Kazakhstan Encyclopedia - User contributions [en]

Kichi-Kemin River

2017-01-30T13:21:37Z

Markussep: /* Course */

{{Geobox|River

| name = Kichi-Kemin River
| native_name = Кичи-Кемин дарыясы
| other_name =
| other_name1 =
|category_hide= 1

| image =
| image_size =
| image_caption =

| etymology =

| country = [[Kyrgyzstan]]
| country1 = [[Kazakhstan]]
| state =
| state1 =
| region =
| region1 =
| district =
| district1 =
| city =
| city1 =
| landmark =
| landmark1 =

| length = 81
| watershed = 614
| discharge_location =
| discharge = 2.10
| discharge_max = 8.63
| discharge_min = 0.46
| discharge_note = <ref name=encyc>{{cite book |title=Чүй облусу:Энциклопедия |trans_title=Encyclopedia of Chuy Oblast |first= |last=|publisher=Chief Editorial Board of Kyrgyz Encyclopedia |language=Kyrgyz, Russian |location=Bishkek |year=1994 |isbn=5-89750-083-5 |pages=718}}</ref>
| discharge1_location =
| discharge1 =

| source_name =
| source_location =
| source_district =
| source_region =
| source_state = [[Kyrgyzstan]]
| source_country =
| source_lat_d = 42
| source_lat_m = 51
| source_lat_s = 53
| source_lat_NS = N
| source_long_d = 76
| source_long_m = 18
| source_long_s = 25
| source_long_EW = E
| source_elevation = 3495
| source_length =

| mouth_name = [[Chu River]]
| mouth_location =
| mouth_district =
| mouth_region =
| mouth_state =
| mouth_country = [[Kyrgyzstan]]
| mouth_lat_d = 42
| mouth_lat_m = 49
| mouth_lat_s = 52
| mouth_lat_NS = N
| mouth_long_d = 75
| mouth_long_m = 33
| mouth_long_s = 25
| mouth_long_EW = E
| mouth_elevation = 1001

| tributary_left =
| tributary_left1 =
| tributary_right =
| tributary_right1 =

| free_name =
| free_value =

| map =
| map_size =
| map_caption =
}}

The '''Kichi-Kemin River''' ({{lang-ky|Кичи-Кемин}}) is a river in [[Kemin District]] of [[Chuy Province]] of [[Kyrgyzstan]] and [[Korday District]] of [[Kazakhstan]]. It is a right tributary of the [[Chu River]] in [[Chuy Valley]]. It is {{convert|81|km|mi}} long with a basin area of {{convert|614|km2|mi2}}. The flow of the Kichi-Kemin River considerably varies; the minimum flow is {{convert|0.46|m3/s|cuft/s}} in February, and the maximum is {{convert|8.63|m3/s|cuft/s}} in July.<ref name=encyc />

==Course==
The source of Kichi-Kemin River is high in the shoots of [[Trans-Ili Alatau]] in Kyrgyzstan. For about {{convert|10|km|mi|0}} the river flows to the north and than to the west along the Kyrgyzstan–Kazakhstan border from an elevation of about {{convert|3500|m|ft}} to {{convert|2500|m|ft}}. The river passes through [[urban-type settlement]] [[Ak-Tuz]] and flows to the southwest in a narrow gorge. Further, it passes through village [[Imeni Il'icha]] and enters [[Kichi-Kemin Valley]]. The Kichi-Kemin River turns west and passes near villages [[Kichi-Kemin]], [[Boroldoy]], and [[Beysheke, Kemin|Beysheke]]. It flows parallel to the [[Chu River]] at a distance of {{convert|3|to|4|km|mi}} and crosses the Kyrgyzstan–Kazakhstan border. In Kazakhstan, in passes near villages [[Karasay batyr]] and [[Enbek]] gradually approaching the Chu River, and flowing into it near [[Chim-Kurgan]].

