Shalkar-Yega-Kara (Russian: Шалкар-Ега-Кара) is a lake in Orenburg Oblast, Russian Federation.

Shalkar-Yega-Kara
Шалкар-Ега-Кара
Panorama of the lake
Shalkar-Yega-Kara is located in Orenburg Oblast
Shalkar-Yega-Kara
Shalkar-Yega-Kara
Shalkar-Yega-Kara is located in Russia
Shalkar-Yega-Kara
Shalkar-Yega-Kara
LocationSouthern Trans-Urals
Coordinates50°49′N 61°0′E / 50.817°N 61.000°E / 50.817; 61.000
Typeendorheic
Primary inflowsBuruktal
Catchment area497 square kilometers (192 sq mi)
Basin countriesRussia
Max. length11 kilometers (6.8 mi)
Max. width10 kilometers (6.2 mi)
Surface area96.6 square kilometers (37.3 sq mi) to 65.9 square kilometers (25.4 sq mi)
Average depth1 meter (3 ft 3 in)
Shore length196 kilometers (60 mi)
Surface elevation298 meters (978 ft)
IslandsNone
SettlementsSvetly
1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure.

The lake is located in the Svetlinsky District, close to the Kazakhstan–Russia border. Svetly village lies close to the northern shore of the lake.[1][2]

Geography

edit

Shalkar-Yega-Kara is the largest lake in Orenburg Oblast. It is an almost round, shallow lake located at the bottom of a bowl-shaped depression in the steppe. Its shores are very gently sloping. Smaller lake Kayrankol lies to the north of its northeastern end. The only river feeding its waters is the Buruktal during the spring season, but in most years it doesn't reach the lake and the Shalkar-Yega-Kara dries completely up.[3][4]

The Kazakhstan–Russia border runs barely 100 meters (330 ft) to the south of the southern shore. Lake Ayke is located about 30 kilometers (19 mi) to the northeast, on the other side of the Kazakh border.[4]

 
Shalkar-Yega-Kara and Ayke lakes ONC map section.

Fauna

edit

The main fish species in the Shalkar-Yega-Kara is the crucian carp. In the years where the Buruktal flows and fills the lake, perch, carp, ide and roach are also found. Certain spots of the lakeshore provide a breeding ground for terns, Dalmatian pelicans and Great cormorants.[2]

See also

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ "M-41 Topographic Chart (in Russian)". Retrieved 8 August 2022.
  2. ^ a b Water of Russia - Шалкар-Ега-Кара
  3. ^ Lake Shalkar-Ega-Kara
  4. ^ a b Google Earth
edit