{{Short description|Lake in Kazakhstan}} {{Infobox body of water | name = Aralsor | other_name = Аралсор | image = Aralsor 2024-08-18-23 59 Sentinel-2 L2A True color.jpg | caption = Sentinel-2 image of Aralsor in 2024 | image_bathymetry = | caption_bathymetry = | location = Caspian Lowland | coords = {{coord|49|04|N|48|11|E|type:waterbody_region:RU|display=inline,title}} | pushpin_map = Kazakhstan | type = endorheic | inflow = Ashchyozek | outflow = | catchment = | basin_countries = Kazakhstan | length = {{convert|34.3|km|sp=us}} | width = {{convert|13|km|sp=us}} | area = {{convert|124|sqkm|sp=us}} to {{convert|200|sqkm|sp=us}} | depth = | max-depth = | volume = | residence_time = | shore = | elevation = {{convert|1.6|m|sp=us}} | islands = | cities = }} '''Aralsor''' ({{langx|kk|Аралсор}}; {{langx|ru|Аралсор}}) is a bittern salt lake group in Bokey Orda District, West Kazakhstan Region, Kazakhstan.<ref name="STMa">{{cite web|url=https://maps.vlasenko.net/smtm1000/m-39.jpg|title=M-39 Topographic Chart (in Russian)|access-date=29 July 2022}}</ref>
The lake lies about {{convert|80|km|sp=us}} to the east of the Russian border, north of the R-97 Highway (Kazakhstan). The road connects Saykyn station of the Volga Railway near lake Botkul with the village of Taipak on the right bank of the Ural River.<ref name="GЕ"/> Salt extraction on an industrial scale is carried out at the lake.<ref name="GSE"/>
==Geography== Lying at the northern edge of the Ryn Desert, east of the Russian border, Aralsor is an endorheic lake group. The main water body is colored pink and is surrounded by a string of smaller lakes and salt pans.<ref>[https://inergency.com/salt-lake-colors-kazakhstan/ Salt Lake Colors, Kazakhstan]</ref> The latter contain clay salt-mud deposits covered with a crust of halite reaching {{convert|0.3|m|sp=us}}. The western and eastern banks of Aralsor are steep and cliff-like in places.<ref name="GSE">[https://bse.sci-lib.com/article067569.html Аралсор]; ''Great Soviet Encyclopedia'' in 30 vols. — Ch. ed. A.M. Prokhorov. - 3rd ed. - M. Soviet Encyclopedia, 1969-1978. (in Russian)</ref>
Flowing from the north, the Ashchyozek is the main river in the area. A short channel connects the end of the river with Aralsor. This channel is periodically dry. The Kamys-Samar Lakes lie to the east.<ref name="GЕ">Google Earth</ref><ref name="GSE"/>
==Flora and fauna== There is desert and steppe vegetation in the terraced flat areas of the Aralsor lakeside cliff-like formations. In the ravines of the shoreline cliffs there are plants such as tamarisk, anabasis, ''Halocnemum'' and winterfat, providing a habitat and breeding ground for the local fauna of small mammals, birds and reptiles.<ref>[https://www.rgo.ru/ru/article/chudo-aralsora-stepnaya-ekspediciya-rgo-obsledovala-unikalnoe-ozero-v-severnom-prikaspii-0 ЧУДО АРАЛСОРА: СТЕПНАЯ ЭКСПЕДИЦИЯ РГО ОБСЛЕДОВАЛА УНИКАЛЬНОЕ ОЗЕРО В СЕВЕРНОМ ПРИКАСПИИ] (in Russian)</ref>
==See also== *List of lakes of Kazakhstan *Pink lake
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *{{commonscat inline}} *[https://www.researchgate.net/publication/342847474_TOURIST_AND_RECREATIONAL_POTENTIAL_OF_THE_SALT_LAKES_OF_WESTERN_KAZAKHSTAN Tourism and recreational potential of the salt lakes of Western Kazakhstan]
{{Lakes of Kazakhstan}} Category:Lake groups of Kazakhstan Category:Endorheic lakes of Asia Category:West Kazakhstan Region Category:Caspian Depression