Most of Kazakhstan is endorheic basin (except northern territories). As it is expected, the rivers flow into the numerous lakes in the basin. The most important drainage system is known as Yedisu, meaning "seven rivers" in Turkic languages. Below is the list of more important lakes. Some of these lakes are shared with the neighbouring countries. (Caspian Sea, Lake Aral, Lake Aike, etc.)
| THE LAKE | SURFACE AREA
(in km2) |
SURFACE AREA
(in mi2) |
NOTES |
|---|---|---|---|
| Caspian Sea | 371 000 | 143 250 | |
| Aike | 64.7 | 25 | |
| Alakol | 2650 | 1023 | Bird breeding and nesting ground |
| Aral | 17160 | 6630 | Shrinking due to environmental problems[1] |
| Balkhash | 16996 | 6562 | |
| Bartogay | |||
| Chagan | Artificial lake (Former nuclear test site) | ||
| Issyk[2] | |||
| Jasybay | |||
| Kayindi | |||
| Kamyslybas | 176 | 68 | |
| Markakol | 455 | 175 | |
| Sasykkol | 600 | 232 | |
| Tengiz | 1382 | 534 | Bird breeding and nesting ground |
| Zaysan | 1810 | 700 | |
| Zhasylkol |