One of the most beautiful road trips in the Altai Republic is to the Chulyshman Valley. You can see some fascinating passes, mounds, canyons, stone mushrooms, and beautiful lakes along the way! Today I would like to share my top 3 lakes in the Ulagan Plateau.
Dead lake
Dead Lake or Cheibek-Kol (which means “long or elongated lake”) is the first of numerous lakes located along the road. Getting there is quite a challenge! Dead Lake is located at a height of 1949 m, its length is almost 3 km, and width 420 m. The lake was formed between the Kurai and Aygulak mountain ranges as a result of a tectonic fault.
The lake was named Dead Lake due to the lack of fish in its waters. One of the assumptions is due to the high content of mercury. However, researchers disproved this misconception as the mercury levels in the water are within the normal range. Another assumption, the impressive depth of the lake at the very shores, as well as a narrow gorge, made it difficult for light to penetrate and prevented the emergence of life processes. This misconception was also disproved. The true reason is that the fish could not get into the lake due to the steep river bed with a height difference from 600 m to 6 km. Nowadays many commercial species like pike, perch and trout are bred in the lake.
Lake Uzun-Kol
Before the ascent to the Ulagansky pass, you will see another high-altitude lake – Uzun-Kol. “Uzun” in Altaic means long, and “köl” means lake. The lake is located at an altitude of 2000 m above sea level. Its length is just over 3 km, and its depth reaches 28 m! In total, there are 20 lakes in the basin of Chibitka River, and Uzun-Kel is the largest body of water in the basin. It remains mostly untouched by civilization as it’s quite remote.
The lake is stocked with fish like perch, northern whitefish, and even trout. It is an excellent place not only for connoisseurs of the beauty of pristine landscapes but also for fishermen. We visited the lake in September, but I’m sure it’s wonderful in its own way at any time of the year!
Lake Kidelyu
Perhaps the most picturesque lake of the Ulagan plateau is Kidelu-Kol. This is a small lake about 500 m long and 150 m wide, but what you will see will leave an impression of a lifetime! The reservoir is surrounded by coniferous trees, and in calm weather, trees and the Kurai Range are reflected on the flat surface of the water.
It is a very isolated and beautiful lake, the perfect place to slow down, sit and reflect on your life. It was one of the places that impressed me the most. If you are ever nearby, don’t miss that chance to visit!
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