In the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation (MWRI) of Kazakhstan today, on April 26, 2024, it was explained why the water level sharply rose in Lake Balkhash.
On the eve of April 25, the official representative of the ministry, Moldir Abdualiyeva, stated that since the beginning of the year, the water level in Lake Balkhash has increased by 15 cm: the average water level on January 1 was 159 cm, and by April 1, this figure reached 174 cm.
It turned out that the sharp increase in the water level in Balkhash occurred because floodwater was directed into the lake.
"This year, a large volume of water flowed through the transboundary Ili River. Thanks to this, it became possible to redirect about 2.3 cubic km of water from the Kapchagay Reservoir to Lake Balkhash," stated the Press Service of the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
The significant volume of water in the Ili River, as explained by the ministry, resulted from floods in Kazakhstan and China.
The ministry noted that monitoring of the water level in Lake Balkhash is carried out at four hydrometric stations:
- The highest water level was recorded at the Saryshagan Hydrometric Station - 210 cm;
- The lowest water level was set at the Karakum Hydrometric Station - 140 cm;
- The water level at the Balkhash Hydrometric Station - 177 cm;
- At the Myneral Hydrometric Station - 167 cm.
