Betpak-Dala or Betpaqdala (Kazakh: Бетпақдала, from Turkic batpak, “swampy,” or Persian bedbaht, “unlucky” and Turkic dala, “plain”; Russian: Сeверная Голодная степь, lit. Hungry Steppe) is a desert region in Kazakhstan. It is located between the lower reaches of the Sarysu River, the Chu River, and Lake Balkhash. In the north, near the 46°30’ parallel, Betpak-Dala borders on the Kazakh melkosopochnik (area of low, rounded, isolated hills). Its area is approximately 75,000 km².