| Ay-Kul | |
|---|---|
| Айкөл (Kyrgyz) | |
  Ay-Kul Show map of Kyrgyzstan  Ay-Kul Show map of West and Central Asia | |
| Coordinates | 39°38′05.3″N 69°38′06.7″E / 39.634806°N 69.635194°E / 39.634806; 69.635194 |
| Lake type | Barrier lake Mountain lake |
| Primary inflows | Glaciers |
| Primary outflows | Ay-Kul Creek |
| Basin countries | Kyrgyzstan |
| Max. length | 2.2–3.5 kilometres (1.4–2.2 mi)[1][2] |
| Max. width | 0.5 kilometres (0.31 mi)[1] |
| Surface area | .82–1 square kilometre (0.32–0.39 sq mi)[1][2] |
| Water volume | 0.057 km3 (0.014 cu mi)[2] |
| Surface elevation | 2,838–2,938 metres (9,311–9,639 ft)[1][2] |
Ay-Kul (Kyrgyz: Айкөл; Uzbek: Oydinkoʻl; Russian: Ай-Кёл), also called Oydinkul, is a small freshwater landslide dam in the Turkestan Range mountains in Kyrgyzstan, near the border with Tajikistan.[1][2] The lake was formed after a massive landslide blocked the flow of the Ay-Kul Creek.
Ay-Kul is located approximately 20 kilometres (12 mi) km south of Razzakov. It has a surface elevation of 2,838–2,938 m (9,311–9,639 ft) and covers an area of .82–1.5 km2 (0.32–0.58 sq mi).[1][2] There are no paved roads leading to Ay-Kul, and the lake lake is a popular destination for local hikers.
The Kyrgyz name for the lake is Ayköl (Айкөл),[2] meaning "moon lake". In Uzbek, it is called Oydinkoʻl, meaning "moonlit lake" or "clear lake".[3]
Ay-Kul hosts an array of legends and myths among local Uzbeks. A popular legend holds that a shepherd lost his crook (variously described as having unique carvings or fitted with gold coins) in the lake, but months later found it in a springinDehmoy, Tajikistan.[3]
Ay-Kul is was formed after several cubic km of rock dislodged from the steeply sloped river valley of Ay-Kul Creek, a tributary of the Ak-Suu River.[2] The lake freezes in late October and thaws in March.[1]
Sources differ on the area of Ay-Kul, putting it from .82 km2 (0.32 sq mi)[1] to 1.5 km2 (0.58 sq mi).[2] It has a maximum length of 2.8–3.5 km (1.7–2.2 mi)[1][2] and a maximum breadth of 0.5 km (0.31 mi).[1]
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