matt_in_sha | profile | all galleries >> Xinjiang, 2010. (Gallery under construction) >> Yellow Lake and Lake Karakol (with lunch in a yurt thrown in) | tree view | thumbnails | slideshow |
The Karakul (Kirghiz: "black lake", Chinese: 喀拉库勒湖) is a lake located approximately 200km from Kashgar, Xinjiang province, China, in Akto County, Kizilsu Kirgiz Autonomous Prefecture on the Karakoram Highway, before reaching Tashkurgan, the Khunjerab Pass on the China - Pakistan border and Sost in Pakistan. At an altitude of 3600m [1], it is the highest lake of the Pamir plateau, near the junction of the Pamir, Tian Shan and Kunlun mountain ranges. Surrounded by mountains which remain snow-covered throughout the year, the three highest peaks visible from the lake are the Muztagh Ata (7546m), Kongur Tagh (7649m) and Kongur Tiube (7530m). The lake is popular among travellers for its unreal scenery and the clarity of its reflection in the water, whose color ranges from a dark green to azure and light blue. There are two Kirgiz settlements along the shore of Karakul lake, a small number of yurts about 1km east of the bus drop-off point and a village with stone houses located on the western shores.We had lunch in one of the yurts, and a chance to purchase some of their handicrafts. Very nice people...
Lunch was a lamb stew with noodles, cooked in a pressure cooker (the wonders of civilization), nan bread and black tea.
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Sandi Whitteker | 03-Jun-2010 16:15 | |
joseantonio | 03-Jun-2010 13:06 | |