Karasor Lake (19960)
Kazakhstan, Central Asia
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2007
National site name: Karasor Lake
Central coordinates: Latitude: 49.8667, Longitude: 75.3667
System: freshwater, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 620 to 620
Area of KBA (km2): 371.23264
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: Karasor Lake is situated in the SW part of Karkaralinsky district, 140 km to the east of Karaganda city, 45 km to the north of Karkaralinsk town, and 4 km from Koyandy village. The lake is the largest in the Karasor basin (Saumalkol, Katynkol, Balyktykol etc.). The lake is in lowest part of the depression. Its area is 15,500 hectares, length - 43.5 km, maximum width - 7.3 km (minimum 1.4 km), maximum depth - 2.5 m (average - 1.1 m). The surrounding landscape is hilly steppe.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance that was identified using previously established criteria and thresholds for the identification of Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBAs) and for which available data indicate that it does not meet global KBA criteria and thresholds set out in the Global Standard.
Additional biodiversity: About 5,000 Shelduck concentrate here to moult, and more than 20,000 waterfowl are observed on passage. In total, 68 species of waterfowl, waders, gulls were recorded in 2002-2003. The most common were Podiceps cristatus, Anser anser, Tadorna tadorna, Anas strepera, Anas platyrhynchos, Anas acuta, Anas clypeata, Aythya ferina, Aythya fuligula, Fulica atra, Charadrius dubius, Calidris minuta, Calidris alpina, Gallinago gallinago, Palaropus lobatus, Larus ridibundus, Larus cachinnans, Chlidonias niger, Chlidonias leucopterus.
Habitats
Summary of habitats in KBA: In the lake, there is a great supply of dark mud used for medicine and extracted for sale.
Land use: urban/industrial/transport
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Shrubland | 2 | |
| Wetlands(Inland) | 97 | |
| Grassland | 1 |
Threats
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pollution | Agricultural & forestry effluents | Type Unknown/Unrecorded | Ongoing |
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Annual & perennial non-timber crops | Small-holder farming | Ongoing |
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Livestock farming & ranching | Small-holder grazing, ranching or farming | Ongoing |
| Biological resource use | Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals | Motivation Unknown/Unrecorded | Ongoing |
| Pollution | Garbage & solid waste | Ongoing | |
| Human intrusions & disturbance | Recreational activities | Ongoing |