Sorbulak

Sorbulak (Kazakh: Сорбұлақ) is a lake in Ile District, Almaty Region, Kazakhstan.[1]

Sorbulak
Сорбұлақ
View of the lake in October
Sorbulak is located in Kazakhstan
Sorbulak
Sorbulak
Sorbulak lake Sentinel-2 image (2022)
LocationKaraoi Plateau
Coordinates43°41′N 76°35′E
Typeendorheic
Primary inflowsKaskelen
Basin countriesKazakhstan
Max. length33 kilometers (21 mi)
Max. width10 kilometers (6.2 mi)
Surface area55 square kilometers (21 sq mi)
Max. depth22 meters (72 ft)
Residence timeUTC+6
Shore length166 kilometers (41 mi)
Surface elevation622 meters (2,041 ft)
Islands1
1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure.

The lake lies 40 kilometers (25 mi) NNW of Almaty, near the M-36 Highway.[2] Along with a group of neighboring small lakes to the east, it collects sewage and industrial waste from the city. The lake formed in the period between 1975 and 1985, at the time of the Kazakh SSR government, following an official decision implemented in 1969.[3][4]

In the 19th century , the lake was called Gorky.

Geography

Sorbulak is a lake located at the confluence of the Kurty and Kaskelen rivers in southeastern Kazakhstan. It lies in a natural hollow 30 kilometers (19 mi) to the WSW of the Kapchagay Reservoir. The water is fresh, but with a very high concentration of nitrates. The lake is deep, reaching a maximum depth of 22 meters (72 ft). The bottom of the lake has a 1.5 meters (4 ft 11 in) thick layer of silt containing metals, including iron, copper, zinc, cadmium and lead.[5] There is one small island off the SE shore of the lake. In the second half of the summer Sorbulak becomes brackish owing to high evaporation.

The lake is surrounded by semidesert and agricultural fields. There are sand dunes near the shore reaching a height of 15 meters (49 ft).[2][6]

Flora and fauna

In most places reeds grow along the lakeshore. Sorbulak is an Important Bird Area for the breeding, migrating and wintering of a number of water bird species.[3]

See also

References
  1. "M-43 Topographic Chart (in Russian)". Retrieved 30 September 2022.
  2. Google Earth
  3. Sorbulak Lake System
  4. Tourism - Lake Sorbulak in Kazakhstan
  5. Factors Affecting Water Quality and the Structure of Zooplankton Communities in Wastewater Reservoirs of the Right-Bank Sorbulak Canal System (South-Eastern Kazakhstan)
  6. Sorbulak Lake System, Kazakhstan - KeyBiodiversityAreas.org


This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.