| Karakaska | |
| Other Name: | Қарақасқа |
| Coords: | 52.7375°N 75.1383°W |
| Pushpin Map: | Kazakhstan |
| Catchment: | 205km2 |
| Length: | 4.5km (02.8miles) |
| Width: | 4km (02miles) |
| Area: | 11.6km2 |
| Shore: | 13km (08miles) |
| Elevation: | 93.2m (305.8feet) |
| Islands: | no |
Karakaska (Kazakh: Қарақасқа; Russian: Каракаска) is a salt lake in the Aktogay District, Pavlodar Region, Kazakhstan.[1]
The lake lies 54km (34miles) to the southwest of Aktogay, the district capital. The area surrounding the lake is used for livestock grazing.[2]
Karakaska is an endorheic lake of the Ishim Plain, at the southern end of the West Siberian Plain. It is part of the Irtysh river basin. The lake lies at an elevation of 93m (305feet). The Irtysh flows 56km (35miles) to the northeast of the lake.[1]
Karakaska has a roughly triangular shape. Most of the shore is flat and low, but stretches of the northern and southern parts are rocky, with 4m (13feet) to 5m (16feet) high cliffs. The lake usually dries in the summer, turning pink before drying out.[2] [3]
There are a number of other lakes in its vicinity, such as Taikonyr 33km (21miles) to the east, Shyganak 49km (30miles) to the west, Zhalauly 65km (40miles) to the WNW, Sholaksor 75km (47miles) to the southwest, and Zhamantuz 22km (14miles) to the NNE. 6km (04miles) to the southwest lies a cluster of four smaller lakes: Karkaraly, Koybagar, Bastuz and an unnamed one.[4] [1] [3]
Karakaska is surrounded by steppe vegetation. It is known as a "dead lake" (Kazakh: тұйық көл) in Kazakh. No fish live in its waters. The water of the lake is not suitable for watering cattle.[4]
