We headed round the north edge of the lake.

"At this point buried Hero".

Olzhobolt uulu Andash (1827-1907).

In 1847 fought the Kazaks, Kenensary and Noruzbay.

The Suusamyr Too (which we took the short cut through) is granite.

They leave a thick pad of dung which is harvested for fuel.

Which made the people in the car gathering fuel (or whatever) more odd than we thought.

At first we thought the buildings in the foreground were farm buildings.

But no, just a different design of mausoleum.

The local car parts outlet.

H4 headlight bulb was $2.

Change it on the spot and make use of 3G internet.

But we really aren't close.

Next to a ger camp on the shore of the lake.

How to erect a ger!

The higher mountains are that way.

There are roads closed near the end of the lake so we may not be able to follow the loop through the mountains we intended.

An outbreak of bubonic plague  (black death, spread by fleas and marmots). About 250 people in isolation. A high mortality if untreated, less so if treated.

Too salty to drink or wash. A bit chilly for us to swim. Big stones. And a pleasant temperature.

Robert and Clary are almost due north of us, on the other side. About 50 km.

The lake is about 170 km long.

Site of health resorts plus environmental and military abuse during the Russian era.