View source for Big Almaty Lake

{{Infobox body of water
| name = Big Almaty Lake
| native_name = Үлкен Алматы көлі
| native_name_lang = [[Kazakh language]]
| image = Большое Алматинское озеро.jpg
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| location = [[Kazakhstan]]
| coords = {{coord|43.0506|N|76.9850|E|source:wikidata|display=title,inline}} <!-- {{coord|DD|MM|SS|N|DD|MM|SS|W|region:ZZ_type:waterbody|display =inline,title}} -->
| type = [[lake]]
| inflow = 
| rivers = Big Almaty river 
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| length = {{convert|1.6|km|abbr=on}}
| width = {{convert|0.75|-|1|km|abbr=on}}
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| cities = Almaty
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}}
'''Big Almaty Lake''' ({{lang-kk|Үлкен Алматы көлі}}, rus. Большое Алматинское Озеро) is natural alpine reservoir located in the [[Trans-Ili Alatau]] mountains at the height of 2511 meters above sea level, 15&nbsp;km south from the center of [[Almaty]] in [[Kazakhstan]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://visitkazakhstan.kz/en/guide/places/view/376/|title=Official tourism website of Kazakhstan|last=|first=|date=|website=visitkazakhstan.kz|publisher=|access-date=}}</ref>

== Characteristics ==
The basin of the lake has [[tectonic]] origin with complex shape and general slope to the north. The lake is 1.6&nbsp;km in length and from 0.75 to 1&nbsp;km in width. The coastline is 3&nbsp;km, the depth is 30–40 m, the volume of water mass is about 14 million m³. The maximum water level is in August, the minimum is in February. Level fluctuations reach 20 m. Lakeside is abrupt and steep.

From the south, the lake flows into the river Big Almaty. It is part of the [[Ile-Alatau National Park]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.almaty-kazakhstan.net/attractions/parks/ile-alatau-national-park/|title=Information about Almaty, Kazakhstan|last=|first=|date=|website=www.almaty-kazakhstan.net|publisher=|access-date=}}</ref>

== Description ==
Like the vast majority of lakes in the [[Tian Shan|Tien Shan]] mountains, the lake appeared as a result from number of earthquakes. Above the lake rise the three main peaks that can be seen from the northern end of the dam: the peak of Councils (4317 m) - on south-east, the peak Ozerny (4110 m) - on the south and the peak Tourist (3954 m) - on the south-west of the lake.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.maxtravel.kz/eng/engbigalmatylakeroutes/|title=Routes to Big Almaty Lake|last=|first=|date=|website=www.maxtravel.kz|publisher=|access-date=}}</ref>

On the north-west of the "Tourist" there is a peak of the crest of the Big Almaty peak in the form of pyramid with height 3681 m. Depending on the time of year, the lake changes its color from light-green to turquoise-blue.

The Tien-Shan Astronomical Observatory is located near Big Almaty Lake.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://kazbao.com/en/186-big-almaty-lake-bao/|title=How to get to Big Almaty Lake|last=|first=|date=|website=kazbao.com|publisher=|access-date=}}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[Sharyn Canyon]]
* [[Altyn-Emel National Park]]
* [[Borovoe]]
* [[Karkaraly National Park]]
* [[Tourism in Kazakhstan]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Lakes of Kazakhstan]]
[[Category:Almaty Region]]