Lake Balkhash, << bahl KAHSH >>, is a large lake in the southeastern part of Kazakhstan. The lake lies 1,122 feet (342 meters) above sea level and has an area of 6,670 square miles (17,275 square kilometers). Lake Balkhash is only 6 miles (10 kilometers) wide at the eastern end and 54 miles (87 kilometers) wide at the western end. The water in the western part of the lake is fresh because of the inflow of the Ili River, but there is salt water in the eastern part. Several rivers empty into Lake Balkhash, but the lake has no outlet. Ice covers the lake from November to April.
