Precious stones among mountain valleys

The “Pearl of the Tien Shan”, Kolsai Lakes, are located 300 km from Almaty, in the spurs of the Kungei-Alatau ridge. It is also called Kazakh Switzerland. These are three most beautiful mountain lakes surrounded by steep mountain slopes. The lakes are located at different heights and form a kind of cascade. The lower Kolsai Lake is located at an altitude of 1800 meters above sea level, the middle one is at an altitude of 2250 meters and the highest one is at an altitude of 2800 meters above sea level.

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Each of the lakes has its own spirit

Each of the lakes is slightly different from the others, while maintaining the unique spirit of its natural ensemble. The Lake Saty is the first one to meet tourists. Its depth is 80 meters, and its length is about 400 meters. The second lake is Mynzhilgy, which is higher by half a kilometer, with a narrow winding path leading to it. It is the largest of the three brothers, and the most picturesque, located in the seclusion of alpine landscapes. Lake Upper Kolsai is the smallest and high-mountainous and charming with the proximity of sheer rocky peaks.

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Amazing colors of nature

The water in the lakes constantly changes its color, depending on how the rays of the sun fall on it. From gently blue to richly emerald green, as if the surrounding fir trees gave all their best colors to the lake. Fancy thickets of local flora are scattered around the lakes – from small snow-white stars of edelweiss to noble maroon-red bushes and oddly bent deciduous trees mixed with serious Tien Shan firs.

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