Shagyrkol and Mamyrkol lakes


Country/territory: Kazakhstan

IBA criteria met: A1, A4i, A4iii (2013)
For more information about IBA criteria, please click here

Area: 1,875 hectares (18.75 km2)

Association for the Conservation of Biodiversity in Kazakhstan
IBA conservation status
Year of assessment (most recent) State (condition) Pressure (threat) Response (action)
2015 very poor high not assessed
For more information about IBA monitoring, please click here


Site summary

The Sypsynagashsky latitude hollow is located within the Terseksko-Adayevsky plateau; it stretches for 160 km from a hilly plateau of Zauralye to meridional Turgaysky hollow and it is represented by a pene-accumulative gently sloping and undulating plain with absolute heights of 180-230 m (Gvozdetsky, Nikolaev). From the North and the South it is framed with clayey plains of the Zapadno-Turgaysky plateau (Terseksko-Adayevsky - from the North and Ulkayaksky - from the South). The hollow is characterized by weak cutting-in, undulating and gently slopes, a plenty of closed drainless lake depressions of boil (suffosion) origin and short Karasy.

The ground is located in a drainless area of Tobol-Turgaysky interfluve. The slopes and the bottom of the Sypsynagashsky hollow are drained only by short seasonal waterways, most of them get completely dried up after short spring floods. Lakes are filled with of snowmelt runoff, therefore long-term fluctuations are observed depending on moisture supply of certain years, and summer evaporation causes seasonal changes of water level.

Shagyrkol Lake is a small and come-at-able lake, located among extensive agricultural fields. It is bordered by beginning in 50 m from the coastline wheat fields from all sides, except for east. A flat low relief of coasts and abundant overgrowing of the lake with reed are typical here.

Hydrological characteristics of the water body: Its area is about 2,5 ͯ 2,5 km, extension of the coastline is about 10 km, depth less than 2 meters. The typical surface vegetation is Fragmites (australis), Carex spp.

Mamyrkol Lake – is small and come-at-able. It is situated in the middle of extensive agricultural grounds. Crops of grains (wheat) are located on each side of the lake, except for east (in 50 km from the coastline). The lake is covered ploadostadions, and abundantly is overgrown with reed. The adjacent territories are flat.

Hydrological characteristics of the water body: the area is about 1,2 x 0,8 km, extension of the coastline is about 4 km, depth less than 2 meters; the type of water filling is permanent. The typical surface vegetation is Fragmites (australis), Carex spp.


Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Shagyrkol and Mamyrkol lakes (Kazakhstan). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/shagyrkol-and-mamyrkol-lakes-iba-kazakhstan on 25/12/2024.