==Ecology and environment==

===Contamination===
In 1964, mudflows damaged [[tailings pond]] No.2 in the vicinity of the Kichi-Kemin River, and {{convert|1.5|e6m3|cuft}} of radioactive [[tailings]] contaminated the river and lower part of [[Kichi-Kemin Valley]] with [[thorium]], [[lead]], [[copper]], [[zinc]], [[beryllium]] and other heavy metals.<ref>{{Citation | first = V.| last = Stavinskiy | first2 = E.| last2 = Shukurov| first3 = M.| last3 = Suyumbaev | editor-last = Bogdetsky (editor)| editor-first = V.| contribution = Mining Industry and Sustainable Development in Kyrgyzstan | contribution-url = http://www.iied.org/pubs/pdfs/G00573.pdf | series = Mining, Minerals, and Sustainable Development No.110| year = 2001 | pages = 62 | place = | publisher = International Institute for Sustainable Development | url = http://www.iied.org/ | doi = | id = G00573 }}</ref>

===Environmental monitoring===
The Kyrgyz State Agency on Hydrometeorology runs two water-quality monitoring stations on the Kichi-Kemin River: one of them is {{convert|3|km|mi|0}} upstream and another is {{convert|8|km|mi|0}} downstream of [[Ak-Tuz]].<ref name="envmonitoring">{{cite web | url= http://www.meteo.ktnet.kg/unzps/unzps_voda_arch.php
| title = Kyrgyz State Agency on Hydrometeorology: water quality | accessdate = 2010-09-04 }}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Rivers of Kyrgyzstan}}

[[Category:Rivers of Kyrgyzstan]]
[[Category:Rivers of Kazakhstan]]
[[Category:Tributaries of the Chu River]]

{{Kyrgyzstan-river-stub}}
{{Kazakhstan-river-stub}}

Ak-Suu River (Chu)

2017-01-30T12:28:37Z

Markussep:

{{Unreferenced|date=September 2013}}
{{Geobox|River

| name = Ak-Suu River
| native_name = Ак-Суу
| other_name =
| other_name1 =
| category_hide = 1

| image = Ak-Suu at Jardy-Suu.jpg
| image_size = 250
| image_caption = The Ak-Suu flowing from the Narzan Valley past the village of Jardy-Suu

| etymology =

| country = [[Kyrgyzstan]]
| country1 =
| state =
| state1 =
| region = [[Chuy Region]]
| region1 =
| district = [[Moskva District, Kyrgyzstan|Moskva District]]
| district1 =
| city =
| city1 =
| landmark =
| landmark1 =

| length =
| watershed =
| discharge_location =
| discharge =
| discharge_max =
| discharge_min =
| discharge1_location =
| discharge1 =

| source_name =
| source_location =
| source_district =
| source_region = [[Chuy Province]]
| source_state =
| source_country = Kyrgyzstan
| source_lat_d =
| source_lat_m =
| source_lat_s =
| source_lat_NS =
| source_long_d =
| source_long_m =
| source_long_s =
| source_long_EW =
| source_elevation =
| source_length =

| mouth_name = [[Chu River]]
| mouth_location =
| mouth_district =
| mouth_region =
| mouth_state =
| mouth_country = [[Kazakhstan]]
| mouth_lat_d = 43
| mouth_lat_m = 20
| mouth_lat_s = 17
| mouth_lat_NS = N
| mouth_long_d = 73
| mouth_long_m = 58
| mouth_long_s = 12
| mouth_long_EW = E
| mouth_elevation = 515

| tributary_left =
| tributary_left1 =
| tributary_left2 =
| tributary_left3 =
| tributary_left4 =
| tributary_right = [[Temen-Suu River|Temen-Suu]]
| tributary_right1 =
| tributary_right2 =
| tributary_right3 =
| tributary_right4 =

| free_name =
| free_value =

| map =
| map_size =
| map_caption =
}}

The '''Ak-Suu''' or '''Aq-Suu''' ({{lang-ky|Ак-Суу}} {{IPA-ky|ɑq suː|}}) is a river running through mostly [[Moskva District, Kyrgyzstan|Moskva District]], [[Chuy Region]], [[Kyrgyzstan]] and [[Shu District]], [[Jambyl Region]], [[Kazakhstan]]. It takes its rise on the northern slope of the [[Kyrgyz Alatau| Kyrgyz Ala-Too]], and it runs through the [[Narzan Valley]] north into the [[Chuy Valley]] and through the city of [[Belovodskoye]], which is named after it. It flows into the [[Chu River]] in southern Kazakhstan.

