The Telikol lake zone includes a 159,320 hectares (393,700 acres) Important Bird Area.

[2][3][4] Telikol is a cluster of small lakes that lies close to the western edge of the Ashchykol Depression and east of the Daryalyktakyr plain (Дарьялыктакыр).

In years of abundant spring floods, the Sarysu river flows into the Ashchykol Depression from the north, bends westwards, and reaches the Telikol from the east.

The 181 kilometers (112 mi) long Shieli-Telikol Canal was built for irrigation, connecting the lacustrine basin with the Syr Darya river to the south near Shieli.

[1][3] The Telikol lake area has sparse vegetation made up mainly of saltwort and wormwood, as well as saxaul and tamarisk.