Lake Balkhash (Russ. Ozero Balkhash; Kazakh Balqash Köli, "swamp lake") is a natural lake, situated in a tectonic depression in southeastern Kazakhstan. Since the drying-up of the Aral Sea, Balkhash is the largest lake in Central Asia, with respect to its surface area (18,428 square kilometres). It lies between the Kazakh uplands and the Semirechye ("seven rivers") region. Varying with the lake"s water level, its length measures up to 650 kilometres and its width up to 74 kilometres; its depth averages 5.8 metres and reaches a