Esik

Esik (Kazakh: Есік, also spelled Issyk, Yesik and Yesyk) is a town in Almaty Region of Kazakhstan, the administrative center of Enbekshikazakh District. It is located on the Issyk River, at the foot of the Tian Shan, 53 km east of Almaty and 112 km over the mountains from Issyk Kul Lake. Population: 34,355 (2009 Census results);[1] 31,254 (1999 Census results).[1]

Esik Eсik
Seal
Esik Location in Kazakhstan
Coordinates: 43°21′N 77°28′E
Country	Kazakhstan
Region	Almaty Region
First settled	XIX
Founded	1858
Incorporated (city)	1968
Area
• Total	25.8 km2 (10.0 sq mi)
Elevation	1,214 m (3,983 ft)
Population  (2009)
• Total	34,355
Time zone	UTC+6 (UTC)
Postal code	040400 (town)
Area code(s)	+7 72775
License plate	05, B

It was founded by Cossacks in 1858 as stanitsa Nadezhdinskaya. The Issyk kurgan of the famous "Golden Man" is nearby.

A cataphract-style parade armour from gold scales of Sakas' King found in Issyk in Kazakhstan in 1970[2]

The nearby Issyk Lake (not to be confused with the much greater Issyk Kul Lake in Kyrgyzstan) is mostly famous for the way it was created (as a result of an ancient natural landslide damming a valley), destroyed (another natural landslide destroying that dam in 1963, with a subsequent damage to the city of Esik as well), and re-created (with human help).