Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Lake Issyk-Kul: Its History and Present State

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Large Asian Lakes in a Changing World

Part of the book series: Springer Water ((SPWA))

Abstract

Lake Issyk-Kul in Kyrgyzstan is one of the deepest and largest mountain lakes of the world. The closed-basin lake is slightly brackish and waters are dominated by sodium, and chlorite and sulphate. Although large tourism resorts and many camps without appropriate sanitary facilities were established on Lake Issyk-Kul’s shores after the Soviet era, the lake is still oligotrophic with high concentrations of dissolved oxygen down to its great depths. The large volume of the lake in comparison to surface and groundwater inflows inhibited major reductions of the water quality in the central and deep part of the lake so far. However, decreasing lake levels since the beginning of systematic observations in the year 1927, contamination of littoral waters due to inefficient or lacking wastewater treatment, and the influx of fertilizers and pesticides from farmlands on the lakeshore plain are major concerns for sustaining the fragile ecosystem of Lake Issyk-Kul during times of ongoing global warming and economic development in the region.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 129.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Abuduwaili J, Issanova G, Saparov G (2019) Hydrographical and physical-geographical characteristics of the Issyk-Kul Lake Basin and use of water resources of the basin, and impact of climate change on it. In: Abuduwaili J, Issanova G, Saparov G (eds) Hydrology and limnology of central Asia, Springer, pp 297–357

    Google Scholar 

  • Alamanov A, Mikkola H (2011) Is biodiversity friendly fisheries management possible on Issyk-Kul Lake in the Kyrgyz Republic? Ambio 40:479–495

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Azykova EK (1991) Landscapes. Issyk-Kul, Naryn. Encyclopedia. GRKSE, Frunze, pp 56–62 (in Russian)

    Google Scholar 

  • Bakov EK (1983) Trends of movement and dynamics of glaciers of the Central Tien Shan. Ilim, Frunze 157pp (in Russian)

    Google Scholar 

  • Bondarev LG (1978) Fluctuations of level based on archaeological and historical data. In: Koralev VG (ed) Lake Issyk-Kul. Frunze, Ilim, pp 112–117 (in Russian)

    Google Scholar 

  • Bulin VM, Romanovsky VV (1975) Thermal bar of Lake Issyk-Kul. The problems of Kyrgyzstan’s geography. Llim, Frunze, pp 122–123 (in Russian)

    Google Scholar 

  • DDWSSD (Department of Drinking Water Supply and Sewerage Development under the State Agency for Architecture, Construction and Public Utilities under the Government of Kyrgyz Republic), 2018. Issyk-Kul Wastewater Management Project (RRP KGZ 50176). Report for the the Asian Development Bank, 194pp

    Google Scholar 

  • De Batist M, Imbo Y, Vermeesch P, Klerkx J, Giralt S, Delvaux D, Lignier V, Beck C, Kalugin I, Abdrakhmatov KE (2002) Bathymetry and sedimentary environments of Lake Issyk-Kul, Kyrgyz Republic (Central Asia): a large, high-altitude, tectonic lake. In: Klerkx J, Imanackunov B (eds) Lake Issyk-Kul: its natural environment. Springer NATO Science Series IV, Earth and Environmental Sciences, vol 13, pp 101–123

    Google Scholar 

  • Folian LA (1981) Zooplankton of Lake Issyk-Kul. Biological basis of fishery of Central Asia and Kazakhstan water bodies. Thesis of XVII scientific conference. Llim, Frunze, pp 389–390

    Google Scholar 

  • Gebhardt AC, Naudts L, De Mol L, Klerkx J, Abdrakhmatov K, Sobel ER, De Batist M (2017) High-amplitude lake-level changes in tectonically active Lake Issyk-Kul (Kyrgyzstan) revealed by high-resolution seismic reflection data. Clim Past 13:73–92

