Karakolskie Lakes, Protected lakes in Altai Republic, Russia.
Karakolskie Lakes form a group of water bodies at different elevations, surrounded by dense forest and mountain slopes in the Altai region. Several of these lakes are connected by hiking paths and offer varied landscapes along their shorelines.
These lakes formed during the last ice age when glaciers carved deep basins into the mountain landscape. The retreating ice sheets left behind the basins that now hold these water bodies.
Local communities have long relied on these lakes as water sources during their seasonal movements through the mountains. The connection to this place remains visible in the traditional routes that herders and hunters still follow today.
Visitors should travel via marked hiking trails from the nearby village, with conditions varying depending on the season. The best time to visit is summer, when trails are passable and camping is available in designated areas.
Each lake displays its own water color, ranging from deep blue to emerald green, depending on mineral composition and depth. This color variation makes each body of water visually distinct and reveals the geological differences beneath the surface.
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