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Kyrgyzstan

After riding on buses for many days it was a nice change to enjoy a late afternoon sunset cruise on Lake Issyk-Kul.

Leaving the dock area

The lake is visited by many Kyrgyz tourists. Foreign tourists come mainly from Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Russia. In 1948, Issyk-Kul became Kyrgyzstan’s first nature reserve. Since 2000, the lake has also been on the UNESCO list of biosphere reserves

Cholpon-Ata is a resort town on the northern shore of Lake Issyk-Kul in Kyrgyzstan with a population of 14,237. It is the administrative center of the Issyk-Kul District. This district occupies most of the lake's north shore. The town contains numerous large and small hotels and guesthouses to accommodate the many visitors who descend upon the lake in summer. During the Soviet era it was much frequented by vacationers brought here in organized mass tours from other parts of the USSR. A second ship leaving shore with tourists on board to enjoy the sunset on the lake.

Seagulls flying alongside the ship.

Issyk-Kul Lake is 113 miles long, up to 37 miles wide and its area is 2,408 square miles. It is the second largest mountain lake in the world behind Lake Titicaca in South America. It is at an altitude of 5,272 feet and reaches 2,192 ft in depth.

Some of our group enjoying the afternoon on the lake.

Everyone enjoying libations and relaxing

Back on shore enjoying the sunset on the beach at the large Russian resort we are staying, Raduga Hotel. It is off season and very quiet. There had to be hundreds of rooms scattered across the landscape of the grounds. It is very popular with Soviet tourists visiting the area in the summer time.

A tourist enjoying libation and relaxation. The resort is located on the northern shore of the lake and near Cholpon-Ata, a resort village along the shores of the lake. . popular with wealthy Kazakhs and Russians.

Spectacular sunset with clouds giving us a great show on the lake.

The next morning leaving the lake area we see beautiful fall foliage on the trees.

On the way on the way out of town we visit the old Gravplass Cemetery located outside of Cholpon-Ata a few blocks from the lake.

Driving through a local town we see the remnant signs from the old Soviet Union on the side of the building.

No matter where in the world you are the word Burger is easy to translate.

We stop for lunch with a local family on the way returning to Bishkek. Here we see coffee being brewed for lunch.

Apples drying in the air and sunlight

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