Kyrgyzstan contains Lake Issyk-Kul, one of the world’s largest high-altitude lakes.
Issyk-Kul is an endorheic lake in the Tian Shan mountains of northeastern Kyrgyzstan. Its name means “warm lake” in Kyrgyz, reflecting the fact that it generally does not freeze despite its elevation and severe winter climate.
The lake sits about 1,607 metres above sea level and is approximately 182 kilometres long. It has no outlet to the sea, and its deep basin is fed by mountain streams. Issyk-Kul has long been an important regional destination for settlement, trade and tourism.
It is sometimes confused with Lake Balkhash in Kazakhstan or Lake Titicaca in the Andes. Issyk-Kul is in Kyrgyzstan, while Lake Titicaca is in Bolivia and Peru and is already notable as a navigable high-altitude lake.