The word ‘Kaindy’ is Kazakh for ‘landslide’ which is appropriate for this incredible scepter. The Lake is around 80 miles southeast of the city of Almaty in Kazakhstan and roughly 6,600 ft above sea level. The lake is situated in the Tien Shan region and is 1,300 ft in length and reaches a depth of 98 ft. The lake was formed after the Kebin earthquake in 1911 which caused a massive landslide of limestone in the Kazakhstan region. The landslide had blocked up the canyon, causing a backlog of the river into what we now call Lake Kaindy.
The unique hue
Apart from the limestone deposits in the water giving it a beautiful green-blue color or the beautiful display of trout in the river. The lake is filled with submerged trunks of Asian Spruce (Picea schrenkiana) trees. The way these trees are formed due to the landslide creates the illusion of a “sunken forest”. These Asian Spruce or Schrenk’s Spruce break the surface, for they can reach 160 ft tall. One would assume that these tree trunks would soften and deteriorate in the water over time, but due to the cold temperatures – they are doing fine.
Not a typical hotspot
The unique destination is oddly not drawing in tourists, apart from a few hardcore divers and this is because of the rather spooky atmosphere. That said, there is no denying the beauty of this place. Who knows, maybe a few wandering travelers will spread the world and more people discover the magic of Lake Kaindy.