Kyrgyzstan sets new records annually in the number of tourists, but behind the beautiful figures of reports lies an alarming reality. While new boarding houses are growing on the shores and entire cities are being designed, the ‘eye of the Tian Shan’ is beginning to lose its legendary transparency. In place of cut-down sea buckthorn thickets – natural filters of the lake – bare beaches remain, and the lack of treatment facilities leads to dangerous blue-green algae being spotted in the water more often. The process of silting and ‘blooming’ becomes irreversible under the pressure of global warming and wastewater. Why does the country need a specialized scientific center today more than ever, which will deal not only with monitoring but also with saving the Issyk-Kul ecosystem? And what choice will the authorities have to make: continue aggressive development of the coastline or choose the tough path of ecological rehabilitation before the lake turns into a swamp? We discuss the future of the ‘pearl’, the cutting down of coastal forests, and responsibility to descendants on the air of Sputnik Kyrgyzstan radio.
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Perfect for culturally curious travelers who want more than a standard sightseeing trip. Ideal for those who want a balanced combination of nature, authentic nomadic life, UNESCO heritage cities, and real Silk Road history — all in one seamless journey across three countries.
