The Big Almaty Lake is located in the south part of the country in the mountains of Trans-Ili Alatau at an altitude of 2510 meters. The lake has a tectonic origin. Its length reaches 1.6 km, and its width is up to 1 km. The depth of the lake is 30–40 meters. The maximum water level in the lake is observed in August, the minimum falls in February.
Three mountain peaks rise above the lake: Sovetov Peak (4317 m), Ozerny Peak (4110 m) and Tourist Peak (3954 m).
The Tien Shan Astronomical Observatory is located above the lake (which is open to the public and includes accommodation for tourists). Due to its alpine location, temperatures are cool throughout the year. The average water temperature in the lake is 8-10 degrees Celsius. Swimming is not allowed as the lake is the main source of drinking water for Almaty.
The lake changes color depending on the season from light green to turquoise. The lake can be reached by car from the center of Almaty in 1 hour.
