Kalatuz

Kalatuz (Kazakh: Қалатұз) is a salt lake in Akkuly District, Pavlodar Region, Kazakhstan.

The lake lies 47 kilometers (29 mi) to the NNW of Akkuly, the district capital, and about 55 kilometers (34 mi) southeast of Pavlodar, the regional capital. The lake water is not suitable for watering livestock.

Name

The lake was originally called Lake Yamysh by the Kalmyks, being derived from the Turkic word yam, while the Russians called it Yamyshev. After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, it was renamed Lake Kalatuz, meaning "much salt" in Kazakh.

History

The lake was likely a station in the Mongols' yam postal system. After the founding of the Russian city of Tobolsk, the lake was used to supply salt to the city.

Geography

Kalatuz is part of the Irtysh basin. It lies in a tectonic depression of the Kulunda Plain close to the Irtysh, only 4 kilometers (2.5 mi) northeast from its channel. It is located about 46 kilometers (29 mi) to the SSW of lake Maraldy and 30 kilometers (19 mi) to the WNW of lake Borly.

The shores are mostly sloping and on the northern and southern sides there are sections with up to 6 meters (20 ft) high cliffs. Several small rivulets flow into the lake, but there is no outflow. The lake does not freeze in winter owing to high salinity.