Karatal River

The Karatal River (Russian: Каратал; Mongolian: Хартал, "Black Steppe"), also known as the Qaratal River, is a river in Kazakhstan that originates in the Dzungarian Alatau Mountains near the border of with China and flows into Lake Balkhash. It is the easternmost of two large rivers that flow into the lake; the other is the Ili River.^[1] The Karatal is one of the main rivers of the historic region of Zhetysu.

The river flows west-south-west from the border with China before turning north-westward south of Taldykorgan and then northward when it reaches the Saryesik-Atyrau Desert, a large sand desert south of Lake Balkhash. The river empties into Lake Balkhash near the centerpoint of its southern side. Karatal freezes up in December and stays icebound until March. Because of irrigation, the river's flow into Lake Balkash is limited.^[1]

References

1. 1 2 STS-79 Shuttle Mission Imagery (STS079-781-100) NASA

External links

• Great Soviet Encyclopedia
• National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Coordinates: 46°28′31″N 77°13′07″E / 46.47528°N 77.21861°E / 46.47528; 77.21861

Rivers of Kazakhstan
Rivers	Ajaguz River Akan-Burluk River Aksu River Arys River Asa River Aschiagar River Ayat River Badam River Bala Bugun Bolshoy Uzen River Borolday River Bugun River Bukhtarma River Byan River Chu River Emba River Emil River Esentai River Ilek River Iman-Burluk River Irgiz River Ili River Irtysh River Ishim River Karatal River Kigach River Keles River Koksu River Koluton River Kurchum River Lukina River Maly Uzen River Narym River Nura River O River Qapal River Qyzylaghash River Sagyz River Sary su River Sharyn River Shiderti River Sytasty River Syr Darya Talas River Temir River Tersakkan River Tobol River Tuolba River Torgay River Ural River Uba River Ubagan River Uil River Ulba River Ulken-Bugun