| Zharman | |
|---|---|
| Жарман | |
 Sentinel-2 image of the lake | |
  Zharman | |
| Coordinates | 51°35′N64°27′E / 51.583°N 64.450°E /51.583; 64.450 |
| Type | endorheic |
| Catchment area | 1,860 square kilometers (720 sq mi) |
| Basin countries | Kazakhstan |
| Max. length | 12.8 kilometers (8.0 mi) |
| Max. width | 7 kilometers (4.3 mi) |
| Surface area | 56.9 square kilometers (22.0 sq mi) |
| Max. depth | 1.5 meters (4 ft 11 in) |
| Residence time | UTC+6 |
Zharman (Kazakh:Жарман)[1] is asalt lake inNaurzum District,Kostanay Region,Kazakhstan.[2]
Zharman is part of the main lake group of theNaurzum Nature Reserve, a 191,381 hectares (472,910 acres) protected area established in 2009.[3][4] The village ofKaramendy, former Dokuchayevka, is located 8 kilometers (5.0 mi) to the west, andShili village 12 kilometers (7.5 mi) to the east of the lake. Now abandonedNaurzum village is located near the southern lakeshore.[5]
Zharman is a shallow salinesteppe lake. It lies at the bottom of a vast depression of theTurgay Basin,[6] between lakesSarymoin andZharkol to the north, andAksuat to the south. LakeZhaksybay lies 55 kilometers (34 mi) to the west. The coastline is very indented, with multitude of bays and peninsulas. Shores are sandy and the bottom is muddy. Meadows near the shore are a seasonal grazing ground for local cattle.[7][5]
The lake is fed by spring snows and rainwater. In the summer it breaks up into a cluster of separate lakes, and in years of drought Zharman may dry up. However, in years of good rainfall its level may rise significantly, connecting with Sarymoyyn and Zharkol lakes to the north and becoming a single body of water with a surface of over 100 square kilometers (39 sq mi).[7]
Typha andPhragmites reeds grow on the northern lakeshore.Fescue,gorse,wormwood,sedges and tall grasses cover the floodplain of the lake. Zharman is a stopover ofbird migratory routes, with species such asswans,cranes,flamingos,geese andducks finding a temporary habitat in the lake during their yearly migration. Among the fish species in the lake, the most abundant are thecrucian carp and theperch.[7]
Media related toZharman at Wikimedia Commons