[[Category:Rivers of Kyrgyzstan]]
[[Category:Rivers of Kazakhstan]]

{{Chuy-geo-stub}}
{{Kyrgyzstan-river-stub}}
{{Kazakhstan-river-stub}}

Suyab

2017-01-05T13:44:42Z

Markussep: region, replaced: Chuy Province → Chuy Region (2) using AWB

{{Infobox ancient site
|name = Suyab
|native_name =
|alternate_name = Ordukent
|image =
|alt =
|caption =
|map_type = Kyrgyzstan
|map_alt =
|coordinates = {{coord|42|48|18.8|N|75|11|59.6|E|display=inline,title}}
|location = [[Chuy Region]], Kyrgyzstan
|region =
|type = Settlement
|part_of =
|length =
|width =
|area =
|height =
|builder =
|material =
|built = 5-6th century
|abandoned = 11th century
|epochs =
|cultures =
|dependency_of =
|occupants =
|event =
|excavations =
|archaeologists =
|condition = In ruins
|ownership =
|management =
|public_access =
|website = 
|notes =
}}

'''Suyab''' ({{lang-fa|سوی آب}}; {{zh|t=碎葉|s=碎叶|p=Suìyè|w=Sui4-yeh4}}), also known as ''Ordukent'' (modern-day ''Ak-Beshim''), was an ancient [[Silk Road]] city located some 50 km east from [[Bishkek]], and 8 km west southwest from [[Tokmok]], in the [[Chui River]] valley, present-day [[Kyrgyzstan]].

== History ==
The settlement of [[Sogdiana|Sogdian]] merchants sprang up along the [[Silk Road]] in the 5th or 6th centuries. The name of the city derives from that of the [[Chui River|Suyab River]],<ref name=Suyab>Xue (1998), p. 136-140, 212-215.</ref>
whose origin is Iranian (in [[Persian language|Persian]]: ''suy'' means "toward"+ ''ab'' for "water", "rivers").<ref>[http://www.talaschu.org/index.php?ID=about,en Transboundary Chu-Talas]</ref> It was first recorded by Chinese pilgrim [[Xuanzang]] who travelled in the area in 629:<ref>Ji (1985), p. 25.</ref><ref>Ye. I. Lubo-Lesnichenko. ''Svedeniya kitaiskikh pismennykh istochnikov o Suyabe (Gorodishche Ak-Beshim)''. [''Information of Chinese Written Sources about Suyab (Ak-Beshim)'']. // ''Suyab Ak-Beshim''. St. Petersburg, 2002. Pages 115-127.</ref>

<blockquote>''Traveling 500 [[Li (unit)|li]] to the north west of Great Qing Lake, we arrive at the city of the Suye River. The city is 6 or 7 [[Li (unit)|li]] in circuit; various Hu ("barbarian") merchants here came from surrounding nations congregate and dwell. The soil is favourable for red millet and for grapes; the woods are not thick, the climate is windy and cold; the people wear garments of twilled wool. Traveling from Suye westward, there are a great number of isolated towns; in each there is a chieftain; these are not dependent on one another, but all are in submission to the [[Tujue]]''.</blockquote>

During the reign of [[Tong Yabgu Qaghan]], Suyab was the principal capital of the [[Western Turkic Khaganate]].<ref>[[Great Soviet Encyclopaedia]], 3rd ed. Article "Turkic Khaganate".</ref> The [[khagan]] also had a summer capital in Navekat near the springs north of [[Tashkent]] in the [[Talas Valley]], the capitals are being noted as the westernmost capital of Western Turkic Khaganate.<ref name=Tong>Xue (1992), p. 284-285</ref> There was a sort of [[symbiosis]], with the Sogdians responsible for economical prosperity and the [[Gokturks]] in charge of the city's military security.

Following the downfall of the khaganate, Suyab was absorbed into the [[Tang Empire]], of which it was a western military outpost between 648 and 719. A Chinese fortress was built there in 679, and [[Buddhism]] flourished. According to some accounts, the great poet [[Li Bai]] (Li Po) was born in Suyab.<ref>Zhongguo fu li hui, Chung-kuo fu li hui. ''China Reconstructs''. China Welfare Institute, 1989. Page 58.</ref> The Chinese traveller [[Du Huan]], who visited Suyab after 751, found among the ruins a still-functioning Buddhist monastery, where [[Princess Jiaohe]], daughter of [[Ashina Huaidao]], used to dwell.<ref>Forte A. ''An Ancient Chinese Monastery Excavated in Kirgizia'' // Central Asiatic Journal, 1994. Volume 38. № 1. Pages 41-57.</ref><ref>Cui (2005), p. 244-246</ref>

Suyab was one of the Four Garrisons of [[Anxi Protectorate]] until 719, when it was handed over to [[Sulu khan|Sulu Khagan]] of the [[Turgesh]], appointed by the Chinese court as the "Loyal and Obedient Qaghan".<ref name=Suyab/><ref>Zongzheng, Xue (1992), p. 596-597, 669</ref> After Sulu's murder in 738, the town was promptly retaken by Chinese forces, along with [[Taraz|Talas]].<ref>Zongzheng, Xue (1992), p. 686</ref> The fort was strategically important during the wars between the [[China]] and [[Tibet]]. In 766, the city fell to a [[Karluks|Qarluq]] ruler, allied with the nascent [[Uyghur Khaganate]].

