It is assumed that Lake Balkhash was discovered even before our era by the Chinese, who maintained close ties with the tribes of Central Asia. This people gave him the unusual name "Si-Hai", which in translation sounds like "Western Sea". Over the centuries-old history of its existence, the reservoir has been renamed by the Turks more than once: first into "Ak-Dengiz", and then into "Kukcha-Dengiz". The Kazakhs limited themselves to a simpler name - "Tengiz" (sea). The first major expeditions to these places began in the middle of the 18th century.
Where is Lake Balkhash
The sights are located in the east of Kazakhstan, 400 km from Karaganda. It occupies 3 regions of the country at once - Karagadinsky, Almaty and Zhambyl. The reservoir is surrounded by two large sandy massifs. On the southern side it is surrounded by the low Chu-Ili mountains, and in the west there is a picturesque steppe with small hills. There are several towns and villages on the shore - Balkhash, Priozersk, Lepsy, Chubar-Tyubek. Desired coordinates: latitude - 46 ° 32'27 "s. sh., longitude - 74 ° 52'44 "in. etc.
The most convenient way to get to the place is from Karaganda and Astana. From these cities there are buses and trains to the station. Balkhash. Travel time is about 9 hours. You cannot reach the coast by car, parking near the water is prohibited.
Description of attraction
The word "Balkhash" is translated into Russian as "bumps in the swamp". The lake is of natural origin, it appeared as a result of uneven subsidence of the Turan plate and the flooding of the formed depressions, presumably in the second period of the Cenozoic era. There are many small islands and two large ones - Basaral and Tasaral. Considering Lake Balkhash as waste or endless, it is more correct to choose the second option, because it does not have a drainage system.
The basin, according to scientists, is characterized by an uneven bottom with large elevation differences. In the western part, between Cape Korzhyntubek and Tasaral Island, the deepest depth is 11 m.In the east, this figure rises to 27 m.On one side of the coast, there are rocks 20-30 m high, and on the other, they are relatively uniform, no higher than 2 m Because of this, water often flows out of the basin. So many small and large bays were formed.
Balkhash ranks second after the Caspian Sea in the list of enduring salt lakes in the world. It is also the largest in Kazakhstan.
Here are a few more characteristics of the reservoir:
- the total volume does not exceed 120 km²;
- the area is approximately 16 thousand km²;
- height above sea level - about 300 m;
- dimensions of Lake Balkhash: length - 600 km, width in the western part - up to 70 km, and in the east - up to 20 km;
- there are 43 islands, of which it grows over the years due to a decrease in the water level in the basin;
- the coastline is very uneven, its length is at least 2300 km;
- rivers flowing into the lake - Lepsi, Aksu, Karatal, Ayaguz and Ili;
- the salinity of water in the east does not exceed 5.2%, and in the west it is fresh;
- food is supplied by groundwater, glaciers, snow and rain.
The fauna of the lake is not very diverse, only 20 species of fish live here. For industrial purposes, they catch carp, bream, pike perch and asp. But the birds were more fortunate - these places were chosen by about 120 species of birds, some of which are listed in the Red Book. The flora that attracts botanists is also quite diverse.
What makes the place unique
Of interest is the fact that the lake consists of two basins, radically different due to the characteristics of the water. Since they are separated by an isthmus 4 km wide, they do not touch each other. Because of this, difficulties arise in determining the type of reservoir, salty or fresh, therefore Lake Balkhash is referred to as semi-freshwater. No less interesting is the fact that the degree of water mineralization differs sharply in the two parts.
Geographers and botanists are also surprised by the geographic location of the reservoir, because the continental climate, dry air, low rainfall and lack of drainage did not contribute to its emergence.
Weather features
The climate in this area is typical for deserts; it is very hot in summer, in July the air can warm up to 30 ° C. The water temperature is slightly lower, 20-25 ° C, and is generally suitable for swimming. In winter, the time of frost comes, sharp cold snaps up to -14 ° C are possible. Water usually freezes in November, and the ice melts closer to April. Its thickness can be up to a meter. Due to the low amount of precipitation, droughts are quite common here. Strong winds often blow here, causing high waves.
An interesting legend about the appearance of the lake
The origin of Lake Balkhash has its own secrets. If you believe an old legend, then in these places once lived a rich magician Balkhash, who really wanted to marry his beautiful daughter. To do this, he summoned the best candidates for the girl's heart from different parts of the world. It should have gone to a strong, handsome and rich guy. Of course, the sons of the Chinese emperor, the Mongol khan and Bukhara merchants could not lose this opportunity. They came to visit with numerous generous gifts in the hope of good luck. But one young man, a simple shepherd, did not hesitate to come penniless, and, as luck would have it, it was he who liked the bride.
Karatal, that was the name of the young man, took part in the battle and won the battle honestly. But the girl's father was not happy about this and, very indignant, expelled him. The bride's heart could not stand this, and at night Ili left her father's house together with her chosen one. When her father found out about the escape, he cursed both and they became two rivers. Their waters rushed along the slopes of the mountains, and so that they never met, the sorcerer fell between them. From intense excitement, he turned gray and turned into this very lake.
Environmental problems of the reservoir
There is an acute problem of an active decrease in the volume of Lake Balkhash due to the increased intake of water from the rivers flowing into it, especially from the Ili. Its main consumer is the people of China. Ecologists say that if this continues, the reservoir could repeat the fate of the Aral Sea, which has completely dried up. The metallurgical plant of the city of Balkhash is also dangerous, the emissions of which pollute the lake and cause irreparable damage to it.
Where can you stay
Since the reservoir is prized for its recreational opportunities, there are many places on its shore where you can stay in comfort. Here are just a few of them:
- recreation center "Swallow's Nest" in Torangalyk;
- city dispensary in Balkhash;
- hotel complex "Pegas";
- boarding house "Gulfstream";
- hotel "Pearl".
We advise you to read about Issyk-Kul Lake.
The cost of accommodation in a standard room without treatment and meals is approximately 2500 rubles per day for two. Vacation at tourist centers is the cheapest. Sanatoriums near Lake Balkhash are chosen when there are health problems.
Entertainment and leisure for guests
Fishing is very popular here, which is allowed at specialized bases. Among the visitors, there are also many who like to hunt a pheasant, a hare or a wild duck. The season usually opens in September and lasts until winter. It is also possible to catch wild boars with a dog.
In the warm season, people come here mainly for beach vacations and scuba diving to take beautiful photos. Among the entertainment available are jet skis, catamarans and boats. Snowmobiling and skiing are popular in winter. On the territory of hotels and sanatoriums there are:
- table tennis;
- pool;
- billiards;
- horse rides;
- sauna;
- cinema;
- bowling;
- gym;
- playing paintball;
- bike rides.
Near Lake Balkhash there is all the necessary infrastructure - a hospital, pharmacies, shops. The deserted coast was chosen by "savages" who come here with tents. Overall, this is a great place to stay!
