Bilikol (Kazakh: Билікөл; Russian: Биликоль) is a freshwater lake in the Zhambyl Region, Kazakhstan.[1]

Bilikol
Билікөл
ISS image of Bilikol
Bilikol is located in Kazakhstan
Bilikol
Bilikol
LocationKaratau Mountains
Coordinates43°02′N 70°42′E / 43.033°N 70.700°E / 43.033; 70.700
TypeFluvial lake
Primary inflowsAsa
Primary outflowsAsa
Basin countriesKazakhstan
Max. length18 kilometers (11 mi)
Max. width7.5 kilometers (4.7 mi)
Surface area85 square kilometers (33 sq mi)
Max. depth8 meters (26 ft)
Surface elevation438 meters (1,437 ft)

The lake lies 70 kilometers (43 mi) northwest of the city of Taraz. Its waters are used by the surrounding communities to irrigate crops.[2][3][4]

Geography

edit

Lake Bilikol has a shape that roughly reminds of an hourglass. Lying in a tectonic depression on the northern slope of the Karatau Mountains, it is part of the Talas basin. The Asa river flows through the lake entering it from the east and flowing out from the north. The shores of the lake are sandy in places.[3] Lake Akkol lies 40 kilometers (25 mi) to the north of the northern end of Bilikol.[2][3][4]

Flora and fauna

edit

Reeds grow on the lakeshore. The main fish species found in the lake are carp, common bream and grass carp, among others.[4]

See also

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ "K-42 Topographic Chart (in Russian)". Retrieved 20 October 2022.
  2. ^ a b Google Earth
  3. ^ a b c Асса; Great Soviet Encyclopedia in 30 vols. — Ch. ed. A.M. Prokhorov. - 3rd ed. - M. Soviet Encyclopedia, 1969-1978. (in Russian)
  4. ^ a b c Kazakhstan National encyclopedia / Chief editor A. Nysanbayev - Almaty, "Kazakh encyclopedia" General editor, 1998, ISBN 5-89800-123-9 , Volume II
edit