HYDRO-MINERAL RESOURCES OF THE ALAKOL BASIN AS A DRIVER OF HEALTH AND WELLNESS TOURISM DEVELOPMENT: A GEOECOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.2298/IJGI260221014TKeywords:
Alakol Basin, hydro-mineral resources, geoecological assessment, health and wellness tourism, tourism geographyAbstract
This paper provides a comprehensive geoecological evaluation of the hydro-mineral resources of the Alakol Basin, interpreted within the framework of sustainable health and wellness tourism development. The lacustrine system, situated in the arid zone of south-eastern Kazakhstan, represents a closed hydrological basin distinguished by comparatively high mineralization, the occurrence of peloid deposits, and marked spatial variability of its hydrochemical regime. The principal objective of the study is to determine the chemical, microbiological, and radiological characteristics of surface waters and bottom sediments within the Alakol Basin, and to assess the implications of recreational pressure for the geoecological stability of the adjacent coastal landscapes. Field surveys undertaken in 2024–2025 involved the collection of 140 samples of water and sediments. Laboratory investigations included macro- and microelement analysis using scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy-dispersive spectroscopy, alongside microbiological and radiological testing conducted in accordance with national sanitary regulations. Statistical data on visitor numbers were further employed to estimate recreational load intensity. The findings reveal moderate to elevated mineralization and the presence of biologically significant elements (Mg, Ca, Na, K, Fe, Ba, Zn, Cu, Cr, and Ni), while concentrations of potentially hazardous metals remain below permissible thresholds. Radiological and microbiological indicators confirm sanitary suitability for recreational use. Nevertheless, excessive visitor pressure contributes to localized ecosystem degradation, underscoring the necessity of environmentally regulated tourism management within the basin.
Article metrics
References
Aktymbayeva, A. S. (2006). Hydroecology of the Alakol group of lakes. Hydrometeorology and Ecology, 2, 161–167. https://journal.kazhydromet.kz/kazgidro/article/view/1092/1105
Amirgaliev, Н., Lopareva, Т., Gogol, L., & Kanagatova, Sh. (2003). Hydrochemical regime of the lakes of the Alakol depression. Hydrometeorology and Ecology, 1, 115–133. https://journal.kazhydromet.kz/kazgidro/article/view/828
Barhoumi, T., Bekri-Abbes, I., & Srasra, E. (2019). Physicochemical characteristics and suitability of curative pastes made of Tunisian clay minerals and thermal waters for use in pelotherapy. Comptes Rendus Chimie, 22(2–3), 126–131. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.crci.2018.11.006
Boros, E., & Kolpakova, M. (2018). A review of the defining chemical properties of soda lakes and pans: An assessment on a large geographic scale of Eurasian inland saline surface waters. PLoS ONE, 13(8), Article e0202205. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0202205
Butler, R. W., & Szromek, A. R. (2019). Incorporating the value proposition for society with business models of health tourism enterprises. Sustainability, 11(23), Article 6711. https://doi.org/10.3390/su11236711
Calin, M. R., Radulescu, I., Ion, A. C., Capra, L., & Almasan, E. R. (2019). Investigations on chemical composition and natural radioactivity levels from salt water and peloid used in pelotherapy from the Techirghiol Lake, Romania. Environmental Geochemistry and Health, 42, 513–529. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10653-019-00382-8
Carretero, M. I., Pozo, M., Martín-Rubí, J. A., Pozo, E., & Maraver, F. (2010). Mobility of elements in interaction between artificial sweat and peloids used in Spanish spas. Applied Clay Science, 48(3), 506–515. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clay.2010.02.016
Coccossis, H., & Mexa, A. (2004). The Challenge of Tourism Carrying Capacity Assessment: Theory and Practice. Routledge.
