Sonkel

a lake in the Tien-Shan, in the Kirghiz SSR. Lake Sonkel’ covers an area of 278 sq km and has a maximum depth of 22 m. It is located between the Sonkel’tau and Moldotau ranges, at an elevation of 3,016 m. The lake is of tectonic origin. The shores are primarily low, weakly indented, and swampy. A number of small rivers empty into it, and the Sonkel’ River, a right tributary of the Naryn, flows out of it. The lake freezes in late September, and the ice breaks up in late May. [24–533–1 ]