Lake Balkhash is a true gem of Kazakhstan, recognized as the largest endorheic body of water in the country and the second-largest non-drying water basin in the world, surpassed only by the Caspian Sea. This unique lake is notable for its striking contrast: the western part is filled with fresh water, while the eastern section is dominated by salty water that has a distinctly marine taste. A narrow strait and a peninsula located in the middle of the lake prevent the waters from mixing.
Situated in the southeastern part of the republic, Lake Balkhash is nestled within the Balkhash-Alakol Basin, approximately 400 kilometers from the city of Karaganda. The lake is bordered by four regions of Kazakhstan: Almaty, Zhambyl, Zhetysu, and Karaganda. Its shape resembles an elongated crescent, narrowing in the middle where the small Uzynaral strait and the Saryesik peninsula are located. The shoreline of Lake Balkhash stretches nearly 2,400 kilometers, with the lake itself extending 605 kilometers in length and varying in width from 9 to 34 kilometers. The maximum depth of the lake reaches 26.5 meters, and its total area exceeds 18,000 square kilometers.
The northern shores of the lake are characterized by high, rocky cliffs, while the southern banks are much lower and covered with dense reed beds. The winding coastline is rich with bays and inlets, and there are several islands within the lake, the largest of which are Basaral and Tasaral.
The primary source of water for the lake is the Ili River, which originates from the glaciers of the Tian Shan mountains and flows into the western part of the lake. On the eastern side, several smaller rivers, including Karatal, Aksu, and Lepse, also feed into the Balkhash basin. The lake has no outflows, and its water level can fluctuate significantly depending on the snow thickness in the mountains and the rate of evaporation from the surface.
Lake Balkhash is classified as a semi-freshwater body; its western part contains relatively fresh and murky water with a yellow-gray hue, which is actively used for drinking and industrial purposes. In contrast, the eastern section is saltier and clearer, exhibiting a stunning emerald-blue color.
The history of Lake Balkhash spans thousands of years. It is first mentioned in ancient chronicles from China and Kazakhstan. The lake is situated in the deepest part of the Balkhash-Alakol Basin, which formed as a result of the tectonic subsidence of the Turan Plate, later filled with river sediments.
In addition to the basin, the system of faults in the Dzhungar Alatau includes the lakes Sassykkol, Alakol, and Ebi-Nur, which also emerged from the ancient Khankhai Sea that once inundated the entire depression. Approximately 30,000 to 35,000 years ago, this sea completely vanished from the Earth’s surface, leaving behind several lakes, including Balkhash.
The lake was known to the Chinese as “Xi-hai,” or “Western Sea,” a name that appeared in a geographical atlas from 1855. At that time, the Kalmyks and Dzhungars referred to the body of water as “Balkhash-Nor,” while eastern ethnic groups, such as the Turks and Mongols, who classified all geographic features west of their territory as “white,” named the lake “Ak-Dengiz,” meaning “White Sea.”
