Lake Khanskoye

Lake Khanskoye
The lake dries up in summertime.
Lake Khanskoye
Location	Yeysky District, Krasnodar Krai, Russia
Coordinates	46°15′N 38°22′E / 46.250°N 38.367°E / 46.250; 38.367
Type	Salt lake
Max. length	19 km (12 miles)
Max. width	7 km (4.3 miles)
Max. depth	1.8 m (5.9 ft)

Lake Khanskoye ("Khan's Lake", Ханское озеро; also Tatar Lake, Татарское озеро) is a salt lake near Yeysk, in Yeysky District, Krasnodar Krai, Russia. The lake is 19 kilometres (12 miles) long and 7 kilometres (4.3 miles) wide. It has a depth of up to 1.8 metres (5.9 ft).

A narrow spit separates it from the eastern shore of the Sea of Azov. It used to be an inlet of the sea and was connected to the Baisug Lagoon. The lake is about 12 times saltier than the neighbouring sea. In a hot summer the lake dries up exposing large deposits of mud which may be used for balneological purposes. Legend has it that one khan of Crimea liked to bathe in the lake's healing waters, hence the name.^[1]

The Khanskoye has several islets with large nestings of great cormorants and Dalmatian pelicans. The shape and configuration of the islets have been changing over the years.