Kara-Balta (river)

Kara-Balta
Native name	Карабалта (Kyrgyz)
Location
Countries	Kyrgyzstan Kazakhstan
Physical characteristics
Mouth	Ak-Suu
• coordinates	43.2662°N 73.9961°E / 43.2662; 73.9961
Length	133 km (83 mi)
Basin size	577 km^2 (223 sq mi)
Discharge
• average	5.25 m^3/s (185 cu ft/s)
Basin features
Progression	Ak-Suu→ Chu→ Betpak-Dala desert

The Kara-Balta (Kyrgyz: Карабалта, Russian: Кара-Балта) is a transboundary river in Jayyl District of Chüy Region in northern Kyrgyzstan and in Shu District of Jambyl Region in southern Kazakhstan. It rises on north slopes of Kyrgyz Ala-Too, passes through the Sosnovka Gorge, flowing through the Chüy Valley from south to north. The river discharge in Ak-Suu, itself a tributary of the Chu, in Kazakhstan.[1][2] The Kara-Balta river is 133 kilometres (83 mi) long, and has a drainage basin of 577 square kilometres (223 sq mi). Its average annual discharge is 5.25 m^3/s (185 cu ft/s). The catchment area contains small glaciers covering an area of 8 square kilometres (3.1 sq mi) and small lakes with an area of 2.22 square kilometres (0.86 sq mi).[3] It flows through the settlements Sosnovka, Kara-Balta and Stavropolovka.[3]

References

1. "The State of the Environment of Central Asia" (PDF). Zoinet. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
2. Masson, Vadim (1982). По следам памятников истории и культуры Киргизстана [Tracing the Historical and Cultural Monuments of Kyrgyzstan] (in Russian). Ilim. p. 61.
3. "Карабалта" [Karabalta] (PDF). Кыргызстандын Географиясы [Geography of Kyrgyzstan] (in Kyrgyz). Bishkek. 2004. p. 190.