Zhumbaktas

A mysterious rock in the middle of Lake Boroboe in Northern Kazakhstan. Legend has it that the army of Ablai Khan took an Oirat princess captive and forced her to marry a Kazakh warrior. She fell deeply in love with one warrior but the others were jealous. So she said that she would marry the man who could shoot to the top of a rock outcrop near the lake. All failed the first time, but her love hit it on the second try. The rivals killed him so she flung herself in the lake and became Zhumbaktas (Mysterious Stone).

This photo was taken on the Spring Equinox in March from the top of the rock outcrop and it was still cold enough that you could walk out to Zhumbaktas on the ice.