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August 2, 2026 - A Summertime View of Lake Balkhash
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The crescent-shaped Lake Balkhash is one of the largest lakes in Asia and the fifteenth-largest on Earth. Located in desert-dry eastern Kazakhstan just north of the Tian-Shan mountains, Lake Balkhash remains a lake due to the inflow of several rivers, especially the Ili River which pours fresh water and sediment into the western end. The spectacular lake supports habitat for 20 species of fish, 120 species of birds, and 60 plant species.
The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Terra satellite acquired this true-color image of Lake Balkhash on July 31, 2026.
This mid-summer view shows milky-toned sediment and, most likely, phytoplankton blooming through most of the lake. The color is lightest on the western end, where the Ili River widens into a delta. The water remains the bluest at the eastern end where two small rivers, the Aksu and Lepsy, flow into the lake. West of these two rivers is the Karatal River, which also creates a small delta as it meets Lake Balkhash.
Image Facts
Satellite:
Terra
Date Acquired: 7/30/2026
Resolutions:
1km (123.3 KB), 500m (332.5 KB), 250m (391.1 KB)
Bands Used: 1,4,3
Image Credit:
MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC
The crescent-shaped Lake Balkhash is one of the largest lakes in Asia and the fifteenth-largest on Earth. Located in desert-dry eastern Kazakhstan just north of the Tian-Shan mountains, Lake Balkhash remains a lake due to the inflow of several rivers, especially the Ili River which pours fresh water and sediment into the western end. The spectacular lake supports habitat for 20 species of fish, 120 species of birds, and 60 plant species.
The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Terra satellite acquired this true-color image of Lake Balkhash on July 31, 2026.
This mid-summer view shows milky-toned sediment and, most likely, phytoplankton blooming through most of the lake. The color is lightest on the western end, where the Ili River widens into a delta. The water remains the bluest at the eastern end where two small rivers, the Aksu and Lepsy, flow into the lake. West of these two rivers is the Karatal River, which also creates a small delta as it meets Lake Balkhash.
Image Facts
Satellite:
Terra
Date Acquired: 7/30/2026
Resolutions:
1km (123.3 KB), 500m (332.5 KB), 250m (391.1 KB)
Bands Used: 1,4,3
Image Credit:
MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC
