Lake Markakol

Lake Markakol (Марқакөл, Marqaköl; 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.

Etymology
The name of Lake Markakol consists of the Turkic words kol- “lake” and mark- "asp (fish)". The lake is also known to be nicknamed "Mark."

History
The first studies on this lake and its surroundings were carried out by K.V. Struve and G.N. Potanin in 1863, after the lake's annexation by the Russian Empire. In 1976, the lake became part of the newly created Markakol Nature Reserve.

Geography
The Markakol depression is bordered by the Kurchumsky and Azutau mountain ranges. It connects to the Bobrovskaya depression in the northeast, and the Zaisan valley in the southwest. The lake is longest from northeast to southwest. It has a pH of 8

Under normal weather conditions, the water in Markakol is clear blue. Although most of the lake freezes over in the winter, the area from which the Kalzhyr River flows does not.

Fauna
The lake's fish include uskuch (lenok) and Thymallus. There are 258 species of birds present at Lake Markakol. Loons, grebes, ducks, gulls and waders nest in the coastal meadows. In the surrounding forests there are hazel grouse, black grouse, wood grouse and partridges.

Climate
The climate is continental. During winter, snow falls and air temperatures reach −55 degrees Celsius. The average annual temperature is −4.1 degrees Celsius (lowest in Southern Altai). In summer, the temperature rises to 29 degrees Celsius.