[1] The lake lies about 80 kilometers (50 mi) to the east of the Russian border, north of the R-97 Highway (Kazakhstan).

The road connects Saykyn station of the Volga Railway near lake Botkul with the village of Taipak on the right bank of the Ural River.

[3] Lying at the northern edge of the Ryn Desert, east of the Russian border, Aralsor is an endorheic lake group.

The main water body is colored pink and is surrounded by a string of smaller lakes and salt pans.

In the ravines of the shoreline cliffs there are plants such as tamarisk, anabasis, Halocnemum and winterfat, providing a habitat and breeding ground for the local fauna of small mammals, birds and reptiles.