Issyk Kul: A Small Break at the Big Lake

We spent two relaxing days in Каджый Сай (Kadschi Caj) on the southern shore of Issyk Kul. The Issyk Kul, which translates to "holy lake" in English, is an enormous mountain lake: with an area that is eleven times larger than that of Lake Constance and a depth of up to 692 m, it ranks among the deepest lakes in the world. Its vast expanse somewhat resembles the Mediterranean Sea. On clear days, the mountain ranges on the northern side can be seen, but often the view in all directions is just an endless blue expanse. Due to its beauty, the lake is also referred to as the "Pearl of Tien Shan." Most of the time, we just relaxed, enjoying the tranquility and the panorama. A highlight was our trip to the "Fairytale Canyon." There, red-brown sand and clay cliffs rise in bizarre shapes. It's an almost fairy-tale sight that truly lives up to its name.