喀納斯是蒙古語，意為“美麗富饒、神秘莫測”，喀納斯湖位於新疆布爾津縣境北部，距縣城180公里，湖面海拔1374米，面積44.78平方公里，是一個座落在阿爾泰深山密林中的高山湖泊，比著名的博格達天池整整大10倍，湖水最深處達196米左右。湖面碧波萬頃，群峰倒影，湖面還會隨着季節和天氣的變化而時時變換顏色，是有名的“變色湖”。喀納斯湖呈彎月形，湖東岸為彎月的內側，沿岸有6道向湖心凸出的平台，使湖形成井然有序的6道灣。每一道灣都有一個神奇的傳說。其中第一道灣的基岩平台有一個巨大的羊背石，恰似一隻卧羊昂首觀湖；三道灣的觀湖台，是賞湖上落日的最佳地點；當旭日東昇或夜幕降臨時，乘船或站在第四道灣平台上探尋湖心秘密，運氣好的話還可能看到時隱時現的神秘“湖怪”。

北端的入湖三角洲地帶，大片沼澤濕地與河灣小心灘共存，地形平坦開闊，各種草類與林木共生，一派生機勃勃的景象。喀納斯湖上端，有湖心島浮於水面，四周皆森林茂密，湖水碧綠純凈。環湖四周原始森林密布，陽坡被茂密的草叢覆蓋，每至秋季層林盡染，景色如畫。這裡是我國唯一的南西伯利亞區系動植物分布區，生長有西伯利亞區系的落葉松、紅松、雲杉、冷杉等珍貴樹種和眾多的樺樹林、已知有83科298屬798種。有獸類39種，鳥類117種，兩棲爬行類動物4種，昆蟲類300多種。喀納斯湖水中生長的有哲羅鮭、細鱗鮭、江鱈、阿爾泰鱘、西伯利亞斜鯿等珍稀魚類。特別是哲羅鮭，體長可達2--3米，重達百十公斤，因魚體呈淡紅色而被稱為大紅魚.

Kanas Lake (also known as Kanas Nature Reserve) is actually a freshwater lake which lies in Altay ranges, in Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. It is a must see for its intoxicating beauty.

The lake covers an area of 45.73 sq.m. (54.69 sq. yd.) and is ten times as large as the Heavenly Lake in Bogeda. It reaches an average depth of 120 m. - 393 ft. (the deepest point can be 188.5 m. - 618 ft.) and the storage capacity is 5.38 billion cubic meters.

Literally, Kanas means "beautiful, fertile and mysterious" in Mongolian language which defines clearly and accurately the enchanting scenery of Kanas Nature Reserve.

The color of the lake changes with each season, so its also named the colored lake. The lake takes the shape of a moon and composes of six bays formed by six platform each having a beautiful legend. The lofty mountains are reflected in the boundless expanse of green water.