Merzbacher lake

Lake Merzbacher is a high mountain lake dammed by the Inelchek Glacier, in the eastern part of the central Tien Shan, between the Tengri-Tag and Sary Jaz ridges. It is located at the confluence of the northern and southern branches of the Inylchek Glacier and feeds on meltwater. Water volume - 0.12-0.25 km³. Area - 4.5 km². Altitude above sea level - 3304 m.

The lake is named after the German geographer Gottfried Merzbacher, whose expedition led the discovery of the lake in 1903. Formed at the end of the Little Ice Age (19th century). It has two basins, called upper and lower lakes of Merzbacher, separated by a height of 400 m and 3-4 km of ice river which also bears the name of Merzbacher. The lower, most of the southern lake is bounded by a glacial "dam". Every year (twice a year, in summer and in winter), the lower part flows into the valley of the Inylchek River, completely loses its waters, discharging them in 2-7 days through the channels under the ice. The water flow in the Inylchek river at the time of the discharge can exceed 1000 m³ / s. The breakthroughs often destroy bridges, roads and other structures downstream of the rivers that flow from this lake to the Aksu River in China.