Kurchum District is a territory of contrasts. Nowhere else will you find such a variety of natural landscapes. Snow-capped mountain peaks, wild taiga, sun-baked plains. And in the center – the protected lake Markakol.
It is also home to the Markakol National Nature Reserve, established in 1976 to preserve and study the natural complexes of the southern part of the Altai.
For many years, this amazing place has maintained its pristine, virgin natural beauty and preserved the rarest species of animals and plants. This is a real journey into the world of nature.
The pearl of the southern Altai is the high-altitude lake Markakol, located in the Alpine zone, 1447 meters above sea level. Its surface area reaches 455 km2, with a depth of 28 m. Surrounded by taiga forests and coastal meadows, Markakol is bordered by the Kurchum and Azutau mountain ranges. To the right of the lake lies Mount Samovar: there are always clouds over it, hence the name.
Valuable medicinal plants grow here: Rhodiola rosea and maral root. Among the protected plants are cedar pine, martagon lily, and wolfsbane. Many species of fish are in the Red Book. The main treasure is uskuch (lenok) - a fish of the salmon family. This fish in Kazakhstan is only found in Markakol. Fishing on the lake is prohibited.
260 species of birds nest on the shores of the lake, including the predatory golden eagle and owl. One of the most amazing inhabitants is the black stork. In addition, you can find rare species of butterflies, such as apollo and swallowtail. Bears, marals, elk, roe deer, and lynx live in the forests of the reserve. As well as sable, ermine, weasel, and even wolverine.
Musk deer is one of the rare animals that appear near the lake. Musk deer is a very beautiful animal. It is a mini deer the size of a small dog. In addition, it has large fangs, though the musk deer is not dangerous at all – it feeds only on lichen. Their numbers are very small, so hunting for them is prohibited. Musk deer is not found anywhere else in Kazakhstan.
