The Issyk-Kul is the largest lake in Kyrgyzstan. The lake is 182 km long, 60 km wide and 668 m deep. The lake has several tributaries but no outflow. Thus, the water level varies depending on local weather conditions. The salinity of the lake is approx. 0.6%, which makes it difficult to freeze even in […]
Kara-Kyz Yurt Camp
The Kara-Kyz Yurt Camp is approx. 30 km east of Karakol in a small valley off the Tien Shan. The access road to the camp is relatively difficult to find. Between Konstantinovka and Kaiyrma Aryk, we have to ask for the way several times. After crossing a brook and overcoming a hill, we arrive well […]
Przhevalsky Memorial Park
Only 10 km northwest of Karakol, on the banks of the Issyk-Kul, lies the Przhevalsky Memorial Park. Here is the grave of Przhevalsky as well as a monument and a museum to his honors. Nikolai Mikhailovich Przhevalsky, often named after the Polish spelling Przewalski, was an officer of the Tsar. His outstanding contributions to the […]
Dungan Village Yrdyk and Family Dinner
The village of Yrdyk is approximately 10 km west of Karakol. Here lives the closed community of Dungans, the successors of the Muslim Chinese, in China described as Hui. Until recently, only Dungans who are married to Dungans are allowed to live in Yrdyk. About 140 years ago, the Dungans were expelled from China and […]
Lunar Eclipse with blood moon July 2018
The evening of July 27, 2018, was very special. It was the longest lunar eclipse of the 21st century. And next to the blood moon, the Mars and the International Space Station (ISS) appeared in the night sky. We were lucky and could capture the event in videos. All three videos were filmed in Osann-Monzel […]
One Village – One Product – Felt Souvenir Master class
The village of Tasma is about 50 km northeast from Karakol. The women of the village specialize in the production of souvenirs made from felt. We have the opportunity to attend the “Foam, felt souvenirs master class”. The production site for the for felt objects is right next to the war memorial. Once we arrive, […]