Excluding the northernmost districts, Kazakhstan consists of endorheic basins, where rivers flow into one of the numerous lakes. The most important drainage system is known as Yedisu, meaning "seven rivers" in Turkic languages. Below is the list of the more important lakes, some of which are shared (Caspian Sea, Lake Aral, Lake Aike, etc.) with the neighbouring countries.
| Lake name | Surface area | Region | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Caspian Sea | 371,000 square kilometres (143,244 sq mi) | Atyrau Region, Mangystau Region | The Caspian Sea is the world's largest enclosed body of water. |
| Alakol | 2,650 square kilometres (1,023 sq mi) | Almaty Region | Bird breeding and nesting ground |
| Aral | 17,160 square kilometres (6,626 sq mi) | Shrinking owing to environmental problems[1] | |
| Aralsor | 200 square kilometres (77 sq mi) | West Kazakhstan Region | Pink lake |
| Ashchykol | 74 square kilometres (29 sq mi) | Kyzylorda Region / Turkistan Region | Main lake of the Ashchykol Depression |
| Ayke | 64.7 square kilometres (25 sq mi) | Aktobe Region | |
| Azhibeksor | SW of Lake Tengiz[2] | ||
| Balkhash | 16,996 square kilometres (6,562 sq mi) | Almaty Region, Karagandy Region, Jambyl Region | |
| Balyktykol | 9.2 square kilometres (4 sq mi) | Abai Region | |
| Bartogay | Almaty Region | Reservoir on the Chilik River | |
| Bolshoy Azhbulat | Pavlodar Region | ||
| Chagan | Artificial lake (Former nuclear test site) | ||
| Issyk | 0.22 square kilometres (0 sq mi) | Almaty Region | Not to be confused with Issyk Kul Lake in Kyrgyzstan |
| Jasybay | 4 square kilometres (2 sq mi) | Pavlodar Region | One of the lakes of the Bayanaul Range |
| Karasor | 154 square kilometres (59 sq mi) | Karaganda Region | |
| Kayindi | Almaty Region | ||
| Kamyslybas | 176 square kilometres (68 sq mi) | ||
| Kapchagay | also spelled Qapshaghay Bogeni Reservoir | ||
| Koksengirsor | 46.3 square kilometres (18 sq mi) | North Kazakhstan Region | Has local economic importance |
| Kopa | 14 square kilometres (5 sq mi) | Akmola Region | |
| Markakol | 455 square kilometres (176 sq mi) | ||
| Sasykkol | 600 square kilometres (232 sq mi) | Almaty Region | Surface can reach 736 square kilometres (284 sq mi) |
| Shalkarteniz | 1,800 square kilometres (695 sq mi) | Aktobe Region | |
| Shureksor | 80 square kilometres (31 sq mi) | Pavlodar Region | |
| Tengiz | 1,382 square kilometres (534 sq mi) | Akmola Region | Bird breeding and nesting ground |
| Toraigyr | 0.88 square kilometres (0 sq mi) | Pavlodar Region | One of the lakes of the Bayanaul Range |
| Tuzkol | 13.5 square kilometres (5 sq mi) | Pavlodar Region | Salt lake in Bayanaul District |
| Ulken-Karoy | 305 square kilometres (118 sq mi) | North Kazakhstan Region | |
| Zaysan | 1,810 square kilometres (699 sq mi) | ||
| Zerenda | 11.9 square kilometres (5 sq mi) | Akmola Region | |
| Zhaksykylysh | 74.5 square kilometres (29 sq mi) | Kyzylorda Region | Table salt mining site |
| Zhasylkol | 1 square kilometre (0 sq mi) | Almaty Region |
See also
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- ^ Kazakhstan government is trying to rescue the northern part of the lake
- ^ "Äzhibeksor Köli". Mapcarta. Retrieved 25 May 2017.