Kaindy Lake is also known as the “Death Lake” that many tourists get lost in a surreal world.
Kaindy is located in the Tian Shan mountain range, which was formed after a severe earthquake in 1911 that caused a landslide. Rainwater poured into the valley, engulfing the spruce forest and forming what is now 400 m long Kaindy Lake.
The lake is famous for its dead fir trees, whose discolored trunks stick out of the water. These are the remains of a forest that was flooded when the lake was formed. Looking back, it’s easy for visitors to mistake staying in a lake for an upside-down forest, where the leaves lie in the water and the trunks of the trees rise like trees.
The most interesting view of the “forest” is the underwater part. The stem does not spread. Thanks to the ice of the lake water, which even in summer drops below 6 degrees, the spruce leaves remain perfectly intact on the branches even after more than 100 years. The clear water of the lake allows visitors to see the underwater forest easily.
The magic of the lake landscape becomes even clearer when the water is shrouded in fog or the lake freezes over. Many visitors believe they are lost in a surreal world.
In winter it is a popular destination for trout fishing and ice diving. People broke through the ice and jumped to the bottom of the lake. This ice diving activity is considered more dangerous than traditional diving. However, for the adventurous traveler, enjoying the surreal scenery of Lake Kaindy through the crystal clear, icy waters above is a once in a lifetime experience.
Although the lake is known as “one of the strangest lakes in the world”, this unique place still attracts few visitors. Often overlooked by tourists, Kaindy is drawn to nearby famous lakes, Bolshoe Almatinskoe and Kolsay. One reason people often overlook Kaindy is that it’s harder to get to because it’s in a ravine and there’s a dirt road outside. Reaching the lake requires specialized vehicles that navigate rough terrain. Therefore, the lake has maintained a peaceful atmosphere to this day.
Kaindy means landslide in Kazakh. The lake is part of Kolsay Lake National Park, which borders Kyrgyzstan. As the crow flies, the lake is 130 km away from the largest city of Almaty in Kazakhstan. However, since the lake is in the mountains, the road is in poor condition, so it usually takes visitors around 5 hours to get there.
In Kazakhstan, Google Maps does not work properly. Local residents are located using the Russian tool Yandex. From the village of Saty in Kolsay National Park, visitors can reach the lake 15 km away via a dirt road, the journey time is approximately 60 minutes.
Saty is not a tourist village like the others with no internet, shopping malls or restaurants. But in return, the culture, lifestyle and experiences of the people of Saty inspire many visitors who keep unforgettable memories. The food is made from local ingredients, grown by the locals themselves. At sunset, the village space becomes exceptionally quiet, giving visitors the feeling of being transported back in time 100 years ago. In the village there are huts where guests can stay overnight.
Few Kazakhs speak English. You speak Russian. Visitors can book tours through local travel agencies to see the natural wonders and learn about indigenous life.
“If you want to discover a different world: accessible but not fully explorable and full of fun, choose Kazakhstan,” says Flavio, who runs travel blog Adventurous-travels.