Of the subsequent history of Suyab there is little record, especially after the Chinese evacuated the Four Garrisons in 787. [[David Nicolle]] states that Suyab provided 80,000 warriors for the Qarluq army and that it was governed by a man known as "King of Heroes".<ref>Nicolle (1990), p. 32.</ref> [[Hudud al-Alam]], completed in 983, lists Suyab as a city of 20,000 inhabitants. It is believed to have been supplanted by [[Balasagun]] in the early 11th century and was abandoned soon thereafter.

== Archaeological site ==

In the 19th century the ruins at Ak-Beshim were erroneously identified with [[Balasagun]], the capital of the [[Kara-Khitan]]s. [[Wilhelm Barthold]], who visited the site in 1893-94, also lent his support to this identification.<ref>[[Vasily Bartold|Бартольд В.В.]] Отчет о поездке в Среднюю Азию с археологической целью ("report on an archaeological campaign in Central Asia"), collected writings, vol. 4</ref> Although excavations started in 1938, it was not until the 1950s that it was determined that the site had been abandoned as early as the 11th century and therefore would not be identical with Balasagun, which had flourished until the 14th century.<ref>Г.Л. Семенов. Ак-Бешим и города Семиречья. // Проблемы политогенза кыргызской государственности. ("Ak-Beshi and the cities of Semirechya - problems of politogenesis in the Kyrgyz statehood") – Бишкек: АРХИ, 2003. – с. 218-222.</ref>

The archaeological site of Suyab covers some 30 [[hectare]]s. As a testimony to Suyab's diverse and vibrant culture, the site encompasses remains of Chinese fortifications, Christian churches, Zoroastrian [[ossuary|ossuaries]], and Turkic [[bal-bal]]s. The site is particularly rich in finds of [[Gautama Buddha|Buddha]] statues and stelae.<ref>Горячева В.Д., Перегудова С.Я. Буддийские памятники Киргизии ("Buddhist monuments of Kyrgyzstan"), pp. 187-188.</ref> Apart from several Buddhist temples, there were a [[Nestorian Church|Nestorian]] church and cemetery from the 7th century, and probably also a 10th-century monastery with frescoes and inscriptions in [[Sogdian language|Sogdian]] and [[Uyghur script]]s.<ref>Kyzlasov L.R. ''Arkheologicheskie issledovaniya na gorodishche Ak-Beshim v 1953-54 gg.'' [''Archaeological Exploration of Ak-Beshim in 1953-54.'']. // Proceedings of the Kama Archaeological Expedition. Vol. 2. Moscow, 1959. Pages 231-233. Semyonov G.I. ''Monastyrskoe vino Semirechya'' [''The Wine of [[Semirechye]] Monasteries'']. // ''Hermitage Readings in Memory of [[Boris Piotrovsky]]''. St. Petersburg, 1999. Pages 70-74.</ref>

== References ==
=== Citations ===
{{Reflist|30em}}

=== Sources ===
* Cui, Mingde (2005). ''The History of Chinese Heqin''. Beijing: People's Press. ISBN 7-01-004828-2.
* Nicolle, David (1990). ''Attila and the Nomad Hordes''. Osprey Publishing. ISBN 0-85045-996-6.
* Ji, Xianlin(1985). ''Journey to the West in the Great Tang Dynasty''. Xi'an: Shaanxi People's Press.
* Xue, Zongzheng (1998). ''Anxi and Beiting Protectorates: A Research on Frontier Policy in Tang Dynasty's Western Boundary''. Harbin: Heilongjiang Education Press. ISBN 7-5316-2857-0.
* Xue, Zongzheng (1992). ''A History of Turks''. Beijing: Chinese Social Sciences Press. ISBN 7-5004-0432-8.

