On February 11, 2023, the Almaty Management University organized the III ice lake crossing through the Balkhash lake as part of the project «Great Balkhash is calling!»  

Balkhash has a history of 35,000 years.  The fact that it is now becoming shallower is depressing. There is a risk that the Balkhash Lake may repeat Aral Lake’s fate. In fact, Balkhash is a unique lake – it is half fresh water and half salt water. The mission of the project is to contribute to the preservation of Balkhash, attracting public attention to the ecology of this unique lake.  

Assylbek Kozhakhmetov, ideologist of the project and President of AlmaU, told about the history of the project:  

«At that time, I was studying in the DBA program in Moskow. Those who were educated there made an annual hike to Baikal.  I was also invited every year. Only in 2018, I was lucky to join to the Baikal project.  I liked everything. The team from Kazakhstan took the first place in the same year. After returning home, I decided to create a project related to Balkhash Lake. And in 2019, the first ice crossing took place. Since then, we have organized the ice lake crossing every year, only in the years of the pandemic we had to take a break. We hope that now this initiative will become a tradition. This is an informal, self-funded project. The budget of the state is not needed. The most important thing is that people like it».  

General Director of the World Class Sports Club, project participant Valikhan Ten shared the reason for his continuous participation in the project:  

«I am a weightlifter, an athlete. What can I do for Ecology? All I can do is allocate funds for events, organize garbage collection. By participating in the ice crossing, I protest against the merciless attitude towards nature. Therefore, I am ready to go to Balkhash every year».  

Marzhan Dairabayeva was studying for a master's degree at the AlmaU branch in Astana. She came from Oskemen to contribute to this project.  

«I reached the finish line. Right now, I have a lot of energy in me.  I was glad to take part in the ice lake crossing and walk along the ice of Lake Balkhash. I am also glad that AlmaU, where I am educated, pays attention to environmental issues.  At this university, topical issues are always taken into account, students like that they are asked questions and work for a specific goal».   

One of the active participants in the project, Sokol Karabalin, holding the torch of the Winter Universiade 2017 in his hands, conquered the ice with the flags of the countries of Kazakhstan and Turkey. 

«It was my personal initiative. I decided to support the fraternal people. When the participants saw the red flag of the Turkic country, everyone immediately supported them. Obviously, it is not easy for the Turkish people now. May their flag always fly in the sky, and Long live their people!».  

The first ice crossing was attended by 50 people.  In 2020, they reached 100. And the number of participants in the III ice lake crossing is 120. It is gratifying that the number of people who are not indifferent to the fate of the lake is growing from year to year.