It is a part of Kumul Prefecture in Xinjiang in the People's Republic of China.

It has an area of 38,445.3 km².

In the north it borders Mongolia, in the south the city of Kumul and in the west the Mori Kazakh Autonomous County of Changji Hui Autonomous Prefecture.

It was made an autonomous county on October 1, 1954.

Barkol is famous for its camel and horse breeding. The Barkol horse is famous throughout China. Also, due to the large number of camels, which is unparalleled in China, the county carries the nickname of the "county of ten thousand camels".

Ethnic groups in Barkol, 2000 census