| Lake Manych-Gudilo | |
|---|---|
| Lake Manych Gudilo, as seen from space. | |
| Location | Kalmykia |
| Lake type | saline |
| Primary outflows | Sea of Azov (via the West Manych River) |
| Basin countries | Russia |
| Surface area | 344 km² |
| Average depth | 0.6 m |
| Surface elevation | 8 m[1] |
Lake Manych-Gudilo (Russian: Ма́ныч-Гуди́ло) is a large saltwater reservoir lake in Kalmykia, Russia. Part of the lake lies also in Rostov Oblast and Stavropol Krai. It has an area of about 344 km² and average depth of only about 0.6 m.[2]
Lake Manych-Gudilo is the source of the West Manych River, which flows north-west, through a number of reservoirs, falling into the lower Don a short distance upstream from Rostov-na-Donu and the Don's fall into the Sea of Azov.
Temperatures in the region through the year can range from -30°C in winter to 40°C in summer. The area is also home to many species of birds and is the site of the Chernye Zemli Biosphere Reserve.[3][4][5]
A global sea level rise of roughly 25 metres would cause the ocean surface to be higher than the highest point of an area between the ocean and the Caspian, forming a narrow channel straddling the lake in the area between the Sea of Azov and the Caspian Sea, potentially placing the Caspian Depression area under water.[6][7]
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