Alakol
There is a reason why a bitter enclosed lake, washing the border of East Kazakhstan and Almaty Regions, is called "colorful". During the day, the water of Alakol changes its color from the brightest shades of pale blue to the heaviest turquoise. The bathing suit season here lasts from mid-June to early September. In the warmest days water temperature reaches 24°C.
The lake area is about 2700 sq. km with an average depth of 22m (while its maximum depth is 54 m). Alakol, surrounded by Dzungarian Alatau peaks, is the only body of water in Kazakhstan with high silicon content black pebbles in its beaches instead of traditional sand.
Scientists suggest that the pebble is of volcanic origin. This could mean that volcanoes erupted in these places thousands of years ago, bringing a lot of minerals from earth interior to the surface. Experts say that almost all of Medeleev’s periodic table is represented in the lake.
The lake is surrounded by springs with mineralized hydrosulfuric mud. Their healing properties help cure a number of diseases of respiratory system, skin, musculoskeletal system, digestive and nervous systems. "Barlyk-Arasan" balneotherapeutic health resort was built near Alakol (on the East Kazakhstan Region side). The resort is renowned for the fact that this was where astronauts rehabilitated. The temperature in hydrosulfuric balnearies is 43°C, which has a salutary effect on resort visitors.
