Karakul Lake

　　Karakul is kyrgyz for "black lake" and its indeed looks black when the sun is hidden by clouds.

　　Karakul has an area of 380 sq km and lies at the altitude of 3,914 meters above sea level. It's the highest lake in the world excluding those in Tibet and even Titicaca Lake -the biggest alpine lake in the world is located on lower altitudes. The lake has 2 basins separated by a peninsula from the south and an island in the north. The island is 8 km long and 4 km wide. The strait between them is 1 km wide. East side is 22.5 meters deep, while west basin deepest point is 236 m.