Qotyrköl: Lakeshore, Forest and Hiking Trail

Qotyrköl is defined by Ozero Kotyrkol’. The lake lies next to the village of Koturkol, 22 kilometres east of Shchuchinsk. Its surface area is approximately 4.6 square kilometres, and its average depth is 4.8 metres. The most convenient way to reach the lake is by car; signposts show the route. Birch and pine forests surround the water and provide a backdrop for walks.

Shore, Water and Beach

The shoreline changes markedly depending on the direction. In the northeast and southeast, the slopes are moderately steep and sandy-clayey. The northwestern shore is low and marshy, while the southwestern shore drops steeply and is rocky. Open water predominates across the lake; reeds and cattails are concentrated mainly along the northwestern shore. The differences are also apparent below the water’s surface: close to shore, the lakebed is firm and sandy-clayey, and in places sandy and rocky. In the central and western areas, it is slightly muddy.

Near the eastern shore, a dry sand spit separates a small section of the lake, where higher salinity and signs of waterlogging occur. The water is described as fresh water; its mineralization is 0.4 g/l and its hardness is 3.9 milligram-equivalents/l. A large sandy beach stretches along the eastern and southern sides and is considered suitable for sunbathing. Swimming in Lake Katarkol is not recommended because its water is considered not entirely clean. As water conditions can change, check the current water quality locally.

Forest and Hiking Trail

The Kotyrkol area has 78 hectares of pure aspen forest within the wider Burabay forest-steppe landscape. Together with the birch and pine forest by the lake, this aspen stand adds another type of forest to the landscape.

A tourist and educational hiking trail starts at the lake and passes through the Bettybulak River area to Dry Pine Forest. The forest trail is 7 kilometres long; the estimated duration is listed as 10 hours. Its stated operating season runs from early April to the end of October and may be updated. Check the current season before setting out. The 7 kilometres refer to the route length, the 10 hours to the estimated duration; the season dates indicate when the trail operates.

Activities at the Lake

Fish named as available to catch in the lake include roach, Prussian carp, common carp, bream and perch. Recreation facilities around the lake offer pools with slides, children’s rope parks, baths, bicycle rentals, horseback rides and winter activities. The S. Seifullin Sanatorium-Prophylactorium, located on Lake Katarkol, offers health and wellness services. The sanatorium on Lake Katarkol offers an indoor pool, a sauna, sports grounds, snowmobile rentals and excursion programmes. Services at individual facilities may change; check current availability before your trip.

Water Balance and Name

Ozero Kotyrkol’ has no outflow and is described as drying up. The former Sarybulak outflow once led to Auliekol. Intensive water extraction for the recreation area and Shchuchinsk also affects the lake’s natural water balance. As hydrological conditions can change, check local conditions before your trip. The lake and the adjacent village were formerly known as Kotyrkol; the older Kazakh form of the name is explained as meaning “wormy lake”.

Discover more destinations: Qysyl-Agasch, Zerenda, Shortandy, Jereimentau, Kökschetau, Vorob'yevka, Stepnogor.

Back to the regional travel overview: Aqmola.