Karakoin

Karakoin
Қарақойын
Sentinel-2 image of the lake in February
Karakoin is located in Kazakhstan
Karakoin
Karakoin
Coordinates46°09′N 68°38′E / 46.150°N 68.633°E / 46.150; 68.633
TypeSalt lake
Primary inflowsKatagansay and Taldyespe
Catchment area11,800 square kilometers (4,600 sq mi)
Basin countriesKazakhstan
Max. length16.8 kilometers (10.4 mi)
Max. width8.3 kilometers (5.2 mi)
Surface area72.5 square kilometers (28.0 sq mi)
IslandsYes

Karakoin (Kazakh: Қарақойын; Russian: Каракоин) is a salt lake in Ulytau District, Ulytau Region, Kazakhstan.[1]

It is the largest lake in the district. The area around Karakoin is sparsely inhabited. The lake basin is a seasonal grazing ground for local cattle.[2]

Geography

Karakoin is an endorheic lake in the Sarysu basin. It is located in an arid zone at the northern edge of the Betpak-Dala. The western lakeshore is nearly straight and rises abruptly from the lake surface, while the eastern is low, marshy and deeply indented. There are some small islands close to the eastern lakeshore.[3][1]

The lake fills during the spring thaw, with intermittent rivers Katagansay and Taldyespe flowing into it and bringing the lake to reach a surface of 80 square kilometers (31 sq mi) to 90 square kilometers (35 sq mi) in years of abundant snowfall. Usually it almost dries completely in the summer. The bottom of the lake is flat and muddy. The mud is reputed to have medicinal properties.[2]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "L-42 Topographic Chart (in Russian)". Retrieved 19 January 2023.
  2. ^ a b Каракоин; Great Soviet Encyclopedia in 30 vols. — Ch. ed. A.M. Prokhorov. - 3rd ed. - M. Soviet Encyclopedia, 1969-1978. (in Russian)
  3. ^ Google Earth
Stub icon

This Kazakhstan location article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.