Kamyslybas | |
---|---|
Қамыстыбас | |
Location | Kyzylorda Region |
Coordinates | 46°11′59″N 61°47′58″E / 46.199722°N 61.799444°E |
Type | endorheic lake |
Basin countries | Kazakhstan |
Max. length | 30 km (19 mi) |
Max. width | 8 km (5.0 mi) |
Surface area | 176 km2 (68 sq mi) |
Max. depth | 10 meters (33 ft) |
Water volume | ca 980 km3 (240 cu mi) |
Shore length1 | 115.6 km (71.8 mi) |
Surface elevation | 56 meters (184 ft) |
1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure. |
Kamyslybas (Kazakh: Қамыстыбас, Qamystybas) is a large saltwater lake in the Kyzylorda Region, Kazakhstan. It has an area of 176 km2, although the water level in the lake often fluctuates.[1]
The health of lake Kamyslybas is directly affected by the Aral Sea, which experienced increasing salinization and desiccation as the result of excessive and unsustainable expansion of irrigation that have drained both the Syr Darya and the Amu Darya, the other major tributary river, and seriously damaged their deltas. Similarly to attempts to rehabilitate and preserve the lower Amu Darya delta, efforts are also underway to improve lakes such as Kamyslybas and Tushchibas.[2]