TOURIST AND RECREATIONAL POTENTIAL OF THE SALT LAKES OF WESTERN KAZAKHSTAN

Abstract

The purpose of our research is to assess the potential and conditions for the development of health tourism based on the therapeutic mud of salt lakes of West Kazakhstan. Using classical methods of hydrological and hydrogeological research, the certification of mineral waters and therapeutic mud (raps and peloids) of the lakes Inder, Aralsor, Alzhansor, Hakisor, Sorkol, Bolshoy Sor, was carried out and the qualitative components of the raps and mud of these lakes were investigated. The analysis of the obtained data showed that a strongly sulphide salinized class of mud prevails in the two lakes studied: the Inder and the Alzhansor (Elton type). The Aralsor and Lake Hakisor are characterized by a sulphide weakly alkaline class (Karachi type). The mud of salty Lake Sorkol (Medvezhinsky type) and the Bolshoy Sor (Cheder type) belongs to the class of weakly sulphide. The expediency of sanatorium-resort and medical-health tourist use of studied salt lakes has been revealed.

Keywords

• lakes
• raps
• mud
• hydromineral resources
• balneology
• physicochemical properties
• west kazakhstan