Lake Balqash facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lake BalkhashБалқаш Көлі Озеро Балхаш |
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View from Space, April 1991
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Map of the Lake Balkhash drainage basin
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| Location | Kazakhstan |
| Coordinates | 46°10′N 74°20′E / 46.167°N 74.333°E |
| Type | Endorheic, Saline |
| Primary inflows | Ili, Karatal, Aksu, Lepsy, Byan, Kapal, Koksu rivers |
| Primary outflows | evaporation |
| Basin countries | Kazakhstan 85% China 15% |
| Max. length | 605 km (376 mi) |
| Max. width | East 19 km (12 mi) West 74 km (46 mi) |
| Surface area | 16,400 km2 (6,300 sq mi) |
| Average depth | 5.8 m (19 ft) |
| Max. depth | 26 m (85 ft) |
| Water volume | 106 cu mi (440 km3) |
| Surface elevation | 341.4 m (1,120 ft) |
| Frozen | November to March |
Lake Balkhash (Kazakh: Balqash kóli) is a very large lake located in Kazakhstan. It is one of the biggest lakes in all of Asia and ranks as the 15th largest lake in the entire world!
Contents
About Lake Balkhash
Lake Balkhash is part of a special area called a Central Asian endorheic basin. This means that water flows into the lake, but it doesn't flow out to an ocean or sea. Think of it like a giant bathtub with no drain! This basin is shared by three countries: Kazakhstan, China, and Kyrgyzstan.
How Lake Balkhash Gets Its Water
Seven different rivers bring water into Lake Balkhash. The most important of these is the Ili River. The water in the Ili River comes from melted snow high up in the mountains of China's Xinjiang region. This melted snow travels a long way to fill Lake Balkhash.
A Unique Lake
Lake Balkhash is known for being a bit unusual. It's a very long and narrow lake, stretching for about 605 kilometers (376 miles). Because it's an endorheic lake, the water stays within the basin and eventually leaves through evaporation, which is why it's considered a saline (salty) lake.
Images for kids
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This satellite image shows the Karatal River delta where it flows into the lake.
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A view of Lake Balkhash during the spring season in 2008.
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You can see coastal cane plants growing along the shores of the lake.
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A view from the lake of the Balkhash Mining and Metallurgy Plant.
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Lake Balkhash near the city of Priozersk.
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A pier stretching out into Lake Balkhash near Balkhash City.
See also
In Spanish: Lago Baljash para niños
