The Kolsai Lakes are a system of three lakes in the Northern Tien Shan, which links the Kungei Alatau and Trans-Ili Alatau ranges. They lie one after another at different altitudes along the Kolsai River.
Upper Kolsai lies 2,650 m above sea level, Middle Kolsai at 2,280 m and Lower Kolsai at 1,800 m. The lower lake is 1,520 m long and 222 m wide on average.
The neighboring Lake Kaindy was formed by a powerful earthquake in 1911: water flooded the valley, and the trees ended up underwater. Because the lake water stays at around +6°C even in summer, the needles on the trees have survived to this day.
