Lake Markakol
Lake in Kazakhstan
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Lake Markakol (Russian: озеро Маркаколь; Kazakh: Марқакөл, romanized: Marqaköl, pronounced [mɑrqɑkɵ́l]) 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 Location within Kazakhstan  Lake Markakol Location within Asia | |
 Map of the area | |
| Coordinates | 48°45′N 85°45′E |
| Topolevka, Tikhushka, Elovka, Karabulak, Zhirenka | |
| Kalzhyr | |
| 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
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
The village of Urunkhayka on the east coast of Markakol.
