Lake Issyk-Kul: Experience and Lessons Learned Brief (Lake Basin Management Initiative). 2005. (771 KB)

Lake Issyk-Kul (also referred to simply as Issyk-Kul), located in the Kyrgyz Republic (commonly referred to as Kyrgyzstan), is the world’s second-largest high-altitude lake and a major biological and economic resource of the country. Among lakes lying 1,200 meters or more above sea level, Issyk-Kul is second only to Lake Titicaca in overall area. Slightly salty, the lake never freezes, which contributes to its importance as a stopover for migratory birds. Over the past few decades, the level of the lake has dropped some 2.5 m as the result of water diversions. In the face of several serious threats to the lake, the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic has created the Issyk-Kul Biosphere Reserve, run by a Directorate General. Main_LBMI_report--http://www.iwlearn.net/publications/ll/lbmi_main_report_2005.pdf/view Original_LBMI_website--http://www.ilec.or.jp/eg/lbmi/index.htm

Project 1665: Towards a Lake Basin Management Initiative and a Contribution to the Third World Water Forum: Sharing Experiences and Early Lessons in GEF and non-GEF Lake Basin Management Projects

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