Which lake in Kazakhstan is partly freshwater and partly saline?

Lake Balkhash in Kazakhstan is partly freshwater and partly saline.

A narrow central connection near the Saryesik Peninsula divides the lake into western and eastern sections. The western half is relatively shallow and receives most of the inflow from the Ili River, so its water is nearly fresh. The eastern half is deeper and has less freshwater input, allowing salts to become concentrated through evaporation.

Lake Balkhash is an endorheic lake, meaning that rivers flow into it but no river carries water away. Its principal inflows include the Ili, Karatal, Aksu and Lepsy rivers. The Uzynaral Strait links the two sections, but the restricted exchange helps preserve their strikingly different water chemistry.

The lake’s balance is environmentally fragile. Water diversion, especially from the Ili River, has contributed to falling levels and rising salinity in parts of the lake. Lake Alakol and Lake Zaysan are separate Kazakh lakes, while Lake Tengiz is a different saline lake in the country’s north.