List of rivers of Kazakhstan facts for kids

Kazakhstan is a huge country in Central Asia, and it has many important rivers! These rivers are like the country's lifelines, providing water for people, farms, and animals. Rivers flow in different directions, and where they end up is called a "drainage basin." Some rivers in Kazakhstan flow all the way to the Arctic Ocean, while others flow into large lakes or dry up in inland areas.

This article will tell you about the main rivers in Kazakhstan and where their waters go. It's like following a map of water across the land!

Rivers Flowing to the Arctic Ocean

Some of Kazakhstan's rivers travel a very long way to reach the cold Arctic Ocean in the far north. These rivers are part of a massive river system that covers a huge part of Russia and Central Asia.

The Mighty Ob River System

The Ob River is one of the longest rivers in the world. While the main part of the Ob is in Russia, some of its important branches start in Kazakhstan.

The Irtysh River and Its Branches

The Irtysh River (also called Ertis) is the main river in Kazakhstan that connects to the Ob. It starts in China, flows through Kazakhstan, and then joins the Ob in Russia. It's a very important river for water and transportation in the region.

Here are some of the rivers that flow into the Irtysh in Kazakhstan:

• Tobol
  • Ubagan
  • Ayat
  • Uy
  • Syntasty
• Ishim
  • Imanburlyq
  • Aqqanburlyq
  • Terisaqqan
  • Kalkutan
• Shagan
  • Ashchysu
• Uba
• Ulba
• Bukhtarma
  • Lukina
• Naryn
• Kürshim

Rivers Flowing into Inland Basins

Many rivers in Kazakhstan don't reach the ocean. Instead, they flow into what are called "endorheic basins." This means their water ends up in a lake that has no outlet to the sea, or it simply evaporates in dry areas. Kazakhstan has many of these unique inland basins.

Rivers of the Caspian Sea Basin

The Caspian Sea is actually the world's largest lake, and it's a huge inland basin. Rivers flowing into it don't reach any ocean.

• Volga River: The mighty Volga River mostly flows through Russia, but its waters eventually reach the Caspian Sea.
  • Akhtuba (This is a branch of the Volga that splits off)
    • Kigach (Another branch of the Akhtuba)
• Ural River: The Ural River is another major river that flows into the Caspian Sea. It's often seen as part of the border between Europe and Asia.
  • Shagan
  • Utva (also known as Shynghyrlau)
  • Ilek
    • Kargaly
  • Or
• Bolshoy Uzen (or Ülken Özen)
• Maly Uzen (or Kishi Özen)
• Emba
• Aschiagar River
• Saghyz
• Uil

Rivers of the Aral Sea Basin

The Aral Sea was once a very large lake, but it has shrunk a lot over the years. Rivers that flow into this basin are crucial for the region.

The Syr Darya River System

The Syr Darya is one of the two main rivers that historically fed the Aral Sea. It's a long river that flows through several Central Asian countries.

• Sarysu
• Chu (also called Shu)
  • Talas
    • Asa
  • Ak-Suu
  • Kichi-Kemin
• Bögen
• Arys
  • Badam
    • Sayramsu
  • Mashat
  • Boralday
• Keles
• Sabyrzhylga

Rivers of the Shalkarteniz Basin

The Shalkarteniz is a large salt lake in central Kazakhstan. Several rivers flow into this basin, but their waters often evaporate before reaching the lake during dry seasons.

• Turgay
  • Irgiz
  • Ulkayak
  • Saryozen
• Tegene
• Zhyngyldyozek
• Kalmakkyrgan
• Baikonyr
• Zhymyky

Rivers of the Lake Tengiz Basin

Lake Tengiz is another large saltwater lake in central Kazakhstan. It's known for its unique pink color due to algae.

• Nura
  • Sherubainura
  • Akbastau
  • Ashchysu
  • Ulken Kundyzdy

Rivers of the Balkhash-Alakol Basin

This basin includes two large lakes, Lake Balkhash and Lake Alakol, which are both inland lakes. Lake Balkhash is unique because one part is freshwater and the other is saltwater!

Rivers Flowing into Lake Balkhash

• Ili: This is the main river that feeds Lake Balkhash. It starts in China and flows into Kazakhstan.
  • Charyn
  • Chilik
  • Esentai
• Karatal
  • Koksu
• Büyen
• Qapal
• Lepsy
• Aksu (Lake Balkhash)
• Ayagöz
• Issyk
• Tokrau
• Bakanas

Rivers Flowing into Lake Alakol

Lake Alakol is a large saltwater lake in eastern Kazakhstan, known for its healing properties.

• Emil
• Urzhar

Rivers of Other Inland Basins

Kazakhstan has many smaller inland basins where rivers flow into smaller lakes or simply disappear into the dry land. Here are a few more examples:

Karasor Basin Rivers

• Karasu
• Karkaraly
• Taldy
• Zharly

Lake Shalkar Basin Rivers

• Bolgasyn
• Kauylzhyr
• Zhylandysay

Sholaksor Basin Rivers

• Teneke

Lake Shyganak Basin Rivers

• Shiderti

Lake Siletiteniz Basin Rivers

• Sileti

Ulken Azhbolat Basin Rivers

• Burla

Lake Zhalanashkol Basin Rivers

• Terekty