Bulunkul
Bulunkul is a shallow, freshwater lake in Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Province, in southeast Tajikistan, about 130 km east of the provincial capital of Khorugh. Lying in the upper Gunt valley of the Pamir Mountains, it has an area of 3900 ha with a maximum depth of 6 m. Dense vegetation covers much of its surface. It is 1.5 km from a similar lake, Yashilkul, both of which are surrounded by other wetlands as well as sand and pebble plains.
| Bulunkul | |
|---|---|
| Булункӯл | |
Bulunkul Location in Tajikistan | |
| Location | Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Province |
| Coordinates | 37°43′10″N 72°57′20″E |
| Catchment area | 179 km2 (69 sq mi) |
| Basin countries | Tajikistan |
| Surface area | 3,900 ha (9,600 acres) |
| Max. depth | 6 m (20 ft) |
It forms part of the Bulunkul and Yashilkul lakes and mountains Important Bird Area. The lake was stocked with 37 000 gibel carp in 1967.
The village of Bulunkul is known as one of the coldest inhabited places in Central Asia with a record minimum temperature of -63 degrees Celsius.
The lake and village of Bulunkul are featured in a short environmental film by the United Nations University.