Lake Markakol

Lake Markakol
Марқакөл
Lake Markakol
Lake Markakol
Map of the area
Coordinates48°45′N 85°45′E / 48.750°N 85.750°E / 48.750; 85.750
Primary inflowsTopolevka, Tikhushka, Elovka, Karabulak, Zhirenka
Primary outflowsKalzhyr
Catchment area1,180 km2 (460 sq mi)
Basin countriesKazakhstan
Max. length19 km (12 mi)
Max. width38 km (24 mi)
Surface area455 km2 (176 sq mi)
Average depth14 m (46 ft)
Max. depth30 m (98 ft)
Water volume6.5 km3 (1.6 cu mi)
Shore length1~ 100 km (62 mi)
Surface elevation1,447 m (4,747 ft)
FrozenProcess begins in mid-October, fully frozen by November 20. Ice thickness reaches 60–120 cm (24–47 in)
1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure.

Lake Markakol (Kazakh: Марқакөл, Marqaköl; Russian: озеро Маркаколь, ozero Markakol') is a lake and popular tourist destination in East Kazakhstan. The lake is fed with small rivers and streams. Its coasts are cut up by gulfs. It is the largest lake in the Katonkaragay District of East Kazakhstan Region. Its main outflow is the Kalzhyr, a tributary of the Irtysh. There have been more than 700 species of higher plants recorded in this area.