Silk Road - Xinjiang Kanas Lake II, where is the Kanas Monster???

Kanas Lake was once in the news for a long period of times, not so much becuase of its beauty, but much about the legendary Kanas Monster.  Many claimed they had seen the shadow of the monster in the lake in different hour in different time of the day in different seasons.  There was even once a research team (may be more appropriate to call them the monster hunting team) was sent to watch the lake so that they can confirm the monster.  Well, all to no avail.

Beside the famous monster, Kanas Lake is a true beauty which hardly known to the world.  I was thinking what is so special about a lake where it is not far from the desert.  The truth is the climate zone changed fast once we reached the north.  Don't forget we are at the border of Russia, the Altai looks absolutely pretty in cold climate.

Kanas Lake is 24KM long, wait, you have not seen the full lake yet!

Stretching upward.

Almost to the full lake.

1/3 of the lake.

Another 1/3.

The final opening.

When you saw these 6 pictures, you will start to believe it isn't a waste for the 18 hours bus ride.

Kanas Lake is the deepest, 184M, fresh water lake in China. The water comes glacier melt in the north Altai Mountain, flow down to the lake and out to Kanas River, later the Burqin River.  One thing is very special about Kanas Lake is the colour of the water, it is so milky blue that you would not believe it is lake water.  The water is full of mineral embeded in the glacier making the lake looks out of the normal blue.  Many said the so called Kanas Lake is merely the shadow of changing colour of the lake milky blue water due to sunlight in different seasons.  The mineral is so thick that the refrlection confused people to think that they saw the shadow of the monster.  Well, while some others still claimed the sighting of the creatures. It does not matter whether there is or there is not, visiting Kanas Lake will not be a regret!

Beside the lake, staying a night with the Kazakhs was an unique experience.  The harsh cold wind, the camp fire, of course, you can't avoid the camp fire dance.  But the most significant of all, the Kazakhs.  They seem to have nothing, but we were told that they are rich, they don't look like but I believe the guide.

My favourite photo of the trip and at all time, is a she, so cute!!!

As we climbed up to the highest to view the lake, the scenery is like those in the Chinese kungfu novel with the superior master meditate around for ages.  Just kidding, but is closed. After viewing the sunset, I felt it was short and we had to leave the next morning.

Silk Road - Xinjiang Kanas Lake I, the Kazakhs in the Altai.

The journey from Urumqi to Kanas Lake was interesting, passing by the famous Karamy, we arrived Burqin after a 8am to 11pm bus ride.  As Burqin is at the north Altai region near the border of China with Russia, Mongolia and Kazakhstan, the ethnic live here are the Kazakhs.  

After resting at Burqin for a night, we were on the bus again. The first thing was a group of Kazakhs nomading - moving their yurt from one place to another. The Kazakhs are nomadic in nature and still living like before.

The Kazakhs are real horseman, moving a troop is no easy business. Everything was in-controlled until our bus was on the road and these poor Kazakhs had to let us through, like we were there first before them and we had the privilege.

As we arrived in the Kanas Lake National Park, the way the people live is insight - the yurts and the wooden houses.  It amazed me how these Kazakhs live through the harsh cold winter.  We were there in September, but the night was unbearable. I put up 3 sweaters, my jacket and rolled myself in 2 thick blankets, but I felt frozen through the nights. But the Kazakhs seem as ease, is just another autumn night.

The yurt, in troops.

The wooden house, we stayed at one of these for a night.

As we were already in the Altai mountain ranges, the mountain is in sight. The Kazakhs run their daily life and there is this ethnic group called the Tuva.  The guide told us that the Tuva can not call themselves a race because the whole ethnic group can not make up the race requirement of 1400+ people.  Thus, they have to stay as an ethnic group, not a race.

After settling in, it was almost time for the lake.  Trust me, you will not want to miss the lake.  Next!