View source for Irtysh–Karaganda Canal

The '''Irtysh–Karaganda Canal''' ({{lang-kz|Ертіс-Қарағанды каналы}}, {{lang-ru|Канал Иртыш — Караганда}}) is an irrigation canal in [[Kazakhstan]]. It connects the [[Irtysh River]] with [[Karaganda]] (Qaraghandy), a major industrial center in north-central Kazakhstan. After Kazakhstan's independence, the canal has been officially known as Kanysh Satpayev Canal ({{lang-ru|Канал имени Каныша Сатпаева}}). named so after the Kazakh geologist [[Kanysh Satpayev]].

==Description==
The canal starts at {{coord|51|59|38|N|76|59|27|E|display=inline|type:landmark}}, just south of the city of [[Aksu, Kazakhstan|Aksu]] (formerly Yermak), where it takes water from one of the branches of the Irtysh River. It runs for 451&nbsp;km<ref>[http://encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary.com/Irtysh-Karaganda+Canal Irtysh-Karaganda Canal] in  [[The Great Soviet Encyclopedia]], 1979</ref> in the general western, south-western, and southern direction. It reaches an industrial area on the north-eastern outskirts of Karaganda at {{coord|49|58|22|N|73|15|49|E|display=inline|type:landmark}} ([[Kokpekti District]]), at which point its water apparently goes into an underground pipeline.<ref>Satellite view on Google Maps</ref>

On its route, the canal passes through numerous reservoirs (the [[Ekibastuz Reservoir]] ({{coord|51|49|00|N|75|13|00|E|display=inline|type:landmark}}, about 10&nbsp;km north of [[Ekibastuz]]), as well as other reservoirs at {{coord|51|48|00|N|74|38|00|E|display=inline|type:landmark}}, {{coord|51|28|00|N|74|21|00|E|display=inline|type:landmark}}, etc.).

The canal crosses the [[Nura River]] at {{coord|50|5|26|N|73|22|40|E|display=inline|type:landmark}}, in what appears to be a tunnel. Some of the canal's water is directed into the Nura (a chute below the dam at {{coord|50|5|30|N|73|22|37|E|display=inline|type:landmark}}), replenishing this river.

As Karaganda is located at a higher elevation than the Irtysh, the canal is furnished with 22 pumping stations, raising the water by 475&nbsp;m in total.<ref>{{citation
|first=M. I. |last=L'vovich
|title=World Water Resources and Their Future
|publisher=American Geophysical Union
|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=TxJUOqTKtAIC&pg=PA344
|page=344}}</ref>
<ref>{{citation
|editor-first=Yoginder K. |editor-last=Alagh|editor2-first= Ganesh |editor2-last=Pangare|editor3-first= Biksham |editor3-last=Gujja
|publisher=Academic Foundation |year=2006
|isbn=8171885209
|title=Interlinking of Rivers in India: Overview and Ken-Betwa Link
|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=cRzAKkRBok4C&pg=PA70
|page=70}}</ref>

==History==
The construction of the canal started in 1962. It was put to use by 1968, and fully completed by 1974.

In the early 21st century, a pipeline was built from the canal to the  [[Ishim River]], to supply Kazakhstan's capital [[Astana]] with water.

As of 2013, proposals are floated in Kazakhstan about either extending the Irtysh–Karaganda Canal all the way to the Ishim River upstream of Astana, or building a new canal between the Irtysh and Astana.<ref>[http://en.tengrinews.kz/industry_infrastructure/Kazakhstan-considering-a-water-canal-to-link-the-Irtysh-River-to-the-Ishim-River-23149/ Kazakhstan considering a water canal to link the Irtysh River to the Ishim River across Astana], 2013-10-07</ref>

According to a report published in 2013, the canal presently operates at only about one-half of its full capacity.<ref>{{citation
|url=http://www.group-global.org/lecture/view/2223
|title=Adapting of fisheries management to the changing Irtysh water basin hydrological regime
|last=Kulikov|first=Evgeny Vyacheslavovich (Куликов Евгений Вячеславович)
|date=2013-08-23}}</ref>

==Notes==
{{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Irtysh-Karaganda Canal}}
[[Category:Ob basin]]
[[Category:Canals in Kazakhstan]]
[[Category:Irrigation canals]]
[[Category:Canals opened in 1968]]
[[Category:Canals opened in 1974]]


{{kazakhstan-geo-stub}}