Meshkeysor

Meshkeysor
Мешкейсор
Sentinel-2 image of the lake in May
Meshkeysor
Location	Kazakh Uplands
Coordinates	48°41′06″N68°41′54″E / 48.68500°N 68.69833°E / 48.68500; 68.69833
Type	endorheic
Primary inflows	yes
Primary outflows	none
Basin  countries	Kazakhstan
Max. length	9.5 kilometers (5.9 mi)
Max. width	4.2 kilometers (2.6 mi)
Surface area	33 square kilometers (13 sq mi)
Residence time	UTC+6
Surface elevation	424 meters (1,391 ft)

Meshkeysor (Kazakh : Мешкейсор; Russian : Мешкейсор) is a salt lake in Ulytau District, Ulytau Region, Kazakhstan. ^[1]

Abilzhappas (Kazakh : Әбілжаппас), a wintering settlement (Kystau) ^[2] of Kazakh herders, is located 10 kilometers (6.2 mi) to the northeast of the northern lakeshore. ^[3]

Geography

Meshkeysor is an endorheic lake in the Sarysu basin. The lake has a sinuous shape stretching roughly from east to west, surrounded by salt pans. The lake lies in the middle of the Meshkeysor region, a vast 8,100 square kilometers (3,100 sq mi) area characterized by flat valleys and "melkosopochnik"  [ ru ] low hills. The altitude of this region lies between 400 meters (1,300 ft) and 500 meters (1,600 ft). It is limited by rivers Sary-Kengyr and Sarysu. ^[3]

Lake Meshkeysor is located at the center in a trough of saline young soils and salt marshes. Karasor, a smaller lake, lies 16 kilometers (9.9 mi) to the SSE, and a very large reddish sor 15 kilometers (9.3 mi) to the northeast. Lake Kabyrshakty lies 66 kilometers (41 mi) to the southeast. ^{[4] [1]}

Meshkeysor freezes in November and stays under ice until April. It fills during the spring thaw with a river flowing from the north and another flowing from the southwest. The lake usually dries completely during summer droughts. ^[3]

Flora and fauna

The steppe vegetation of the area is characterized by wormwood and fescue, with junegrass and feathergrass in the banks and higher grounds. In drainless troughs with saline soil there is only wormwood and saltwort. The lake basin is a seasonal grazing ground for local cattle. ^[3]

See also

• Kazakh semi-desert
• List of lakes of Kazakhstan

References

1. "L-42 Topographic Chart (in Russian)" . Retrieved 19 January 2023.
2. Kazakh Culture. Encyclopedic handbook. Almaty: "Aruna Ltd." LLP, 2005 ISBN 9965-26-095-8
3. Nature of Kazakhstan: Encyclopedia / General editor. B. O. Jacob. - Almaty: "Kazakh Encyclopedia" LLP, 2011. T.Z. - 304 pages. ISBN 9965-893-64-0 (T.Z.), ISBN 9965-893-19-5
4. Google Earth

External links

• Media related to Meshkeysor at Wikimedia Commons