Lake Markakol

Lake Markakol (Kazakh: Марқакөл, Marqaköl; Russian: озеро Маркаколь, ozero Markakol') is a lake and popular tourist destination in East Kazakhstan. The lake is fed with small rivers and streams. Its coasts are cut up by gulfs. It is the largest lake in the Katonkaragay District of East Kazakhstan Region. Its main outflow is the Kalzhyr, a tributary of the Irtysh. There have been more than 700 species of higher plants recorded in this area.^[1]

Lake Markakol
Марқакөл
Lake Markakol Show map of Kazakhstan Lake Markakol Show map of Asia
Map of the area
Coordinates	48°45′N 85°45′E
Primary inflows	Topolevka, Tikhushka, Elovka, Karabulak, Zhirenka
Primary outflows	Kalzhyr
Catchment area	1,180 km2 (460 sq mi)
Basin countries	Kazakhstan
Max. length	19 km (12 mi)
Max. width	38 km (24 mi)
Surface area	455 km2 (176 sq mi)
Average depth	14 m (46 ft)
Max. depth	30 m (98 ft)
Water volume	6.5 km3 (1.6 cu mi)
Shore length1	~ 100 km (62 mi)
Surface elevation	1,447 m (4,747 ft)
Frozen	Process begins in mid-October, fully frozen by November 20. Ice thickness reaches 60–120 cm (24–47 in)
1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure.

Etymology

The name of Lake Markakol consists of the Turkic words kol- “lake” and mark- "asp (fish)". The lake is also known to be nicknamed "Mark."

History

The first studies on this lake and its surroundings were carried out by K.V. Struve and G.N. Potanin in 1863, after the lake's annexation by the Russian Empire.^[2] In 1976, the lake became part of the newly created Markakol Nature Reserve.^[3]

Geography

The Markakol depression is bordered by the Kurchumsky and Azutau mountain ranges. It connects to the Bobrovskaya depression in the northeast, and the Zaisan valley in the southwest. The lake is longest from northeast to southwest.^[3] It has a pH of 8 ^[4]

Under normal weather conditions, the water in Markakol is clear blue. Although most of the lake freezes over in the winter, the area from which the Kalzhyr River flows does not.^[3]

Fauna

The lake's fish include uskuch (lenok) and Thymallus. There are 258 species of birds present at Lake Markakol. Loons, grebes, ducks, gulls and waders nest in the coastal meadows. In the surrounding forests there are hazel grouse, black grouse, wood grouse and partridges.^[3]

Climate

The climate is continental. During winter, snow falls and air temperatures reach −55 degrees Celsius. The average annual temperature is −4.1 degrees Celsius (lowest in Southern Altai). In summer, the temperature rises to 29 degrees Celsius.^[3]

Gallery

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  The village of Urunkhayka on the east coast of Markakol.