Lake Yalchik

Lake Yalchik
Frozen Smaller Yalchik
Location	Mari El
Coordinates	56°00′40″N 48°24′30″E / 56.01111°N 48.40833°E / 56.01111; 48.40833Coordinates: 56°00′40″N 48°24′30″E / 56.01111°N 48.40833°E / 56.01111; 48.40833
Type	karst
Basin countries	Russia
Surface area	Greater Yalchik: 128.5 ha (317.5 acres) Smaller Yalchik: 53.6 ha (132.4 acres)
Average depth	Greater: 7.89 m (25.9 ft) Smaller: 8.7 m (29 ft)
Max. depth	Greater: 28.8 m (94 ft) Smaller: 32.0 m (105.0 ft)
Water volume	Greater: 10,439 m³ (13,654 cu yd) Smaller: 2,580 m³ (3,375 cu yd)
Shore length1	Greater: 9,460 m (10,350 yd) Smaller: 5,590 m (6,110 yd)
Surface elevation	Greater: 88.4 m (290 ft) Smaller: 89.8 m (295 ft)
Islands	no
Settlements	Yalchevsky
1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure.

Lake Yalchik (Russian: Яльчик, Meadow Mari: Ялчык, Jalčik) is the largest lake in Mari El, Russia, located in the Marii Chodra national park. Lake Yalchik plays a major role in tourism in region and several tourist centres are located here. It is renowned locally for its clean and warm water.

Lake Yalchik is a system of two lakes, the Greater and Smaller Yalchiks, which are linked by a channel which periodically dries up in summer. The elevation of Smaller Yalchik is higher than that of Greater Yalchik, but flow from Smaller Yalchik can only be observed at spring tide. The area of the lake is increasing due to the karst processes that shape the area. Legend says that the lake appeared after the major collapse of a meadow, which was originally in the location of the lake. The last major collapse occurred in 1914 and it generated a tsunami-like wave. At the bottom of the lake there are two series of karst caves, 1,600 meters (5,200 ft) and 1,200 meters (3,900 ft) long, and up to 30 meters (98 ft) deep.

Greater Yalchik has a complex shape and many bays, whereas Smaller Yalchik has an elongated shape. Smaller Yalchik has two little brooks as inflows, but the Greater Yalchik has none.

According to a local Mari legend the lake is named in honour of national hero Yalche.

There is also a possibility that the name of the lake has Turkic root. Turkish diminutive suffix is -chik, and yalchik means small yal where yal means village in the Chuvash. Turkish influence could also be seen in the name of the region Mari El, as el means country. Also many of the locations in Marii El have the jär/yer endings, which in Turkish means place.

Being popular for its unique nature, Yalchik attracts many tourists, mostly from Kazan. However, there are no beaches at the lake, and the most of its coastline is covered with reed. Many tourists reach Yalchik by own cars, but a significant number of them use a railway. The closest station to Yalchik is in the settlement of Yalchevsky.