Balkhash

Balkhash (Kirghiz Tengis; Chinese Sihai), a great inland lake near the eastern borders of Russian Central Asia, between 44° and 47° N. lat., and 73° and 79° E. long. Lying 780 feet above sea-level, it extends 323 miles WSW.; its breadth at the west end is 50 miles, at the east from 9 to 4 miles; the area is 8400 sq. m. The water is clear, but intensely salt. Its principal feeder is the river Ili. It has no outlet. The northern edge is well defined; but the southern shores of the lake are labyrinths of islands, peninsulas, low sandhills, and strips of shallow water. Here grow masses of enormously tall reeds, in which wild swine shelter. To the south is a vast arid steppe, over much of which the lake once extended. See ASIA.