==External links==
*[http://tokmok.info/980-suyab-ili-gorodische-ak-beshim.html Суяб или городище Ак-Бешим] ("Suyab, or the fortified settlement Ak-Beshim") {{ru icon}}

[[Category:Archaeological sites in Kyrgyzstan]]
[[Category:History of Central Asia]]
[[Category:History of the Turkic peoples]]
[[Category:Populated places along the Silk Road]]
[[Category:Populated places established in the 6th century]]
[[Category:Chuy Region]]
[[Category:Former populated places in Kyrgyzstan]]
[[Category:History of Kazakhstan]]
[[Category:Sogdian cities]]

Chuy Valley

2017-01-05T13:44:20Z

Markussep: region, replaced: Chuy Province → Chuy Region (2) using AWB

{{Geobox|Valley

| name = Chuy Valley
| native_name = {{lang-ky|Чүй өрөөнү}}, {{lang-kz|Шу аңғары}}
| other_name =
| category =

| etymology =
| nickname =

| image = E8115-Chu-Valley.jpg
| image_caption = Chuy Valley
| image_size = 250

| country = [[Kyrgyzstan]], [[Kazakhstan]]
| state =
| region = [[Chuy Region]]
| district =
| municipality =

| parent =
| range =
| border =
| part =
| child_left =
| child_right =
| city =
| landmark =
| river = [[Chu River]]

| highest =
| highest_location = | highest_region = | highest_country =
| highest_elevation =
| highest_lat_d = | highest_lat_m = | highest_lat_s = | highest_lat_NS =
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| lowest =
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| lowest_lat_d = | lowest_lat_m = | lowest_lat_s = | lowest_lat_NS =
| lowest_long_d = | lowest_long_m = | lowest_long_s = | lowest_long_EW =

| length = | length_orientation =
| width = | width_orientation =
| height =
| depth =
| area = 32000

| population = | population_date =
| population_density =

| geology =
| orogeny =
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| public =
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| free = | free_type =

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| website =

| footnotes =
}}

The '''Chuy Valley''' ({{lang-ky|Чүй өрөөнү}}, {{lang-kz|Шу аңғары}}) is a large valley located in north [[Tian-Shan]]. It extends from [[Boom Gorge]] in the east to [[Muyunkum Desert]] in the west. It has an area of about 32,000 square kilometers, and borders [[Kyrgyz Ala-Too]] in the south, and Chu-Ili mountains in the north. Through [[Boom Gorge]] in the narrow east part Chuy Valley is linked with [[Issyk Kul|Issyk-Kul Valley]]. [[Chu River]] is the major stream of the valley.<ref name="encyc">{{cite book|title=Чүй облусу:Энциклопедия|trans_title=Encyclopedia of Chuy Oblast|first=|last=|publisher=Chief Editorial Board of Kyrgyz Encyclopedia|language=Kyrgyz, Russian|location=Bishkek
|year=1994|isbn=5-89750-083-5|pages=718}}</ref>

The warm summer and availability of drinking and irrigation water makes this area one of the most fertile and most densely populated regions of Kyrgyzstan.<ref>{{cite book|title=Historical Dictionary of Kyrgyzstan|first=Rafis|last=Abazov|publisher=Scarecrow Press|location=Lanham, Maryland|year=2004|isbn=0-8108-4868-6|pages=105}}</ref>

There are deposits of zinc ore, lead, gold, and construction materials.<ref>{{cite book|title=Słownik Geografii ZSRR|publisher=Wiedza Powszechna|language=Polish|location=Warszawa|year=1974|isbn=|pages=422}}</ref>

==Climate==
The climate is sharply continental. Summers are long and hot, and winters are relatively short and cold. The average temperature of the hottest month (July) is 24.4 °C with the maximum of +43 °C. The average temperature of the coldest month (January) is -5.0 °C with the minimum of -38 °C. The typical annual precipitation varies from 300 to 500 mm/year in different climatic zones of the valley. Precipitation progressively increases with increasing altitude near Kyrgyz Ala-Too range. Spring and autumn are the rainiest seasons in Chuy Valley.<ref>{{Cite report |author= |authorlink= |coauthors= |date=2003 |title=First National Communication of the Kyrgyz Republic under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change |url=http://unfccc.int/resource/docs/natc/kyrnc1.pdf |publisher= |page=25 |docket= |accessdate=3/10/2013 |quote= }}</ref>

==Towns and urban-type settlements in Chuy Valley==
* [[Bishkek]]
* [[Kara-Balta]]
* [[Kant, Kyrgyzstan|Kant]]
* [[Kemin]]
* [[Shopokov]]
* [[Tokmok]]
* [[Ivanovka, Kyrgyzstan|Ivanovka]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{coord|42.8333|N|75.2833|E|source:wikidata|display=title}}

[[Category:Valleys of Kyrgyzstan]]
[[Category:Valleys of Kazakhstan]]
[[Category:Chuy Region]]
[[Category:Jambyl Region]]

