Lake Alakol

Lake Alakol

Lake Alakol is a salt lake in Kazakhstan, located 180 kilometers east of Lake Balkhash and close to the border of China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. The drainage basin covers an area of approximately 68,700 square kilometers, with the lake itself spanning about 2,650 square kilometers and reaching a depth of around 45 meters. It is fed by the Urdzhar River. The lake’s main water supply comes from the melting snow of the Barkol Mountains, and the Torghai Gayral Grassland experiences relatively high rainfall in spring.

At the same time, due to higher air humidity, Lake Alakol remains mostly shrouded in clouds and mist during this spring season. When summer arrives, the Torghai Gayral Grassland enters its golden tourist season — a time of clear skies, gentle breezes, and lush greenery. On sunny afternoons, locals on the grassland enjoy the fresh air drifting from Lake Alakol and take in the vast expanse of the lake, with two small islets faintly visible through the mist. Sunset is a celebrated feature of Lake Alakol; as the lake water reflects the crimson hues of the setting sun, the vegetation and flowers on the Torghai Gayral Grassland, along with the main peak of the Barkol Mountain — which stands over 3,000 meters above sea level — also turn red, creating a breathtaking scene that has become a famous local attraction.