Balkhash, Lake

Lake in eastern Kazakhstan, the eastern half of which is salty, and the western half fresh; area 17,400 sq km/6,715 sq mi. Lake Balkhash is 600 km/375 mi long and is fed by several rivers, including the Karatal, Lepsy, and Ili, but has no outlet. It is very shallow, especially in the east, particularly since the 1970s with the diversion of water from the Ili for irrigation and hydroelectric power generation. The lake is frozen throughout the winter (November–mid-April); it has become increasingly saline and polluted through industrial activity, especially copper mining and smelting. There are a number of shipyards located at the mouth of the rivers flowing into the lake.