Lake Balkhash

　　Lake Balkhash, also known as Balkhash Lake, is situated in Central Asia, within the eastern region of Kazakhstan. It is an inland glacial barrier lake and ranks as the fourth-longest lake in the world. The lake stretches approximately 605 kilometers from east to west and is 8 to 70 kilometers wide 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 saline and fresh waters each make up roughly half. Although the lake is divided into two parts by a narrow strait, it is geographically considered a single lake.

　　The Lake Balkhash basin features predominantly carbonate sediments and is rich in wildlife. Especially among the reeds, there is a large population of gulls, wild ducks, and cormorants, along with many swans, pelicans, pheasants, and partridges. Mammals in the area 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 navigate the lake, and its northern shore is part of a well-known copper mining belt, with Balkhash serving as a major copper smelting center. The city is connected by rail to other important cities in Kazakhstan and Central Asia. The southern shore, downstream of the Ili River, has a well-developed agricultural and pastoral industry. In 1970, the Kapchagay Hydroelectric Power Station was built on the Ili River, and after the reservoir was filled, the hydrological conditions of Lake Balkhash changed significantly. Major ports on the lake include Burylbaytal and Burlutobe.