Ulkayak
| Ulkayak Өлкейек / улькаяк | |
|---|---|
 Sentinel-2image with the lower Ulkayak and lake Kyzylkol in the upper left | |
  Mouth location in Kazakhstan | |
| Location | |
| Countries | Kazakhstan |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | Confluence of Zhantai and Tolybai rivers |
| • coordinates | 50°31′18″N62°18′56″E/ 50.52167°N 62.31556°E |
| Mouth | Kyzylkol |
• coordinates | 48°54′41″N62°00′26″E/ 48.91139°N 62.00722°E |
• elevation | 77 metres (253 ft) |
| Length | 349 km (217 mi) |
| Basin size | 13,300 km2(5,100 sq mi) |
| Discharge | |
| • average | 1.6 m3/s (57 cu ft/s) |
| Basin features | |
| Progression | Kyzylkol→Ayrkol→Turgay |
TheUlkayak(Kazakh:Өлкейек;Russian:улькаяк) is a river inKazakhstan.It has a length of 349 kilometres (217 mi) and a catchment area of 13,300 square kilometres (5,100 sq mi).[1]
It is one of the rivers of the southern part of theTurgay Depression,belonging to the Irgyz -Turgayecoregion.[2]It flows across theZhangeldi Districtof theKostanay Region,Kazakhstan.[3]There are historicalKazakhsites in the valley of the Ulkayak.[4][5]
Course
[edit]The Ulkayak is formed at the confluence of rivers Zhantai (Жантай) and Tolybai (Толыбай). The river flows first southwestwards acrosssteppeterritory within a flat valley. It cuts across some gorges along its course, the longest of which is 9.8 km (6.1 mi). Towards its last stretch its valley widens and the rivermeandersheading roughly southwards. Finally it flows into theKyzylkol,asalt lakewhich is connected with theTurgaythrough a system of lakes linked by channels. The water of the river is fresh, but it turns brackish in the summer, when the river dries in stretches and its flow almost stops.[6]
Tributaries
[edit]The 144 km (89 mi) longKabyrgaand the 48 km (30 mi) longKarabutakare the main tributaries of the Ulkayak. The river freezes yearly between early November and late March. Its main food is snow.[6][1]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^abKazakhstan National Encyclopedia/ Ch. ed. B.O. Jakyp. — Almaty: « Kazakh encyclopedia» ZhSS, 2011. ISBN 9965-893-64-0(T.Z.),ISBN 9965-893-19-5
- ^Irgyz - Turgai — Freshwater Ecoregions of the World
- ^Google Earth
- ^Excursion bus tours in Kazakhstan - silkadv
- ^Экспедиция на Улькаяк © e-history.kz
- ^ab"M-41 Topographic Chart (in Russian)".Retrieved23 August2022.
