Lake Balkhash

Lake Balkhash is a massive body of water located in southeastern Kazakhstan.

It is situated in the eastern part of Central Asia within the Balkhash-Alakol Basin. This basin is an endorheic basin, which means it is a closed system. In such a system, water flows into the basin but does not flow out to any ocean. This makes the lake one of the largest in Asia and the 15th largest in the world. The lake sits in the deepest part of a vast depression. This depression formed as a sloping trough between mountains and an older geological block.

The lake is unique because it is split into two distinct sections. The Saryesik Peninsula, which means "Yellow Door" in Kazakh, divides the water.

These two parts are connected by the Uzynaral Strait. The strait is 3.5 kilometers wide and about 6 meters deep. The western half is relatively shallow and contains fresh water. It covers 58% of the total surface area but only 46% of the total volume. The eastern half is much deeper and contains saline, or salty, water. The average depth of the eastern basin is 16 meters, while the maximum depth reaches 26 meters. The water in the west has a yellow-gray tint, while the east can look bluish or emerald-blue.

Water enters the lake through several different river systems. The Ili River is the most significant source. It provides between 73% and 80% of the total inflow. The Ili River begins in the mountains of China's Xinjiang region. Its flow is largely driven by vernal snowmelt, which is snow that melts in the spring.

The Karatal River is the second-largest source of water. Other rivers, such as the Aksu and Lepsy, also contribute to the lake. The lake also receives some water from underground sources. However, the lake is losing water through evaporation and human use. In the year 2000, total inflow was 22.51 cubic kilometers per year. Total losses, mostly from evaporation, reached 24.58 cubic kilometers per year.

Historically, the region around Lake Balkhash has seen many different cultures. The name "Balkhash" comes from Tatar, Kazakh, and Southern Altai words meaning "tussocks in a swamp." As early as 103 BC, Chinese records referred to the area as the Bugu, Buku, or Busu polity. From the 8th century, the land south of the lake was known as Jetisu, or "Seven Rivers." This was a place where nomadic Turks and Mongols met settled peoples. In 1759, the lake marked the northwestern limit of Qing suzerainty. Later, the Treaty of Tarbagatai in 1864 ceded the area to the Russian Empire. Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, the lake became part of Kazakhstan.

The lake's size has changed significantly over time. In 1910, the lake's area was estimated at 23,464 square kilometers. By 1946, the area had shrunk by nearly one third to 15,730 square kilometers. Much of this shrinking is due to the diversion of water for human needs. For example, the Kapshagay Hydroelectric Power Plant was built on the Ili River in 1970. The reservoir used by this plant changed the balance of water reaching the lake. Between 1970 and 1987, the water level fell by 2.2 meters. There is also concern that climate change and desertification will affect the lake further. These factors can lead to a loss of water and changes in the local ecosystem.

People living near the lake rely on it for their livelihoods. The city of Balkhash is the largest shore city, with about 66,000 inhabitants.

Local economic activities include fishing, mining, and ore processing. The landscape around the lake is varied. The western and northern shores are high and rocky, made of granite, schist, and limestone. The southern shores are low and sandy, often containing many water pools.

You can also see industrial sites near the water.

The lake contains 43 islands, including the large Tasaral and Basaral islands. As water levels lower, new islands can actually form.

The climate at Lake Balkhash is continental, which means it has large temperature changes. The average mean temperature is about 24 degrees Celsius, but January averages -14 degrees Celsius. The area is quite dry, with only 131mm of precipitation per year. This dryness causes a high evaporation rate. The lake freezes every year from November until early April. The wind can be strong, creating waves up to 3.5 meters high. These winds also create steady clockwise currents in the western part of the lake. Understanding these complex systems helps scientists study how large lakes respond to environmental changes.