Talas River

Talas River (Талас)
Talas River near Taraz
Countries	Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan
Length	661 km (411 mi)
Basin	52,700 km2 (20,348 sq mi)

The Talas River rises in the Talas Province of Kyrgyzstan and flows west into Kazakhstan. It is formed from the confluence of the Karakol and Uch-Koshoy. It runs through the city of Taraz in Zhambyl Province of Kazakhstan and vanishes before reaching Lake Aydyn.

The Ili, Chu and Talas are three steppe rivers that flow west and then north-west. The Ili River rises in Xinjiang, flows west to a point north of Lake Issyk Kul and then turns north-west to reach Lake Balkash. The Chu River rises west of Lake Issyk Kul, flows out into the steppe and dries up before reaching the Syr Darya. The Talas River starts west and south of the Chu, flows west and north-west, but dries up before reaching the Chu.

History

Talas River in the Syr Darya basin

During the Battle of Talas (named after the river) in 751, the Abbasid force defeated the Tang Chinese forces led by the General Gao Xianzhi over a dispute regarding a client kingdom in the Fergana Valley. The battle was won by the Abbasids after the Karluks defected.

The Chinese monk Xuanzang arrived from the Chui river to Talas during one of his journeys.^[1][2]

References

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

Rivers of Kyrgyzstan
Major rivers	Ala-Archa River Alabuga River At-Bashi River Chatkal River Chong-Kemin River Chu River Engilchek River Joon Aryk Jyrgalan River Kara Darya Kara-Suu Kichi-Kemin River Kochkor River Kögart River Kurshab River Naryn River On Archa River Sokh River Talas River Tar River (Kyrgyzstan) Toshkan River Vakhsh River Ysyk-Ata River

Coordinates: 43°55′N 70°30′E / 43.917°N 70.500°E / 43.917; 70.500