Shalkar-Yega-Kara

Shalkar-Yega-Kara is a shallow steppe lake near the border between the southern Urals and Kazakhstan. Its principal inflow is the Buruktal, which reaches the basin in spring. In many years the stream fails to reach the lake and the water disappears entirely, leaving the shape of the basin exposed. The lake is a striking example of the great seasonal changes in water across this dry interior.