Dzhetimov, M. А., Mazbayev, O. B., Asubayev, B. K., Yesengabylova, A., & Tokpanov, E. A. (2014). Physical and Chemical Microbiological Analysis of the Therapeutic Mud of “Kossor” Deposit of Alakol Lake. Life Science Journal, 11(5), 217–221. https://www.lifesciencesite.com/lsj/life1105/028_23639life110514_217_221.pdf
Dostay, Zh. D., & Tolganbayeva, S. A. (1997). Assessment of the hydroecological state of the water bodies of the Alakol Depression. In Biological and landscape diversity of the Republic of Kazakhstan (pp. 118–119). Almaty.
Dunets, A., Zhogova, I., & Sycheva, I. (2020). Tourism management in border destinations: regional aspects of sustainable development of protected natural areas. Entrepreneurship and Sustainability Issues, 7(4), 3253–3268. https://doi.org/10.9770/jesi.2020.7.4(45)
Esri Inc. (2023). ArcGIS Pro (Version 3.1) [Computer software]. https://www.esri.com
Gheorghievici, L., Stoica, C. I., Gheorghievici, G. L., Furculescu, C., & Lazăr, V. (2023). Assessment of the Physiological Groups of Bacteria from Salt Lakes and Euxinic Sediments Involved in Sulfur Cycle, Therapeutical Mud Formation, and Regeneration. Biointerface Research in Applied Chemistry, 13(1), Article 44. https://doi.org/10.33263/BRIAC131.044
Google. (n.d.). Google Earth Pro. Retrieved 2025 from https://earth.google.com/
Gössling, S., Scott, D., & Hall, C. M. (2015). Tourism and water. Channel View Publications.
Gössling, S., Scott, D., & Hall, C.M. (2020). Pandemics, tourism and global change: A rapid assessment of COVID-19. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 29(1), 1–20. https://doi.org/10.1080/09669582.2020.1758708
Grafetstätter, C., Gaisberger, M., Prossegger, J., Ritter, M., Kolarž, P., Pichler, C., Tralhamer, J., & Hartl, A. (2017). Does waterfall aerosol influence mucosal immunity and chronic stress? A randomized controlled clinical trial. Journal of Physiological Anthropology, 36, Article 10. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40101-016-0117-3
Erdauletov, S. R. (2012). Tourism equality in Kazakhstan. Almaty.
Hall, D. R. (Ed.). (2004). Tourism and transition: Governance, transformation, and development. Cabi.
Hammer, U. T. (1986). Saline Lake Ecosystems of the World. Springer Science & Business Media.
Ivanišević, G. (1999). Marine remedies of the island of Lošinj-the basis for the development of health and spa tourism. Turizam, 47(2), 132–149. https://www.cabidigitallibrary.org/doi/full/10.5555/19991811525
Jetimov, M., Tokpanov, Ye., Mukhitdinova, R., & Yessengabylova, A. (2025). Geoenvironmental assessment of hydro-mineral recreational resources in the eastern and southeastern parts of the Alakol lakes system. Bulletin of the L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University, 105(4), 91–105. https://doi.org/10.32523/3107-278X-2025-153-4-91-105
Jónás-Berki, M., Csapó, J., Pálfi, A., & Aubert, A. (2015). A Market and Spatial Perspective of Health Tourism Destinations: The Hungarian Experience. International Journal of Tourism Research, 17, 602–612. https://doi.org/10.1002/jtr.2027
Lee, C. F., & King, B. (2010). International competitiveness in hot springs tourism: An application of the analytical hierarchy process approach. Tourism Analysis, 15(5), 531–544. https://doi.org/10.3727/108354210X12889831783233
Liu, M., Huang, M., Zhu, Y., Zhao, L., Tan, H., Zhang, Y., Gao, J., Huang, H., Han, C., Deng, S., & Wu, M. (2025). Hydrochemical characteristics and controlling factors of polder area in Chaohu Lake Basin, China. Scientific Reports, 15, Article 39964. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-23739-9
Maraver, F., Armijo, F., Fernández-Torán, M. A., Armijo, O., Ejeda, J. M., Vázquez, I., Corvillo, I., & Torres-Piles, S. (2021). Peloids as thermotherapeutic agents. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(4), Article 1965. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18041965
McCool, S. F., & Bosak, K. (Eds.) (2016). Reframing Sustainable Tourism. Springer.
