Lake Balqash
lake in southeastern Kazakhstan
Lake Balkhash (Kazakh: Balqash kóli) is located in Kazakhstan. It is one of the largest lakes in Asia and 15th largest in the world.
| Lake Balkhash Балқаш Көлі Озеро Балхаш | |
|---|---|
 View from Space, April 1991 | |
 Map of the Lake Balkhash drainage basin | |
| Location | Kazakhstan |
| Coordinates | 46°10′N 74°20′E / 46.167°N 74.333°ECoordinates: 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 |
It belongs to a Central Asian endorheic basin shared by Kazakhstan, China, and Kyrgyzstan. Water moves from the basin to Balqash via seven rivers. The most important one is the Ili River. Water in the Ili River comes from melted snow from the mountains of China's Xinjiang.