Tuzkol, Raiymbek District

Tuzkol (Тұзкөл) is a high-altitude salt lake in Raiymbek District, Almaty Region, Kazakhstan.

The lake lies 70 km east of Kegen, near the road to Narynkol. The nearest village is Karasaz, 14 km to the WNW.

Geography
Tuzkol is a lake located at 1959 m in the upper course of the Charyn river in southeastern Kazakhstan. It lies in the intermontane basin of the Eltchin-Buyryuk and Karatau ranges, north of the Tien Shan. The lake is shallow and its water is bittern salty, with a concentration that can become very high in certain seasons owing to high evaporation.

The lakeshore is flat and marshy and the bottom of the lake is muddy. The surrounding fields are a local livestock grazing area following the melting of the snows.

Flora and fauna
In some stretches reeds grow along the lakeshore. Tuzkol is a 3194 ha Important Bird Area for the breeding, migrating and wintering of a number of water bird species, including the ruddy shelduck and the common crane.