Issyk-Kul Lake basin, Kyrgyz Republic Saadat Tashbaeva Institute of Water Problems and hydropower National Academy of Sciences KR Issyk-Kul Lake basin, Kyrgyz Republic Saadat Tashbaeva

The Issyk-Kul Lake basin Lake Issykkul is one of the large lakes on Earth, ranked 25th in size by the Global Lake and Wetland Database, tenth largest lake in the world by volume and the second largest saline lake after the Caspian Sea and the second largest mountain lake in the world behind Lake Titicaca in South America. Located at an altitude of 1,607 meters. There is an unique ecosystems from deserts to glacier caps.

Water resources and problems The 77,4% of all water resources of KR is in Issyk-Kul Lake basin, but its almost salty water. The water supply systems in the three towns were built during Soviet times and are in poor condition. It has 118 river flow. Most of the rivers are used for irrigation, and their water fails to reach the lake. Therefore, bays in the northern and western coasts suffer from increased mineralization. Obsolescense of the irrigation system is the reason of the water lolsses (20%). The glaciers accumulate 48 km cube of fresh water. 30% of the glaciers in Kungei-Ala-Too has melt ast 30 years Reduction of the hydrological stations amount.

Society and problems By 2007 census the region population counted 434.9 thousand people. More than 2/3 of total population resides in rural areas. Poverty level in region is 31,7%: urban – 22,6; rural – 36,8.

The Issyk-Kul Lake level variation

Reference informational system “GISIK”

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