. Only Irtysh, Ishim and Tobol carry their waters to the Kara Sea.

The water resources of Kazakhstan include the largest lakes, which include Tengiz, Zaisan and Seletioneniz. The most beautiful, not only in the country, but all over the world, are Kulsai (Almaty region), Borovoe and Bayanaul (Northern Kazakhstan), as well as Zaisan and Markakol in East Kazakhstan.

These lakes are rich in a variety of freshwater fish. Here there are perch, carp, crucian carp, bream, etc. There are considerable reserves of underground water in Kazakhstan. Almost the entire mountain system here is rich in fine mineral springs, allowing to develop resort and sanatorium services in these amazingly beautiful places.

East Kazakhstan region

The region borders with China and Russia. Its territory expanded in 1997, when the former Semipalatinsk region was incorporated into the republic. The city of Ust-Kamenogorsk is an administrative center. The region was formed in March 1932.

Three large hydroelectric power stations - Ust-Kamenogorsk, Shulbinskaya and Bukhtarminskaya - were built on the main river. In the region are Lake Zaisan, Alakol, Sasykkol and, as noted above, the most beautiful lake Markakol.

By the richness of natural resources, the East Kazakhstan region is comparable to a crumpled and crumpled sheet of paper, which, when smoothed, has a larger area with endless water and other natural resources. Here are mixed the most diverse high-altitude belts and landscapes: flat steppes, mountains, forest-steppe, etc. Among all this wealth and located this is the purest lake, which is described in more detail below in the article.

Lake Markakol

Kazakhstan among the many natural reservoirs has a surprisingly beautiful mountain lake. Markakol is the largest lake in the Altai Mountains, spreading on the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan (Altai Kazakhstan). The area of its surface is 455 square meters. Kilometers, and its maximum depth is 30 meters. The length of the lake is 38 kilometers, width is 19 kilometers.

The pond admires various shades of water surface in different weather. The water has a blue or blue tint on a clear day, with the weather changing the surface of the lake becomes gray-black, with silvery miraculous overflows.

Lake Markakol is located in the mountains, at an altitude of 1,448 meters. The Baikal surpasses its area by a factor of 70, but the water in both of them is fresh, and some fish are completely identical.

The location of the lake is a basin between the Kurchum and Azutau mountains. About 70 rivers flow into Markakol, and only one (the Kaljir River) originates from here. It should be noted that the Caljir River, leaving the lake, flows into the Bukhtarma reservoir after a hundred kilometers .

The shores of the lake are steep southern, while the northern shores are low. In summer, the water warms up to 17 ° C on the surface, and to 7 ° C at the bottom. In November the lake freezes, and in May it is opened.

Origin

According to geologists, the lake is very old - has existed since the glacial times. It feeds and underground waters. Markakol is also called the lake of a hundred rivers.

The origin of the reservoir is connected with one of the glacial phases of the Alpine tectonic cycle (Quaternary period). In ancient times, as a result of uplifts and subsequent faults, a certain system of modern intermountain depressions and ridges, later exposed to glaciation, was created. The traces of the last event are especially well pronounced on the Kurchumi ridge, on its watershed parts.

Legend

Markakol - a lake, which is composed of surprisingly beautiful legends. For example, one of the most common tells of a story that happened to a small lamb.

Between the mountains, in the valley at the purest spring, once father and son grazed sheep. There was one playful lamb-mark in their flock (the word means "born in winter"). At one point the lamb ran to drink water from the spring. Suddenly, he was dragged into the water. The cowherd boy saw this and rushed to the aid of the lamb to help him get out, but nothing came of it, after which he called his father to help. Only together they were able to save the brand. From the place where this happened, a flood of water flooded the huge flood, which flooded the pasture, and then the entire valley ... Ever since, according to local residents of the southern Altai, the lake appeared to be called Markakol - "lake of winter lamb". However, many scientists adhere to their scientific point of view of the origin of the reservoir.

Reserve

Markakolsky State Reserve, located in the southern Altai, is a wonderful place where deciduous forests grow on the rocky ledges of the mountains, sometimes interspersed with fir, where birches, Siberian spruce and aspen grow near the rivers and meadows. This natural reserve is a wonderful place where you can find such kinds of shrubs as raspberry, honeysuckle, dog rose and currant.

Getting to it is difficult. It is necessary to cross 5 times through the turbulent "Zhaman Kaaba" (river) and to overcome the most picturesque but hardly passable pass. The main attraction of these amazingly beautiful places is the mountain lake, which is the crown of beauty not only of the reserve, but of the entire Southern Altai.

Fish, mammals and birds

The most common varieties of fish from Lake Markakol are grayling and lenok (uskuch).

It should be noted that it is only in this lake that it is used. It represents a local analogue of the fish of the Lenok, which, over the long years of isolation, acquired its individual features. This is a fairly valuable fish, comparable to salmon.

Unfortunately, even though it is at a decent distance from civilization, Markakol suffers greatly from the invasion of man. Poachers also get here for the production of valuable caviar. Therefore, the reserve was created in the local places.

According to the stories of local old-timers, in the streams and small rivers that flow into Lake Markakol, in the middle of the last century there were so many graylings and sycophants that even cows and horses could not enter the water during the spawning season (feared) - the schools of fish knocked the cattle off their feet. Fishermen even got tired of weighing up to 30 kilograms. Today, such do not occur ...

Among mammals there are wolverines, sables, red wolves (rare) and even moose.

Markakol is a lake on the coastal territory of which many birds live: wild ducks, black storks. The latter are a landmark of these places. These very rare birds nest on the crowns of large trees and on the rocks along the shores of Lake Markakol. It should be noted that they are monogamous, and their pairs remain for life.

Today Markakol is a lake, on the shores of which from the dawn to dusk a lonely black stork wanders. A careful and secretive bird is not at all afraid of people. Quite a lot in the reserve and other birds. Nesting here are loons, seagulls, ducks, grebes and waders. Forests became a haven for grouse, black grouse, wood grouse and partridges.

A little bit about the climate

The climate is typically continental. Winter here is quite severe, a lot of snow falls. The temperature is 55 degrees below zero. The average annual value is 4.1 degrees Celsius, and it corresponds to the lowest temperature in the Southern Altai.

In summer, the air temperature can rise to 29 degrees. Above zero, the average daily temperature lasts 162 days a year, and the subzero temperature lasts 203 days.

Conclusion

The nature of these places is fabulously rich and multifaceted. All the natural places here are magnificent.

Everyone who visited these fantastically beautiful places ever wants to return and stay at least some time alone with a delightful and unique nature.