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Giralt S, Julià R, Klerkx J, Riera S, Leroy S, Buchaca T, Catalan J, De Batist M, Beck C, Bobrov V, Gavshin V, Kalugin I, Sukhorukov F, Brennwald M, Kipfer R, Peeters F, Lombardi S, Matychenkov V, Romanovsky V, Podsetchine V, Voltattorni N (2004) 1000-year environmental history of lake Issyk-Kul. In: Nihoul JCJ, Zavialov PO, Micklin PP (eds) Dying and dead seas climatic versus anthropic causes. Springer NATO Science Series IV, Earth and Environmental Sciences, vol 36, pp 253–285

    Google Scholar 

  • Gronskaya TP (1983) Water balance and anticipated water levels in Lake Issyk Kul. Abstract, Dissertation thesis, Leningrad, 16p (in Russian)

    Google Scholar 

  • Hermann L (2017) Rock art sites on the northern bank of Lake Issyk-Kul, in Kirghizstan. INORA 78:1–10

    Google Scholar 

  • Hofer M, Peeters F, Aeschbach-Hertig W, Brennwald M, Holocher J, Livingstone DM, Romanovski V, Kipfer R (2002) Rapid deep-water renewal in Lake Issyk-Kul (Kyrgyzstan) indicated by transient tracers. Limnol Oceanogr 47:1210–1216

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kadyrov VK (1986) Hydrochemistry of Lake Issyk-Kul and its basin. Ilim, Frunze 212p (in Russian)

    Google Scholar 

  • Kadyrov VK, Karmanchuk AR (1964) About content of some elements in Lake Issyk-Kul water. Microelement in water of Lake Issyk-Kul. Frunze (2):101–106 (in Russian)

    Google Scholar 

  • Karmanchuk AR, Kadyrov VK (1986) Influence of anthropogenic activities on water quality in the shoreline zone of Lake Issyk-Kul. Study of natural water’s chemical composition formation process under conditions of anthropogenic impacts. Hydrometisdat, Leningrad, 71pp (in Russian)

    Google Scholar 

  • Kipfer R, Peeters F (2002) Using transient conservative and environmental tracers to study water exchange in Lake Issyk-Kul. In: Klerkx J, Imanackunov B (eds) Lake Issyk-Kul: its natural environment. Springer NATO Science Series IV, Earth and Environmental Sciences vol 13, pp 89–100

    Google Scholar 

  • Kiselev IA (1932) In the phytoplankton of Lake Issyk-Kul. Mémoires de l’Institut Hydrologique 7:65–94 (in Russian)

    Google Scholar 

  • Krivoshei ML, Gronskaya TP (1986) Water balance of Lake Issyk Kul. In: Shnitnikov AV (ed) Studies of Large Lakes in the USSR. Nauka, Leningrad, pp 276–280 (in Russian)

    Google Scholar 

  • Kulumbaeva AA (1982) Phytoplankton of Lake Issyk-Kul. Llim, Frunze, 106pp (in Russian)

    Google Scholar 

  • Kutzeva PP (1980) Balance of chemical elements in Lake Issyk-Kul. Studies of water balance, thermal and hydrochemical regime of Lake Issyk-Kul. Hydrometisdat, Leningrad, pp 71–77 (in Russian)

    Google Scholar 

  • Lyons WB, Welch KA, Bonzongo J-C, Graham EY, Shabunin G, Gaudette HE, Poreda RJ (2001) A preliminary assessment of the geochemical dynamics of Issyk-Kul Lake, Kirghizstan. Limnol Oceanogr 46:713–718

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Matukova TG (1958) Stonewort of Lake Issyk-Kul. Transactions of Biology and Soil Department of the Kyrgyz State University. Issue 7, Frunze, pp 43–49 (in Russian)

    Google Scholar 

  • Matveev VP (1935) Hydrochemical studies of Lake Issyk-Kul in 1932. Lake Issyk-Kul. Materials on hydrology, ichthyology and fishery. Published by AS USSR, T. 111(2):7–56 (in Russian)

