The unique Lake Kobeituz in the Akmola region, located 160 km from the capital, will be granted the status of a specially protected natural area on the president's orders, according to the website infohub.kz.
To achieve this, the boundaries of the Buiratau National Park will be expanded to include the lake's water area. Authorities hope this will preserve the lake's unique ecosystem.
At the same time, improvement works will begin around the reservoir. A parking lot and observation deck will be set up along the shore so tourists can enjoy the lake without damaging the coastline. Access to the lake will be restricted during the work.
"Approaching the shoreline and staying in the adjacent area closer than the recommended zone is not permitted. Round-the-clock posts will be set up at the entrances to the lake, and patrols will be provided by police jointly with authorized bodies," the regional akimat said in a statement.
Earlier, specialists studied the lake's water. Analysis showed excessive concentrations of several substances, including ammonia, ammonium nitrogen, chlorides, arsenic, and sulfates. Therefore, swimming in Lake Kobeituz and collecting salt from its shores is prohibited.
Recall that in summer 2025, authorities tightened control over Lake Kobeituz due to tourists collecting salt and selling it online.