Sary-Chelek Lake. Sary-Chelek Lake ("yellow bowl" in translation from Kyrgyz) is located in the territory of the nature park of the same name, on the southeastern slope of the Chotkal Ridge, which is situated in the Western Tien Shan. The water level is 1878 m above sea level, the surface area of the water mirror is 4.92 km², the length of the lake is 7.5 km, the maximum width is 2280 m, and the average width is 650 m. The maximum depth is 234 m, and the average depth is 98 m. There are a total of 7 lakes in the group. In summer, the water temperature reaches 19.8 °C, while in winter it ranges from 4 °C to 0 °C. The lake is effluent, and therefore freshwater, with the river Kodjo-Ata flowing out of it. The reserve's base is located in the village of Arkyt.
The steep slopes of the mountains surrounding the mirror-like surface of Sary-Chelek are covered with nut-fruit forests, hiding a multitude of inhabitants, from pheasants, foxes, and wild boars to mountain deer, wild cats, marmots, and porcupines. Sary-Chelek Lake, whose crystal-clear waters give rise to the river Kodjo-Ata, is truly a gem of the reserve and attracts the gaze of even the most discerning tourists. The area around the lake has been a reserve since 1959 and has the status of a UNESCO biosphere reserve.