{{Kyrgyzstan-geo-stub}}
{{Kazakhstan-geo-stub}}

Chu River

2017-01-05T13:44:17Z

Markussep: /* References */region, replaced: Chuy Province → Chuy Region using AWB

:''"Chui River" and "Chuy River" redirect here. For the river of Anhui see [[Chu River (Anhui)]]. For the South American Chuí or Chuy River, on the Brazil-Uruguay border and Brazil's southernmost point, see [[Chuí Stream]]. For the Nam Sam River or Chu River, on the Lao-Vietnam border, see [[Nam Sam River]].''
{{Geobox|River

| name = Chu River
| native_name = Чу, Чүй, Шу
| other_name =
| other_name1 =
| category_hide = 1

| image = E8115-Chu-Valley.jpg
| image_size = 250
| image_caption = In the Chuy Valley below [[Tokmok]]

| etymology =

| country = [[Kyrgyzstan]]
| country1 = [[Kazakhstan]]
| state =
| state1 =
| region =
| region1 =
| district =
| district1 =
| city =
| city1 =
| landmark =
| landmark1 =

| length = 1067
| watershed = 67500
| discharge_location =
| discharge =
| discharge_max =
| discharge_min =
| discharge1_location =
| discharge1 =

| source_name = confluence of [[Joon Aryk]] and [[Kochkor River]]
| source_location =
| source_district = [[Kochkor District]]
| source_region = [[Naryn Region]]
| source_state =
| source_country = [[Kyrgyzstan]]
| source_lat_d = 42
| source_lat_m = 13
| source_lat_s = 15.60
| source_lat_NS = N
| source_long_d = 75
| source_long_m = 44
| source_long_s = 29
| source_long_EW = E
| source_elevation = 1802
| source_length =

| mouth_name = Akjaykyn system of lakes
| mouth_location =
| mouth_district =
| mouth_region = [[South Kazakhstan Region]]
| mouth_state =
| mouth_country = [[Kazakhstan]]
| mouth_lat_d = 44
| mouth_lat_m = 59
| mouth_lat_s =
| mouth_lat_NS = N
| mouth_long_d = 67
| mouth_long_m = 43
| mouth_long_s =
| mouth_long_EW =E
| mouth_elevation = 135

| tributary_left = [[Ala-Archa River]]
| tributary_left1 = [[Kara-Balta River]]
| tributary_left2 = [[Ysyk-Ata River]]
| tributary_left3 = [[Alamudun River]]
| tributary_left4 = [[Ak-Suu River (Chu)|Ak-Suu River]]
| tributary_right = [[Chong-Kemin River]]
| tributary_right1 = [[Kichi-Kemin River]]
| tributary_right2 =
| tributary_right3 =
| tributary_right4 =

| free_name =
| free_value =

| Map =
| map_size =
| map_caption =
}}

The '''Chu''' ('''Shu''' or '''Chui''', '''Chuy''') ({{lang-kk|Шу}}/Şuw, شۋ; {{lang-ky|Чүй}}, ''Çüy'', چۉي; {{lang-dng|Чў}}, ''Çw''; {{lang-ru|''Чу''}}) is a river in northern [[Kyrgyzstan]] and southern [[Kazakhstan]]. Of the length of approximately 1 067 kilometres<ref>[[Great Soviet Encyclopedia]]</ref> (663 miles), the first 115 kilometres are in Kyrgyzystan, then for 221 kilometres the river is the border between Kyrgyzystan and Kazakhstan, and the last 731 kilometres are in Kazakhstan. It's one of the longest [[river]]s in Kyrgyzstan and in Kazakhstan.

[[Chuy Region]], the northernmost and most populous administrative region of Kyrgyzstan, is named after the river; so are the Chuy Avenue, the main street of Bishkek, and the city of [[Shu, Jambyl|Shu]] in Kazakhstan's [[Jambyl Region]].

==Course==

The '''Chu River''' is formed by the confluence of rivers [[Joon Aryk]] and [[Kochkor River|Kochkor]] in [[Kochkor District]] of [[Naryn Region]]. After approaching Lake [[Issyk Kul]] within a few kilometers (near [[Balykchy]]), without either flowing into the lake or draining it, it turns to the northwest. In the 1950s an old riverbed called Ketmaldy (also Buugan) linked the Chu River and Issyk Kul. During floods part of Chu water would reach the lake, but such outflow has not be seen since construction of the [[Orto-Tokoy Reservoir]]. After passing through the narrow [[Boom Gorge]] ({{lang-ru|Боомское ущелье}}, ''Boomskoye ushchelye''), the river enters the comparatively flat [[Chuy Valley]], within which the Kyrgyz capital of [[Bishkek]] and the Kazakh city of [[Shu, Jambyl|Shu]] are located. Much of the Chu's water is diverted into a network of canals to irrigate the fertile black soils of the Chuy Valley for farming, both on the Kyrgyz and Kazakh sides of the river.

