Nature Wonders of Kazakhstan Altai.

“The true purpose of your journey is not a place on the map, but a new outlook on life”

Henry Miller. "Big Sur and the Oranges of Hieronymus Bosch." 1957.

Nature of East Kazakhstan region.

First Beloubinskoye Lake is a small freshwater moraine-glacial lake located at an altitude of 2,083 m. a. s. l. in the Ridder city administration of East Kazakhstan region.

It is located in the highlands of the Altai Mountains, between the eastern spurs of the Ivanovo Range and the western slopes of the Koksu Range. The lake occupies a picturesque high-mountain basin and is part of the Beloubinskoye Lakes group.
From First Beloubinskoye Lake to Kedrovoe Lake is approximately 1.3 kilometers southwest, to Lake Shcherbakov is approximately 1.6 kilometers to the south, and Second Beloubinskoye Lake is only 889 meters to the east. Lake First Beloubinskoye is elongated from southeast to northwest.
It is 177 meters long, with a maximum width of approximately 87 meters in the southern part. Its water surface area is approximately 10,299 square meters, and the shoreline extends for 490 meters. The lake's maximum depth is approximately 10 meters.
A stream flows from the northern part of the lake, which is one of the southern sources of the Belaya Uba River. Thus, this small high-mountain lake contributes to the formation of a river system that carries its waters from the mountain slopes into the Uba Valley.
Lake First Beloubinskoye is fed primarily by meltwater from snowfields located on the steep southern slope. During periods of active snowmelt, the volume of incoming water increases, maintaining the lake's level and ensuring runoff through the northern source.
The shores of the lake are characterized by significant contrasts. The southern shore is surrounded by moraine deposits left by an ancient glacier. Here, the slope rises steeply and maintains a rugged, high-mountain appearance. Snowfields cover the southern slopes, and vegetation is virtually nonexistent.
The northern part of the lake is more gentle. It is here that the stream that flows out of the lake originates. The western and eastern shores, in contrast, drop off abruptly in places, giving the lake a distinctive mountain character. A small island is located in the eastern part of the lake, adding to the lake's picturesque appearance.
First Belooubinskoye Lake is particularly impressive when surrounded by high-mountain slopes. The blue-green surface of the water contrasts with the gray moraine deposits, rocky cliffs, and white patches of snowfields on the southern slopes.
The rugged beauty of the surrounding landscape emphasizes the lake's remoteness from developed areas and creates a sense of virtually untouched nature. Its high altitude, glacial-moraine origins, snow-fed basin, and connection to the source of the Belaya Uba make the First Beloubinskoye Lake an interesting natural landmark in Eastern Kazakhstan.
It is valuable not only as a picturesque feature of the mountain landscape, but also as part of the complex hydrographic system of the Altai highlands.

Geographic coordinates of First Beloubinskoye Lake are: N50°17'16 E84°08'08

Authority and photos:
Alexander Petrov.