Lake Teletskoye

Infobox lake
lake_name = Lake Teletskoye
Altyn-Köl
image_lake = Teletskoe ozero yug.jpg
caption_lake = The southern bank
image_bathymetry =
caption_bathymetry =
location = Altai Republic
coords = coord|51|31|45|N|87|42|53|E|type:waterbody_region:RU|display=inline,title
type =
inflow = Chulyshman River (70 rivers and 150 temporary streams)
outflow = Biya River
catchment =
basin_countries = Russia
length = 78 km (48 mi)
width = 5 km (3 mi)
area = 233 km² (90 sq mi)
depth =
max-depth = 325 m (1,066 ft)
volume = convert|40|km3|cumi|abbr=on
residence_time =
shore =
elevation = 434 m (1,424 ft)
islands =
cities =

Lake Teletskoye ( _ru. Озеро Телецкое, Altay: unicode|Алтын Кӧл, "Altyn-Köl", literally: "Golden Lake") is the largest lake in the Altay Mountains and the Altai Republic, Russia. It is one of 25 deepest lakes in the world, having a depth of up to 325 meters. [cite web
url=http://eng.altai-republic.ru/modules.php?op=modload&name=Sections&file=index&req=viewarticle&artid=27&page=2&POSTNUKESID=ab67941ce5fa86c867f631280ccd065fThe
title=Altai Reserve
publisher=altai-republic.ru
accessdate=2007-07-31]

Situated at a height of 434 m (1,424 ft) above sea level, the lake is 78 km (48 miles) long and 5 km (3 mi) wide and lies between the mountain ridges Korbu and Al-tyntu, on the junction of Sailughem Mountains and Western Sayans. Its surface area is 233 km² (90 sq mi); however, due to its considerable depth (325 m, 1,066 ft), the lake contains no less than 40 km³ (15 sq mi) of fresh water. Annual water level fluctuations are estimated at some 348 sm. The lake transparency is high, with the visibility of the lake water ranging from six to fourteen meters.

About 70 rivers and 150 temporary streams flow into the lake, the largest of them, Chulyshman River, supplying more than half of the lake's water. The lake is drained through a single outlet, the Biya River, which, after its confluence with the Katun River, forms one of Siberia's largest rivers, the Ob River.

The lake is surrounded by mountains of 600-1,300 m in the northern part and about 1,700-2,400 m (5,600 - 7,900 ft) in the southern part. Lake Teletskoe is included into Altaisky Nature Reserve. That reserve along with the Katun Natural Reserve and the Ukok Plateau Nature Refuge were listed as one of UNESCO World Natural Heritage Sites under the name "Golden Mountains of Altai". [cite web
url=http://www.pacificenvironment.org/article.php?list=type&type=83
title=Altai - Pearl of Siberia
publisher=
accessdate=2006-11-30 ]

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