As the Chu flows through the Chuy Valley, it forms the border between Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan for more than a hundred kilometers, but then it leaves [[Kyrgyzstan]] and flows into [[Kazakhstan]], where, like many other rivers and streams that drain northern Kyrgyzstan it eventually disappears in the [[steppe]], short of reaching the [[Syr Darya]], although it has sometimes reached that river in wet years.

==History==
[[File:Syrdaryamap.png|thumb|right|300px|Chu River in the Syr Darya basin]]
The area of this river was originally home to the [[Iranian peoples|Iranian]] [[Sughd]]s who spoke [[Soghdian]], an East [[Iranian language]].<ref name="barthold">{{cite book
| last = Barthold
| first = W.
| title = "Balāsāg̲h̲ūn or Balāsaḳūn." Encyclopaedia of Islam.
| edition =
| year =
| month =
| publisher = Brill Academic Publishers
| location = Brill Online. Universiteitsbibliotheek Leiden
| url = http://www.brillonline.nl/subscriber/entry?entry=islam_SIM-1131
| pages =
| accessdate =
}}</ref>

During the [[Middle Ages]], the area was strategically important. It was the setting of [[Suayub]], the capital of the [[Western Turkic Khaganate]], and [[Balasagun]], the capital of the [[Kara-Khitan]]s.

Chu River posed a risk of flooding for settlements located in Chu Valley. In winter 1878, an ice gorge formed on Chu River upstream town [[Tokmok]] that was the center of Semirechye Province. This was followed by severe flooding that damaged the town and the center of the province was moved to Pishpek (Bishkek). After this, Tokmak gradually lost its significance.<ref name="flooding">{{cite web
| url= http://www.citykr.kg/tokmok.php#ser1| title = Profile of town Tokmok (in Russian)| accessdate = 2010-03-10}}</ref>

==Dams==
The river flow is regulated by the dam at Orto-Tokoy Reservoir in Kyrgyzstan built in 1957, and the dam at Tasotkel Reservoir in Kazakhstan built in 1974.

==Ecology and environment==

===Environmental monitoring===
The Kyrgyz State Agency on Hydrometeorology and Kazakhstan Hydrometeorological Service (Kazhydromet) operate a number of water quality monitoring stations on the Chu River and its tributaries.<ref name="envmonitoring">{{cite web
|url=http://www.meteo.ktnet.kg/unzps/unzps_voda_arch.php
|title=Kyrgyz State Agency on Hydrometeorology: water quality
|accessdate=2010-03-10
|deadurl=yes
|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110722132012/http://www.meteo.ktnet.kg/unzps/unzps_voda_arch.php
|archivedate=2011-07-22
|df=
}}</ref>

===Water quality===
According to Kyrgyz State Agency on Hydrometeorology, in 2004–08, water pollution index of the Chu River in Chu Valley ranged from 0.25 to 0.7 units that is interpreted as Class II ("Clean water"). The only exception was a monitoring point downstream Vasilyevka village where water pollution index ranged from 0.4 to 1.2 unit and water quality was assessed as Class II(Clean)/Class III ("Moderately polluted").<ref name="envmonitoring" />

According to Kazakhstan Hydrometeorological Service (Kazhydromet), water pollution index of Shu (Chu) River in [[Jambyl Region]] of Kazakhstan amounted to 2.01 (Class III, "Moderately polluted") in 2008, and 1.83 (Class III, "Moderately polluted") in 2009. Such water quality parameters as [[biochemical oxygen demand]], [[nitrite]]s, [[copper]], [[phenols]] exceeded the maximum allowable concentrations.<ref name="waterpollution">{{Cite report |title=Information Bulletin on Status of the Environment in the Republic of Kazakhstan in 2009 |url=http://www.eco.gov.kz/ekolog/buleten/bul_2009.rar |author=Department of Ecological Monitoring |last= |first= |coauthors= |year=2010 |publisher=Ministry of Environment Protection of the Republic of Kazakhstan |accessdate= |docket= }}</ref>