    Google Scholar 

  • Mikkola H (2012) Implication of alien species introduction to loss of fish biodiversity and livelihoods on Issyk-Kul Lake in Kyrgyzstan. In: Lameed GSA (ed) Biodiversity enrichment in a diverse world, IntechOpen. https://doi.org/10.5772/48460

  • Mokrynin VP, Ploskikh VM (1988) Issyk-Kul: Sunken towns. Ilim, Frunze, 190pp (in Russian)

    Google Scholar 

  • Narama C, Kubota J, Shatravin VI, Duishonakunov M, Moholdt G, Abdrakhmatov K (2010) The lake-level changes in central Asia during the last 1000 years based on historical map. In: Watanabe M, Kubota J (eds) Reconceptualizing cultural and environmental change in central Asia: an historical perspective on the future. Ili Project, Research Institute for Humanity and Nature, Kyoto, pp 11–27

    Google Scholar 

  • Pavlova MV (1964) Zoobenthos of Lake Issyk-Kul gulfs and its consumption by fishes. Ilim, Frunze, 84pp (in Russian)

    Google Scholar 

  • Pavlova MV (1983) Biology and production of Limnaea (Radix auricularia (L.)) var. obliquata Martens in Lake Issyk-Kul. Limnological investigations in Kyrgyzstan. Ilim, Frunze, pp 34–47 (in Russian)

    Google Scholar 

  • Peeters F, Finger D, Hofer M, Brennwald M, Livingstone DM, Kipfer R (2003) Deep-water renewal in Lake Issyk-Kul driven by differential cooling. Limnol Ocean 48:1419–1431

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pivnev IA (1990) Fishes of Kyrgyzstan. Ilim, Frunze, 138pp (in Russian)

    Google Scholar 

  • Podrezov OA (1985) The strong wind regime in Issyk-Kul, Kochkor and Karakufjur basins. Trans SANIGMI 23:48–53

    Google Scholar 

  • Podrezov AO, Pavlova IA (2003) The dangerous meteorological phenomena on the territory of Kyrgyzstan. Book 1. The strong wind regime. Published by KRSU, Bishkek, 114pp (in Russian)

    Google Scholar 

  • Podrezov OA, Dikikh AN, Bakirov KB (2001) Instability of climatic conditions and glaciation of Tien Shan for the last 100 years. Newsletter of KRSU, Chapter 1. Bishkek, pp 33–40

    Google Scholar 

  • Ricketts RD, Johnson TJ, Brown ET, Rasmussen KA, Romanovsky VV (2001) The Holocene paleolimnology of Lake Issyk-Kul, Kyrgyzstan: Trace element and stable isotope composition of ostracodes. Palaeogeogr Palaeoclimatol Palaeoecol 176:207–227

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Romanovsky VV (1990) The Natural Complex of Lake Issyk-Kul. Ilim, Frunze 168pp (in Russian)

    Google Scholar 

  • Romanovsky VV (2002a) Water level variations and water balance of Lake Issyk-Kul. In: Klerkx J, Imanackunov B (eds) Lake Issyk-Kul: its natural environment. NATO Science Series (Series IV: Earth And Environmental Sciences), vol 13, Springer, Dordrecht, pp 45–59

    Google Scholar 

  • Romanovsky VV (2002b) Hydrobiology of Lake Issyk-Kul. In: Klerkx J, Imanackunov B (eds) Lake Issyk-Kul: its natural environment. NATO Science Series (Series IV: Earth And Environmental Sciences), vol 13, Springer, Dordrecht, pp 27–45

    Google Scholar 

  • Romanovsky VV, Shabunin G (2002) Currents and vertical water exchange in Lake Issyk-Kul. In: Klerkx J, Imanackunov B (eds) Lake Issyk-Kul: its natural environment. Springer NATO Science Series IV, Earth and Environmental Sciences vol 13, pp 77–89

