Kazakhstan has reclaimed Lake Teke, a rare bitter-saline lake in the north of the country, restoring it to state ownership, according to Caspian News. The lake, valued at approximately $53.1mn (KZT 26.7bn), was officially returned following legal intervention by the Prosecutor’s Office of the North Kazakhstan region.
Authorities revealed that in 2020, local executive bodies had granted subsoil use rights for salt extraction in Lake Teke under a contract covering 21,500 hectares.
This agreement also included a land lease for the water body. However, despite the termination of the subsoil use contract in 2022, the lease remained in effect for over two years, violating Kazakhstan’s Land Code.
The Prosecutor’s Office found that the business entity involved continued to appear in official registries as an active subsoil user, even after its contract had been annulled. This was a breach of the country’s Code on Subsoil and Subsoil Use.
Legal action was taken, and through pretrial procedures, the land lease agreement was unilaterally terminated. Officials responsible for the oversight faced disciplinary measures, and the lake was officially reinstated as state property.
Lake Teke, located in the Ualikhanov District, spans 260 square kilometers, making it larger than the city of Petropavl. Despite its size, the lake is shallow, with depths ranging from 0.5 to one meter depending on the season. It is fed mainly by snowmelt and underground water, with 37 seasonal streams flowing into it.
Beyond its economic and ecological significance, Lake Teke is an important habitat for migratory birds such as demoiselle cranes and gray cranes. The lake’s waters contain Artemia salina, a species that signals ecological purity, while natural salt deposits form along its rugged shores.
Lake Teke also holds cultural and historical value. Local legends recount warriors using its waters and mud for healing, and the lake has long been regarded as sacred. Residents continue to respect its traditions, refraining from littering or consuming alcohol near its shores.
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