Ala-Köl (Kyrgyz: Ала-Көл,^[1] also Алакөл, Russian: Ала-Куль, romanized: Ala-Kul) is a rock-dammed lake in the Terskey Alatau mountain range in the Ak-Suu District of the Issyk-Kul Region in Kyrgyzstan. It lies at an altitude of 3,532 m (11,588 ft). It is 2.8 km (1.7 mi) long and 600–700 m (2,000–2,300 ft) wide. Its area is 1.5 km² (0.58 sq mi).^[2]

Quick Facts Location, Coordinates ...

Ala-Köl
Ала-Көл (Kyrgyz)
Ala-Köl Show map of Kyrgyzstan Ala-Köl Show map of Asia
Location	Terskey Alatau
Coordinates	42°19′3″N 78°32′8″E
Lake type	Rock-dammed
Catchment area	9.46 km2 (3.65 sq mi)
Basin countries	Kyrgyzstan
Max. length	2.8 km (1.7 mi)
Max. width	0.7 km (0.43 mi)
Surface area	1.5 km2 (0.58 sq mi)
Surface elevation	3,532 m (11,588 ft)

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A Russian traveller named Putimtsoff was the first to knowingly visit the lake in 1811. He gave a good description of it, mentioning rocks of different colours in the lake, and the furious winds blowing around the lake. Thirty years later Alexander von Schrenk explored the lake and its surroundings.^[3]

Literally, the name Ala-Köl would mean 'variegated lake,' although it probably takes its name from the Ala-Таu mountains lying further north.^[4]

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