| Sorbulak | |
|---|---|
| Сорбұлақ | |
 View of the lake in October | |
  Sorbulak | |
.jpg) Sorbulak lakeSentinel-2 image (2022) | |
| Location | Karaoi Plateau |
| Coordinates | 43°41′N76°35′E / 43.683°N 76.583°E /43.683; 76.583 |
| Type | endorheic |
| Primary inflows | Kaskelen |
| Basin countries | Kazakhstan |
| Max. length | 33 kilometers (21 mi) |
| Max. width | 10 kilometers (6.2 mi) |
| Surface area | 55 square kilometers (21 sq mi) |
| Max. depth | 22 meters (72 ft) |
| Residence time | UTC+6 |
| Shore length1 | 66 kilometers (41 mi) |
| Surface elevation | 622 meters (2,041 ft) |
| Islands | 1 |
| 1 Shore length isnot a well-defined measure. | |
Sorbulak (Kazakh:Сорбұлақ) is alake inIle District,Almaty Region,Kazakhstan.[1]
The lake lies 40 kilometers (25 mi) NNW ofAlmaty, near theM-36 Highway.[2] Along with a group of neighboring small lakes to the east, it collects sewage and industrial waste from the city. The lake formed in the period between 1975 and 1985, at the time of theKazakh SSR government, following an official decision implemented in 1969.[3][4]
In the 19th century , the lake was called Gorky.[citation needed]
Sorbulak is a lake located at the confluence of theKurty andKaskelen rivers in southeastern Kazakhstan. It lies in a natural hollow 30 kilometers (19 mi) to the WSW of theKapchagay Reservoir. The water is fresh, but with a very high concentration of nitrates. The lake is deep, reaching a maximum depth of 22 meters (72 ft). The bottom of the lake has a 1.5 meters (4 ft 11 in) thick layer of silt containing metals, including iron, copper, zinc, cadmium and lead.[5] There is one small island off the SE shore of the lake. In the second half of the summer Sorbulak becomes brackish owing to high evaporation.
The lake is surrounded bysemidesert and agricultural fields. There are sand dunes near the shore reaching a height of 15 meters (49 ft).[2][6]
In most placesreeds grow along the lakeshore. Sorbulak is anImportant Bird Area for the breeding, migrating and wintering of a number ofwater bird species.[3]
Media related toSorbulak at Wikimedia Commons
