Meshkeysor


Meshkeysor is a salt lake in Ulytau District, Ulytau Region, Kazakhstan.
Abilzhappas, a wintering settlement of Kazakh herders, is located to the northeast of the northern lakeshore.

Geography

Meshkeysor is an endorheic lake in the Sarysu basin. The lake has a sinuous shape stretching roughly from east to west, surrounded by salt pans. The lake lies in the middle of the Meshkeysor region, a vast area characterized by flat valleys and low hills. The altitude of this region lies between and. It is limited by rivers Sary-Kengyr and Sarysu.
Lake Meshkeysor is located at the center in a trough of saline young soils and salt marshes. Karasor, a smaller lake, lies to the SSE, and a very large reddish sor to the northeast. Lake Kabyrshakty lies to the southeast.
Meshkeysor freezes in November and stays under ice until April. It fills during the spring thaw with a river flowing from the north and another flowing from the southwest. The lake usually dries completely during summer droughts.

Flora and fauna

The steppe vegetation of the area is characterized by wormwood and fescue, with junegrass and feathergrass in the banks and higher grounds. In drainless troughs with saline soil there is only wormwood and saltwort. The lake basin is a seasonal grazing ground for local cattle.