Abstract: In order to study the spatial distribution of organic carbon, some water and topsoil samples were collected in and around the Bosten Lake in Xinjiang, China in November 2011. Particulate organic carbon (POC), dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and dissolved ions in water samples, and organic and inorganic carbon contents in soil samples were measured. The results showed that there was a wide range of POC (0.1-1.2 mg•L^-1) but a narrow one of DOC (8.5-12.3 mg•L^-1) in the Bosten Lake. Concentrations of POC and DOC near the inlet and outlet of the lake were similar to those in the Kaidu River, but much lower than the average values of the lake. Our analysis suggested that there might be a transformation of CO₃ ^2-to HCO₃^- in the Bosten Lake in recent 30 years. There was no significant correlation between soil carbon content and POC or DOC, which suggested that the effect of soil on carbon content in Bosten Lake water was not significant.

Key words: particulate organic carbon, dissolved organic carbon, soil carbon, dissolved ions, spatial distribution, Bosten Lake, Xinjiang