    Google Scholar 

  • Romanovsky VV, Kuzmichonok VA, Mamatkanov DM, Podrezov SA (2004) All about Lake Issyk-Kul: Questions and answers. Kyrgyz-Russian Slavic University Bishkek, 407pp (in Russian)

    Google Scholar 

  • Rosenwinkel S, Landgraf A, Schwanghart W, Volkmer F, Dzhumabaeva A, Merchel S, Rugel G, Preusser F, Korup O (2017) Late Pleistocene outburst floods from Issyk Kul, Kyrgyzstan? Earth Surf Proc Land 42:1535–1548

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Salamat A, Abuduwaili J, Shaidyldaeva N (2015) Impact of climate change on water level fluctuation of Issyk-Kul Lake. Arab J Geosci 8:5361–5371

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Savvaitova K, Petr T (1992) Lake Issyk-Kul, Kirgizia. Int J Salt Lake Res 1:21–46

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sevastianov DV (1991) Historical and archaeological data about alteration of shores and lake level fluctuations. In: Treshnikov AF (ed) The History of Lakes Sevan, Issyk-Kul, Balkhash, Zaisan, and Aral. Nauka, Leningrad, pp 90–96 (in Russian)

    Google Scholar 

  • Shukurov ED (1991) Fauna of Issyk-Kul basin in connection with its environmental status. Fauna and ecology of terrestrial vertebrates of Kyrgyzstan. Ilim, Bishkek, pp 37–48 (in Russian)

    Google Scholar 

  • Stavissky YS (1977) Water temperature dynamics of Lake Issyk-Kul. Papers of the Central-Asian Scientific Research Institute of Hydrometeorology, vol 50, pp 75–80. The dangerous meteorological phenomena on the territory of Kyrgyzstan

    Google Scholar 

  • Trofimov AK (1990) Quaternary deposits of the Issyk-Kul depression related to its tectonics. Proc Acad Sci, Kirghiz SSR 1:87–95 (in Russian)

    Google Scholar 

  • Vereschagin AP (1991) Wintering birds of the eastern part of Issyk-Kul basin. Fauna and ecology of terrestrial vertebrate species of Kyrgyzstan. Ilim, Bishkek pp 69–85 (in Russian)

    Google Scholar 

  • Vinnik DF, Lesnichenko NS, Sanarova AV (1978) Works at Issyk-Kul: archaeological findings in 1977. Nauka, Moscow (in Russian)

    Google Scholar 

  • Vishnyatsky LB (1999) The Paleolithic of Central Asia. J World Prehistory 13:69–122

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vollmer MK, Weiss RF, Williams RT, Falkner KK, Qiu X, Ralph EA, Romanovsky VV (2002) Physical and chemical properties of the waters of saline lakes and their importance for deep-water renewal: Lake Issyk-Kul, Kyrgyzstan. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 66:4235–4246

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Meteorology, Ecology and Environmental Protection, Kyrgyz-Russian Slavic University, 6 Chui Ave., 720000, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan

    Andrei O. Podrezov

  2. Finnish Environment Institute, Freshwater Centre, Latokartanonkaari 11, 00790, Helsinki, Finland

    Ari J. Mäkelä

  3. University of Iceland, Institute of Earth Sciences, Sturlugata 7, 101, Reykjavík, Iceland

    Steffen Mischke

Authors
  1. Andrei O. Podrezov
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Ari J. Mäkelä
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Steffen Mischke
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ari J. Mäkelä .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Institue of Earth Sciences, University of Iceland, Reykjavík, Iceland

    Steffen Mischke

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2020 Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Podrezov, A.O., Mäkelä, A.J., Mischke, S. (2020). Lake Issyk-Kul: Its History and Present State. In: Mischke, S. (eds) Large Asian Lakes in a Changing World. Springer Water. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-42254-7_6

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation