Earth Equity News

Central Asia's 2nd Largest Lake Under Threat. By Robin Forestier-Walker, Al Jazeera, August 24, 2009. "Lake Balkhash is partially saline and comparatively shallow at around six meters deep on average. Given its large surface area of 18,000sq km, it is extremely sensitive to reduced inflow of fresh water which is vital to balance the effects of evaporation. Stretching for over 500km in an east-west arc, the lake is home to hundreds of bird and fish species. Balkhash belongs to a string of lakes which play an important role in helping to regulate Kazakhstan's largely arid climate... The drop appears to show that the lake has receded by up to two meters in the past five years. And in shallow areas of the lake, that regression could be even greater. The UN acknowledged in 2004 that Balkhash was threatened by upstream extraction of water in Kazakhstan and China, largely for irrigation. China is developing the region of Xinjiang, which borders Kazakhstan. Tens of thousands of Chinese have been resettled and new dams are being built. International initiatives do exist to try to encourage sustainable use of water resources on the Ile Balkhash Basin."