Kanas Lake

{{Short description|Lake in Xinjiang, China}}

{{Infobox body of water

| name = Kanas Lake

| native_name ={{native name|zh-Hans|喀纳斯湖}}

| other_name = {{unbulleted list|{{Langx|mn|Ханас нуур}}|{{Langx|ug|قاناس كۆلى}}|{{Langx|kk| Қанас көлі}}}}

| image = Lake Kanas.jpg

| caption =

| image_bathymetry =

| caption_bathymetry =

| location = Xinjiang, China

| coords = {{coord|48|48|54|N|87|02|24|E|region:CN-65_type:waterbody|display=inline,title}}

| type =

| inflow =

| outflow = Kanas River

| catchment =

|pushpin_map=China Xinjiang Northern

| basin_countries = China

| length =

| width =

| area = {{convert|45.73|km2|abbr=on}}

| depth = {{convert|120|m|abbr=on}}

| max-depth = {{convert|188.5|m|abbr=on}}

| volume =

{{convert|5.49|km3|cumi|abbr=on}}

| residence_time =

| shore =

| elevation = {{convert|1,340|m|abbr=on}}

| frozen =

| islands =

| cities =

}}

Kanas Lake ({{zh|c=喀纳斯湖|p=Kānàsī Hú}}, Xiao'erjing: كَانَاسِ خٗ; Mongolian: Ханас нуур; {{Langx|ug|قاناس كۆلى|Qanas köli}}, {{small|UYY:}} {{Langx|ug-latn|Ⱪanas köli|label=none}}, {{small|USY:}} {{Langx|ug-cyrl|Қанас Көли|label=none}}) is a lake in Altay Prefecture, Xinjiang, China. The lake is located in a valley in the Altai Mountains, near the very northern tip of Xinjiang and the autonomous region's borders with Russia, Kazakhstan and Mongolia. The lake was formed around 200,000 years ago during the Quaternary period as a result of glacier movement. The crescent moon shaped lake has an estimated water storage capacity of 53.8 billion cubic meters, coupled with an average depth of around 120 meters.{{Cite web|url=http://www.silk-road-china.com/hanas.htm|title =Hanas(Kanas) Natural Sight Region Reserve|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070305200617/http://www.silk-road-china.com/hanas.htm |archive-date=5 March 2007 |url-status=usurped}}

The Kanas River, flowing out of the lake, later merges with the Hemu River to form the Burqin River, which itself discharges into the Irtysh River at Burqin Town, the county seat of Burqin County.

There is a large population of ethnic Tuvans and Kazakhs in the Kanas valley. While most of these people have maintained their traditional agricultural and nomadic life styles, many work in the developing tourism industry and have established facilities for orienteering, hiking, rafting, rock climbing, paragliding and camping.{{Cite web|url=http://www.china.com.cn/travel/txt/2009-03/12/content_17427946_4.htm|title = 地址不存在}}{{Cite web |url=http://outdoor.lotour.com/x/20080424/n306090.shtml |title=感受东方的瑞士风情：喀纳斯户外探险全攻略_户外运动_乐途旅游网 |access-date=2011-07-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111216162212/http://outdoor.lotour.com/x/20080424/n306090.shtml |archive-date=2011-12-16 |url-status=dead }} The scenic spot is classified as a AAAAA scenic area by the China National Tourism Administration.{{cite web|url=http://en.cnta.gov.cn/html/2008-11/2008-11-16-10-27-72978.html |date=16 November 2008 |title=AAAAA Scenic Areas |work=China National Tourism Administration |access-date=9 April 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140404043021/http://en.cnta.gov.cn/html/2008-11/2008-11-16-10-27-72978.html |archive-date= 4 April 2014 }}