[4] Lake Shalkar lies at the bottom of a depression located in the northernmost sector of the Caspian Lowland.

The main inflowing rivers are the Sholakankaty and Yesenankaty, having their mouths in the eastern shore.

[2][3] Among the fish species found in the lake, bream, carp, tench, perch, pike, catfish and gudgeon deserve mention.

There are reed thickets on the Shalkar shores and in the areas of the river mouths.

These provide a habitat for birds such as swans, geese, ducks, flamingos, seagulls and herons, among others.