Lake Balkhash

Lake Balkhash

Lake Balkhash, also known as Balkhash Lake, is located in Central Asia, in eastern Kazakhstan. It is an inland glacial barrier lake and the world’s fourth-longest lake. Stretching approximately 605 kilometers from east to west and 8 to 70 kilometers from north to south — with the western part being about 74 kilometers wide — it covers an area of 18,300 square kilometers. Lake Balkhash is one of the very few lakes in the world where saltwater and freshwater each make up about half of the total. Although it is divided into eastern and western parts by a strait, it is defined as a single lake.

The Lake Balkhash basin features abundant carbonate sediments and a diverse range of wildlife. Particularly in the reed beds, there are large populations of gulls, wild ducks, and cormorants, along with many swans, pelicans, pheasants, and partridges. Wild animals include wild boar, wolves, foxes, and hares. The lake is home to 20 species of fish, six of which are endemic, while the rest are farmed, including carp, perch, bream, sturgeon, pike, and ide. Cargo ships operate on the lake. The northern shore is part of the famous copper mining belt, and Balkhash is an important copper smelting center, connected by rail to major cities in Kazakhstan and Central Asia. The southern shore, downstream of the Ili River, has well-developed agriculture and animal husbandry. In 1970, the Kapchagay Hydroelectric Power Station was built on the Ili River. After the reservoir was filled, the hydrological conditions of Lake Balkhash changed significantly. Major lake ports include Burylbaytal and Burlitobe.