Kaindy Lake (Underwater Forest), Kazakhstan

Lake Kaindy is a 400-meter-long (1,300 ft) lake located in Kazakhstan. The lake reaches depths of nearly 30 meters (98 ft). It is located 129 kilometers (80 mi) east-southeast of the city of Almaty and is 2,000 meters (6,600 ft) above sea level.

 

Lake Kaindy is located in the south of Kazakhstan, within Kolsai Lakes National Park. It is located 2,000 metres above sea level, 130 kilometers east of Almaty. The lake was formed as the result of a major limestone landslide triggered by the 1911 Kebin earthquake forming a natural dam. It blocked the gorge and was filled by mountain river water. Lake Kaindy is about 400 meters long, reaching depths of nearly 30 meters at its deepest point. Altered by limestone deposits, the water maintains a bluish-green color. The lake contains trunks of submerged Picea schrenkiana trees that rise above the surface of the lake. The area is often referred to as a "sunken forest". The cold water helps preserve the tree trunks, which are overgrown with algae and various other water plants. In recent years, Lake Kaindy has become a popular international tourist destination. The lake is also known for ice diving and trout fishing in the winter season.

 

 

The most striking view of this forest is under the water. There, the tree trunks have resisted decomposition, leaving perfectly preserved needles on their branches even after all this time. This interesting feature is thanks to the lake's frigid temperatures, which rarely exceed 43 degrees Fahrenheit (6 degrees Celsius), even in summertime. Luckily, you don't need to take a dip to catch a glimpse of this marvel the water is so clear that you can see far down into its depths from safety on the shore.