Karakolskie Lakes, Protected lakes in Altai Republic, Russia.

The Karakol Lakes are seven lakes on the western slope of the Iolgo ridge, at the foot of the Bagatash pass in the Chemal district of the Altai Republic. Their basins sit on the steps of a large cirque staircase between roughly 1,820 and 2,097 m. The largest measures 440 m by 350 m, about 12 ha, and the lakes lie 300–800 m apart, linked by streams. The Tura River starts here.

The lakes are of glacial-tectonic origin, their basins set on the steps of a large cirque staircase on the western slope of the Iolgo ridge. In 1978 the Altai regional council of people's deputies made them a Natural Monument of the Gorno-Altai Autonomous Oblast; the status was confirmed by a Republic of Altai government decree of 16 February 1996.

The name comes from the Altai "Kara-Kol", meaning "Black Lake". The lakes lie in the Chemal district and are reached by tours organised from tourist complexes there; many horse-riding routes over the spurs of the Iolgo ridge include a visit. A tourist base stands on the shore of lake No. 5.

The lakes lie about 30 km from Elekmonar, and no paved road reaches them, so the final approach is on foot or horseback. The lowest lake sits at 1,820 m and the highest at about 2,097 m, with 300–800 m between basins linked by streams. A tourist base stands on the shore of lake No. 5. The area is a nature monument under a reserve-and-recreation regime.

The seven lakes differ chemically: lake No. 2 has a raised concentration of silver, lake No. 5 of iron. The largest measures 440 m by 350 m, about 12 hectares, and the lakes lie 300–800 m apart, linked by small streams. The water is cold and clean, with almost no aquatic plants and no fish.