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THE DROWNED FOREST

Incredible pictures capture stark beauty of the underwater trees of Lake Kaindy in Kazakhstan

The trees have survived because the water of the lake is incredibly cold

THE unique and stunningly beautiful forest that lies BENEATH a lake in the wilds of Kazakhstan is laid bare in these incredible photos.

The sunken forest of 400m-long Lake Kaindy was created when an earthquake in 1911 triggered a landslide that formed a natural dam. The valley was then flooded by rainwater.

Trees usually rot when they are submerged for such a long time but the spruce trees have been preserved because the water is incredibly cold - the lake is around 2,000 metres above sea level in the Tian Shan mountains.

As well as the trees, the lake is famous for it's unusually bright blue colour caused by limestone deposits in the region. When the lake is frozen over in winter it attracts ice fishermen and divers.

The trees poke through the surface of Lake Kaindy in Kazakhstan
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The trees poke through the surface of Lake Kaindy in KazakhstanCredit: Exclusivepix Media
The vibrant blue colour of the water is caused by limestone deposits in the region surrounding the lake
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The vibrant blue colour of the water is caused by limestone deposits in the region surrounding the lakeCredit: Exclusivepix Media
A bird's eye view of the forest, which was created as a result of a devastating earthquake in 1911
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A bird's eye view of the forest, which was created as a result of a devastating earthquake in 1911Credit: Exclusivepix Media
The trees are remarkably well-preserved by the extreme cold of the lake
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The trees are remarkably well-preserved by the extreme cold of the lakeCredit: Exclusivepix Media
The colour of the lake and the submerged trees create an almost alien scene
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The colour of the lake and the submerged trees create an almost alien sceneCredit: Exclusivepix Media
The lake is popular with ice divers because the water is so clear and the environment is so unusual
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The lake is popular with ice divers because the water is so clear and the environment is so unusualCredit: Exclusivepix Media
Rainwater filled the valley after the 1911 earthquake dammed a gorge
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Rainwater filled the valley after the 1911 earthquake dammed a gorgeCredit: Exclusivepix Media
The surface of the lake becomes frozen in winter and draws ice fishing parties
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The surface of the lake becomes frozen in winter and draws ice fishing partiesCredit: Exclusivepix Media
Visitors are able to walk among the trees when the lake freezes over
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Visitors are able to walk among the trees when the lake freezes overCredit: Exclusivepix Media

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The water rarely exceeds six degrees, even at the height of summer
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The water rarely exceeds six degrees, even at the height of summerCredit: Exclusivepix Media
The branches of the trees are now wrapped in weeds after more than a century submerged
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The branches of the trees are now wrapped in weeds after more than a century submergedCredit: Exclusivepix Media
The lake is famed for its astonishing natural beauty and fascinating ecosystem
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The lake is famed for its astonishing natural beauty and fascinating ecosystemCredit: Exclusivepix Media
The 1911 Kebin earthquake that created Lake Kaindy was 7.7 magnitude and killed 452 people. It almost levelled the city of Almaty, which is 80 miles from the lake
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The 1911 Kebin earthquake that created Lake Kaindy was 7.7 magnitude and killed 452 people. It almost levelled the city of Almaty, which is 80 miles from the lakeCredit: Exclusivepix Media
In some parts the 400ft-long lake is nearly 30m deep
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In some parts the 400ft-long lake is nearly 30m deepCredit: Exclusivepix Media
The landscape becomes even more otherworldly when the valley is shrouded in mist or snow
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The landscape becomes even more otherworldly when the valley is shrouded in mist or snowCredit: Exclusivepix Media
The surrounding valley that was key to the formation of the beauty spot can be clearly seen in this aerial photo
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The surrounding valley that was key to the formation of the beauty spot can be clearly seen in this aerial photoCredit: Exclusivepix Media
Amazingly, the trees remain intact. Trees in other submerged forests usually rot or are broken down
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Amazingly, the trees remain intact. Trees in other submerged forests usually rot or are broken downCredit: Exclusivepix Media
The trees poking through the water have been compared to the masts of sunken ships
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The trees poking through the water have been compared to the masts of sunken shipsCredit: Exclusivepix Media

 

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