History of Issyk Kul

The exact time of Issyk-Kul’s formation remains a mystery even to scientists. It is believed that around 50 million years ago, during the Cenozoic era, the movement of lithospheric plates caused fractures in the Earth’s crust. This led to the formation of mountains and the creation of a basin that eventually filled with water. Another theory suggests that the lake is younger, around 10 million years old, but the cause of its creation remains the same—tectonic shifts.

The earliest records of this lake come from Chinese sources: documents from the 2nd century BCE mention a lake called «Rehai,» meaning «hot sea.» This name closely resembles the Kyrgyz name «Issyk-Kul,» which translates as «Warm Lake.»

In ancient times, Issyk-Kul was well-known in Central Asia, as migration routes passed by its waters during the 1st millennium BCE. In the vicinity of the lake, archaeologists have discovered pagan totems, petroglyphs, and Aryan pottery, as well as remnants of a Scythian city that dates back approximately 2,500 years. This settlement, which was large for its time, covered several square kilometers beneath the lake’s surface.

Mentions of Issyk-Kul also appear in Byzantine records and the writings of the Venetian merchant Marco Polo.

In the 14th century, Armenian settlers arrived at the lake’s shores and built a Christian monastery, which was even marked on a Spanish map from 1380. According to legend, the relics of the Apostle Matthew were once housed in this monastery. By the mid-19th century, the region, including the Issyk-Kul area, became part of the Russian Empire, attracting scientists to explore the area.

One of the most notable explorers was the great Russian scientist Pyotr Petrovich Semenov (1827–1914), the first European to venture into the Central Tien Shan region. In 1856–1857, he led expeditions to the eastern and western shores of Issyk-Kul. During his journey, Semenov disproved the theory that the local mountains had a volcanic origin. As a geographer, botanist, and zoologist, Semenov compiled extensive scientific data about the region’s geology, flora, and fauna. For his groundbreaking contributions, he earned the honorary title «Tianshansky,» meaning «of the Tien Shan.»

It’s astonishing to think that less than 200 years ago, this incredible region remained entirely unexplored!