Zyuratkul

Reservoir in Chelyabinsk Oblast, Russia

For the protected area, see Zyuratkul National Park.

Zyuratkul
Зюраткуль / Йөрәккүл
View of the Zyuratkul ridge from the shore of lake Zyuratkul
Zyuratkul is located in Chelyabinsk Oblast Zyuratkul Zyuratkul Location in Chelyabinsk Oblast, Russia Show map of Chelyabinsk Oblast Zyuratkul is located in Russia Zyuratkul Zyuratkul Zyuratkul (Russia) Show map of Russia
Location	Southern Urals
Coordinates	54°55′0′′N 59°12′0′′E / 54.91667°N 59.20000°E / 54.91667; 59.20000 ^[1]
Primary inflows	Bolshoy Kyl
Primary outflows	Bolshaya Satka
Catchment area	179 km² (69 sq mi)
Basin countries	Russia
Max. length	10 km (6.2 mi)
Max. width	2 km (1.2 mi)
Surface area	178 km² (69 sq mi)
Average depth	3.4 m (11 ft)
Max. depth	12 m (39 ft)
Surface elevation	724 m (2,375 ft)
Frozen	October to May
Islands	none

Zyuratkul (Russian: Зюраткуль; Bashkir: Йөрәккүл) is a freshwater lake in Satkinsky District, Chelyabinsk Oblast, Russia.^[2]

The name "Zyuratkul" comes from the Bashkir "yöräk/kul" (йөрәк/күл), meaning "heart/lake".^[3]

In 1993 the Zyuratkul National Park, a protected area, was established in the lake and its surroundings.^[4]

Geography

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The lake lies at 724 m (2,375 ft) above mean sea level, being one of the highest lakes of the Southern Urals. It is located about 5 km (3.1 mi) to the south of the small mountain range named after it. Its southern shore stretches at the feet of the northern slopes of the larger Nurgush range.^[5] Previously, in its natural state, the lake was smaller and surrounded by swamps. After WWII a dam was built and the new reservoir doubled the surface area of the ancient lake.^[6]

The water of Zyuratkul is not as clear as is normal in high-altitude lakes. The reason is that the inflowing watercourses originate in swamps. The Bolshaya Satka, a left hand tributary of the Ay, is the outflow of the lake.^[2]

Map of the lake area.

Winter scene in the lake.