Glacier Kyzylsu
Kyzylsu - Red Water
The Kyzylsu Glacier (often referred to as the Eastern Kyzylsu) is a complex valley glacier of the Eastern Zaalai. It is 15.1 km long and covers an area of 43.0 sq. km. The height of the glacier's tongue is 3780 m, and the firn line is at 4500 m.
The main flow of the glacier extends from the southwest to the northeast and has a three-chamber accumulation area. These chambers are located on the northern slopes of the Kulumdy (6613) and Chorku (6283) peaks. The glacier tongue is fractured and dissected by a network of water streams, and its end is covered by a continuous moraine blanket.
Three left tributaries, located in narrow steep valleys on the southeastern slope of the northern ridge of the Zaalai Range, are similar in type to those in the Turkestan region.
The accumulation areas of two major right tributaries lie in vast high-altitude karst regions. The upper right tributary descends from the northern slope of the Eastern Kulumdy peak (6384), while the lower right tributary has two branches - the left one descends from the northwestern slope of the Zarya Vostoka peak (6349), and the right one flows from under the summit of 5368 in the northern ridge of the Zaalai Range.
The Kyzylsu River (Eastern Kyzylsu or Kashgar Kyzylsu), which feeds the Kashgar oasis, originates from the Kyzylsu Glacier. The water in the river is intensely red.
The valley of the Kyzylsu Glacier is a popular destination for climbing expeditions and mountain hiking. Here, the famous Zarya Vostoka (6349) and the highest peak of Eastern Zaalai, Kulumdy (6613), stand majestically. The gorge is very picturesque. In the glacier's pockets and on the valley's slopes, tall and lush grass abundant with alpine flowers grows. Its greenery contrasts sharply with the prevalent red mountain rocks found here.
At the border of the glacier's basin, there are popular passes. The Predvershinnyy Pass (4817) connects the lower right tributary of the Kyzylsu Glacier with the neighboring Nura Glacier to the east. The Nura Pass (4760) and the Nura Gates Pass (4795) allow access to the more northern glacier of the left tributary of the Nura River. The Four Glaciers Pass (5555) connects the sources of the Kyzylsu Glacier with its western neighbor - the Right Kichkesu Glacier.
There is convenient access to the Kyzylsu Glacier via a dirt road that branches off to the south at the 26th kilometer of the Sary-Tash - Irkeshtam highway. From there, the road gently ascends in a southeast direction along the Karasu River. A high-clearance vehicle can take you along this road directly to the pass leading into the Kyzylsu valley, located north of the 4024 peak. From there, one can walk along the river on its orographically left bank to the high moraine, and then along the pocket of the left bank moraine.