==Major tributaries==
In Kyrgyzstan, 4892 rivers and canals flow into Chu River.<ref name="encyc">{{cite book
|title=Чүй облусу:Энциклопедия
|trans_title=Encyclopedia of Chuy Oblast
|first=
|last=
|publisher=Chief Editorial Board of Kyrgyz Encyclopedia
|language=Kyrgyz, Russian
|location=Bishkek
|year=1994
|isbn=5-89750-083-5
|pages=718
}}</ref> The list of the major tributaries include:
*
* [[Chong-Kemin River]]
* [[Kichi-Kemin River]]
* [[Kara-Konuz River]]
* [[Shamshy River]]
* [[Ysyk-Ata River]]
* [[Alamudun River]]
* [[Ala-Archa River]]
* [[Jylamysh River]]
* [[Ak-Suu River (Chu)|Ak-Suu River]]
* [[Kara-Balta River]]

==Gallery==
<gallery>
Image:E8145-Chu-River.jpg|In the [[Boom Gorge]]
Image:balbal.jpg|A medieval [[balbal]] near [[Burana Tower]] in the Chuy Valley
Image:E8046-Chuy-Valley-Milyanfan-east.jpg|In the Chuy Valley near [[Milyanfan]]
Image:E7858-Korday-Chu.jpg|Near [[Korday]] border crossing
Image:E7840-Shu-city-river-crossing.jpg|Near [[Shu, Jambyl|Shu]], Kazakhstan
</gallery>

==References==
<references/>

{{commons category|Chu River}}

{{Rivers of Kazakhstan}}
{{Rivers of Kyrgyzstan}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Rivers of Kyrgyzstan]]
[[Category:Rivers of Kazakhstan]]
[[Category:Issyk-Kul Region]]
[[Category:Chuy Region]]
[[Category:Border rivers]]
[[Category:Jambyl Region]]
[[Category:Kazakhstan–Kyrgyzstan border]]
[[Category:International rivers of Asia]]

Talas River

2017-01-04T22:17:26Z

Markussep:

{{Refimprove|date=May 2011}}
{{Geobox|River

| name = Talas River
| native_name = Талас
| other_name =
| other_name1 =
| category_hide = 1

| image = TALAS RIVER.JPG
| image_size = 250
| image_caption = Talas River near Taraz

| etymology =

| country = [[Kyrgyzstan]]
| country1 = [[Kazakhstan]]
| state =
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| length = 661
| watershed = 52700
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}}

The '''Talas River''' rises in the [[Talas Region]] 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==
[[File:Syrdaryamap.png|thumb|right|300px|Talas River in the Syr Darya basin]]

During the [[Battle of Talas]] (named after the river) in 751, the [[Abbasid Caliphate|Abbasid]] force defeated the [[Tang Dynasty|Tang]] [[China|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.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BsoWAQAAIAAJ&pg=PA192&dq=city+of+talas+or+taraz+the+persian+historians+position+almalik+great+road+russian+map&hl=en&ei=2aDRTb6uA6fX0QHI6cSWDg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CDEQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=city%20of%20talas%20or%20taraz%20the%20persian%20historians%20position%20almalik%20great%20road%20russian%20map&f=false|title=The Chinese recorder, Volume 5|author=|year=1874|edition=|editor=|publisher=American Presbyterian Mission Press|location=|page=192|isbn=|pages=|accessdate=2011-05-08}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QwXwHwwtnYYC&pg=PA34&dq=further+to+the+west+we+arrived+in+four+days+call+the+chinese+pail+jar+bear&hl=en&ei=7KDRTazIE4H30gGDwZXgDQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CCoQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=further%20to%20the%20west%20we%20arrived%20in%20four%20days%20call%20the%20chinese%20pail%20jar%20bear&f=false|title=Notes on Chinese mediaeval travellers to the West|author=E. Bretschneider|year=1875|publisher=American Presbyterian Mission Press|location=|page=34|isbn=|pages=|accessdate=2011-05-08}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Rivers of Kazakhstan}}
{{Rivers of Kyrgyzstan}}

{{coord|43|55|N|70|30|E|region:KZ_type:waterbody_source:kolossus-cawiki|display=title}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Rivers of Kazakhstan]]
[[Category:Rivers of Kyrgyzstan]]
[[Category:Jambyl Region]]
[[Category:Talas Region]]
[[Category:International rivers of Asia]]

{{Kazakhstan-river-stub}}
{{Kyrgyzstan-river-stub}}