This lake, so rare in its beauty, is almost unknown. Perhaps this is because the neighboring Kolsai Lakes draw all the attention of the tourists who come to this area. In Kazakh, “Kaindy” means “abundant in birches”. The lake was named Kaindy after the large birch grove located five kilometers from it.
There are several versions of how Kaindy Lake came into being. According to one, the young Kaindy Lake formed about a hundred years ago, in 1911 or 1938, while another version holds that it formed during the Zhalanash earthquake of 1978. Only one thing can be said for certain: the lake came into existence as the result of a landslide caused by an earthquake. The water flooded the basin that had formed, pinched in the middle by rocky gates. The spruces growing on the bottom of the basin were submerged, and their dry trunks rise above the mirror of the cold mountain lake, lending it an astonishing and one-of-a-kind appearance. There is no fish in the sunken forest; trout are found in the river that flows out of it. The lake sits at an altitude of 2000 m above sea level. Thanks to the cold water, the century-old spruces have been preserved remarkably well. The lake is popular with divers and with lovers of unusual outings on the water, as well as simply with those who love tourism and recreation in nature. The lake lies 26 kilometers away, in the gorge of the river of the same name, the Kaindy, east of the Kolsai Lakes. You need to drive to the village of Zhalanash, located 250 kilometers east of Almaty, having first turned right at the “Saty”, “Kolsai Lake” road sign, 1.5 kilometers before the bridge over the Charyn River.
Then, about 700-800 meters short of the village of Saty, just before the descent to the village, in the area of the mazars (shrines), turn left and head south along a dirt road that climbs steeply upward.
This road leads all the way to the lake; it is suitable only for high-clearance vehicles, and a ford across the Kaindy River lies ahead. The lake is located within the Kolsai Kolderi National Reserve, and there is a barrier gate by the forester’s house.
Below are links leading to detailed descriptions of the tour-excursions in which you can visit Kaindy Lake. Two- and three-day weekend tours from Almaty with visits to this marvelous lake. Kaindy Lake is one of the most beautiful places in the Almaty region and certainly the single most astonishing natural attraction in Kazakhstan. Have pleasant travels and unforgettable impressions!
