Balyktykol (Kazakh: Балықтыкөл; Russian: Балыктыколь)[1] is a lake in Karkaraly District, Karaganda Region, Kazakhstan, one of many lakes by that name.[2]

Balyktykol
Балықтыкөл
Sentinel-2 image of the lake in October 2021
Balyktykol
Location	Kazakh Uplands
Coordinates	49.79°N 75.94°E / 49.79; 75.94
Primary inflows	Ozdenbay
Primary outflows	Taldy
Catchment area	565 km2 (218 sq mi)
Basin countries	Kazakhstan
Max. length	6.5 km (4.0 mi)
Max. width	6.5 km (4.0 mi)
Surface area	42 km2 (16 sq mi)
Max. depth	3.8 m (12 ft)
Residence time	UTC+6

The lake is located 42 km (26 mi) to the NNE of Karkaraly city. The nearest inhabited places are Karabulak 10 km (6.2 mi) to the southeast, Yegindybulak 30 km (19 mi) to the east by Mount Ku, and Koyandy village 25 km (16 mi) to the NW of the northwestern lakeshore.[3] The lake is an Important Bird Area under threat.[4]

Geography

Balyktykol is a heart-shaped lake in the central/eastern Kazakh Uplands. It lies about 20 km (12 mi) to the east of lake Karasor surrounded by low hills. The lakeshores are low and gently sloping in the northwest and in the east, but in the remaining stretches they are rocky, with steep cliffs. There is a 2.5 km (1.6 mi) long and 0.7 km (0.43 mi) wide peninsula in the southeast dividing the southern part into two bays. The bottom of the lake is sand and mud.[3]

The water of Balyktykol is fresh but hard. The lake is fed by snow, rainfall and underground water. The Ozdenbay River flows into the lake from the north and the Taldy River flows out of the NW lakeshore heading towards lake Karasor to the west. The highest water level is in April during the spring floods, and the lowest usually in October. The lake freezes in November and thaws in April.[3][4]

Flora and fauna

There is steppe vegetation around Balyktykol, with wormwood and sedges. In some areas meadows are fringing the banks with fescue, spear grass, Achnatherum splendens and Caragana growing tall. Every year at the lake there is a large concentration of migratory birds. The main fish species in the lake are crucian carp and common bream.[4]

See also

• List of lakes of Kazakhstan

References

External links

• Juri rides to Balyktykol Lake
• Озера и реки Казахстана (in Russian)