Issvk-Kul Lake is one of the largest brackish water lakes in the world. Bei
ng a closed-basin lake, it is susceptible to volume changes caused by natur
al climatic variability, as well as human-induced water diversion from the
basin. Long-term lake level records indicate that lake levels are declining
and that salinity is increasing because of evapoconcentration. We present
the first trace element data for this important lacustrine system and, usin
g both ours and previously published data, investigate the geochemical dyna
mics within the watershed.