Medeu, A., Valeyev, A., Akiyanova, F., Lyy, Y., Issanova, G., & Ge, Y. (2023). Assessment of the vulnerability of the coast of Lake Alakol to modern geomorphological processes of relief formation. Land, 12(7), Article 1475. https://doi.org/10.3390/land12071475
Ministry of Health of the Republic of Kazakhstan. (2023). Ob utverzhdenii Sanitarnyh pravil "Sanitarno-jepidemiologicheskie trebovanija k vodoistochnikam, mestam vodozabora dlja hozjajstvenno-pit'evyh celej, hozjajstvenno-pit'evomu vodosnabzheniju i mestam kul'turno-bytovogo vodopol'zovanija i bezopasnosti vodnyh ob"ektov" (Prikaz No. 26) [On approval of the Sanitary Rules "Sanitary and Epidemiological Requirements for Water Sources, Water Intake Sites for Domestic and Drinking Purposes, Domestic and Drinking Water Supply and Places of Cultural and Domestic Water Use and the Safety of Water Bodies" (Order No. 26)]. https://adilet.zan.kz/rus/docs/V2300031934
Mueller, H., & Kaufmann, E. L. (2001). Wellness tourism: Market analysis of a special health tourism segment and implications for the hotel industry. Journal of Vacation Marketing, 7(1), 5–17. https://doi.org/10.1177/135676670100700101
Mukayev, Zh. T., Ozgeldinova, Zh. O., Ulykpanova, M. M., & Zhanguzhina, A. A. (2024). Geoecological assessment of surface water quality in the recreational zone of lake Alakol. Hydrometeorology and Ecology, 1, 110–120. https://doi.org/10.54668/2789-6323-2024-112-1-110-120
Mukayev, Z. T., Ozgeldinova, Z. O., Janaleyeva, K. M., Ramazanova, N. Y., & Zhanguzhina, A. A. (2020). Assessment of the tourist recreation capacity of Lake Alakol Basin. GeoJournal of Tourism and Geosites, 30(2spl), 875–879. https://doi.org/10.30892/gtg.302spl13-517
Mukayev, Z. T., Ulykpanova, M. M., Ozgeldinova, Z. O., Zhanguzhina, A. A., & Sarsen, A. B. (2023). Evaluation of Recreational Impact on Tourist Territories of East-Kazakhstan. Polish Journal of Environmental Studies, 32(5), 4753–4760. https://doi.org/10.15244/pjoes/168717
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (n.d.). LP DAAC Data Pool. NASA Land Processes Distributed Active Archive Center. Retrieved 2025 from https://lpdaac.usgs.gov/
Niedermeier, M., Grafetstätter, C., Kopp, M., Huber, D., Mayr, M., Pichler, C., & Hartl, A. (2019). The Role of Anthropogenic Elements in the Environment for Affective States and Cortisol Concentration in Mountain Hiking – A Crossover Trial. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 16(2), Article 290. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16020290
Papageorgiou, M., & Beriatos, E. (2011). Spatial planning and development in tourist destinations: A survey in a Greek spa town. International Journal of Sustainable Development and Planning, 6(1), 34–48. https://doi.org/10.2495/SDP-V6-N1-34-48
Pessot, E., Spoladore, D., Zangiacomi, A., & Sacco, M. (2021). Natural Resources in Health Tourism: A Systematic Literature Review. Sustainability, 13(5), Article 2661. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13052661
Plotnikov, I., Smurov, A., & Aladin, N. (2021). Large saline lakes of Central Asia. Journal of Arid Land Studies, 31(2), 29–44. https://doi.org/10.14976/jals.31.2_29
Pozo, M., Carretero, M. I., Pozo, E., Martín Rubí, J. A., & Maraver, F. (2010). Caracterización mineralógica y química de peloides españoles y argentinos: evaluación de elementos traza potencialmente tóxicos [Mineralogical and chemical characterization of Spanish and Argentinian peloids: evaluation of potentially toxic trace elements]. In F. Maraver & M. I. Carretero (Eds.), Libro de Resúmenes del II Congreso Iberoamericano de Peloides [Book of Abstracts of the II Ibero-American Congress on Peloids] (pp. 37–38). Balneario de Lanjaron.
