Legend about Issyk-Kul

Long time ago there was a magnificent city ruled by a cruel Khan. One day on the shore of the river he caught sight of a beautiful girl, since then he became restless and grew a great desire to take her as his wife. The girl never loved him and rejected him. She asked for help from the city dwellers but no one was there to help her. Khan placed her in the city’s tallest building and promised to free her only if she agrees to marry him. The girl spent her days and nights crying her eyes out and asking the Sky to take pity on her. So she was heard. The river running through the city ran over the banks and flooded the city, and the whole city together with the Khan and a girl, and all indifferent inhabitants went under the water. As for the lake it is now salty like girl’s tears and has a changeable mood. Sometimes it is quiet and gentle as a girl, and sometimes it is cruel as to remind about the tragedy, and some days it is splashing its waves indifferently.

Tranlsated by Elga J.

Illustatrated by Eldana J.