Ren, X., Yu, R., Kang, J., Li, X., Wang, R., Zhuang, S., Wang, D., & Zhang, X. (2022). Hydrochemical evaluation of water quality and its influencing factors in a closed inland lake basin of Northern China. Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, 10, Article 1005289. https://doi.org/10.3389/fevo.2022.1005289
SASGIS. (n.d.). SAS.Planet: Satellite imagery and map viewer. Retrieved 2025 from https://www.sasgis.org/sasplaneta/
Smith, M., & Puczkó, L. (2014). Health, Tourism and Hospitality: Spas, Wellness and Medical Travel (2nd ed.). Routledge.
Standard of the Republic of Kazakhstan 3468-2019. (2019). Environmental Protection. Methods for sanitary and microbiological analysis of surface water. https://online.zakon.kz/Document/?doc_id=34735050&pos=35;-47#pos=35;-47
Szromek, A. R., & Wybrańczyk, K. (2019). Proposal of Value for Customer of Spas: Expectations of Spa Patients and Tourist in Polish Spas. Sustainability, 11(13), Article 3598. https://doi.org/10.3390/su11133598
U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). (n.d.). EarthExplorer. Retrieved 2025 from https://earthexplorer.usgs.gov/ https://lpdaac.usgs.gov/
Utepbaeva, I. A., & Mukatai, A. (2018). Spatio-temporal changes in the hydrochemical regime of lake Alakol during the fluid period. Hydrometeorology and Ecology, 88(1), 92–102. https://cyberleninka.ru/article/n/prostranstvenno-vremennoe-izmenenie-gidrohimicheskogo-rezhima-ozera-alakol-v-polnovodnyy-period
Valeev, A. G., Abitbayeva, A. D., Mitrofanova, A. N., Halykov, Ye. Ye., Togys, M. M., Uxukbayeva, S. A. & Sharapkhanova, Zh. M. (2019). Tourism and recreational potential of Lake Alakol. Issues of Geography and Geoecology, 3, 3–11. https://ojs.ingeo.kz/index.php/givr/article/view/68/37
Valeyev, A. G., Medeu, A. R., Zhakupova, A. A., Yegemberdiyeva, K. B., & Sharapkhanova, Zh. M. (2024). Analysis of the social norm of recreational capacity and tourist satisfaction on the south-western shore of Lake Alakol. GeoJournal of Tourism and Geosites, 56(4), 1504–1512. https://doi.org/10.30892/gtg.564071321
Williams, W. D. (2002). Environmental threats to salt lakes and the likely status of inland saline ecosystems in 2025. Environmental Conservation, 29(2), 154–167. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0376892902000103
Wurtsbaugh, W. A., Miller, C., Null, S. E., DeRose, R. J., Wilcock, P., Hahnenberger, M., Howe, F., & Moore, J. (2017). Decline of the world’s saline lakes. Nature Geoscience, 10, 816–821. https://doi.org/10.1038/ngeo3052
Yapiyev, V., Sagintayev, Z., Inglezakis, V. J., Samarkhanov, K., & Verhoef, A. (2017). Essentials of Endorheic Basins and Lakes: A Review in the Context of Current and Future Water Resource Management and Mitigation Activities in Central Asia. Water, 9(10), Article 798. https://doi.org/10.3390/w9100798
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Journal of the Geographical Institute “Jovan Cvijić” SASA
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
