The Ashchykol Depression (Kazakh: Aştşyköl oipaty), is a depression in the Turkistan and Kyzylorda regions, Kazakhstan.[1]
Ashchykol Depression
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|---|---|
 Ashchykol Depression Sentinel-2 image | |
  Ashchykol Depression Location in Kazakhstan | |
| Coordinates: 45°10′N 67°25′E / 45.167°N 67.417°E | |
| Location | Kazakhstan |
| Dimensions | |
| • Length | 90 km (56 mi) |
| • Width | 25 km (16 mi) to 300 km (190 mi) |
| Elevation | 120 m (390 ft) to 200 m (660 ft) |
The village of Taykonyr, Suzak District, Turkistan Region is located in the depression.[1] The Ashchykol zone includes a 147,950 hectares (365,600 acres) Important Bird Area.[2]
Geography
editThe Ashchykol Depression lies between the lowest reaches of the Sarysu in the west and the mouth of the Chu river in the east. It extends roughly from east to west for a length of roughly 100 km (62 mi) to the southwest of the Betpak-Dala desert, west of the Moiynkum Desert and north of the northwestern end of the Karatau Range.[3]
It is a largely flat endorheic basin filled with mixed sand and clay deposits, as well as sandy alluvial sediments. There are numerous intermittent salt lakes and sors. The main lakes are Akzhaikyn and Ashchykol. In wet years the Chu river may reach lake Akzhaikyn at the eastern end and the Boktykaryn the Ashchykol lake. At the western end the Sarysu river usually ends in the Telikol lake. The latter is located between the western limit of the Ashchykol Depression and the Daryaly takir plain further to the west.[4][3]
Flora
editReeds and sedges may grow in marshy areas and lake shores. Wormwood, winterfat, Aeluropus and saltwort grow sparsely in the land areas in between.[4]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b Google Earth
- ^ Lakes in the lower reaches of the Chu River - BirdLife Data Zone
- ^ a b "L-42 Topographic Chart (in Russian)". Retrieved 25 July 2022.
- ^ a b Kazakhstan National Encyclopedia / Ch. ed. B.O. Jakyp. — Almaty: «Kazakh encyclopedia» ZhSS, 2011. ISBN 9965-893-64-0 (T.Z.), ISBN 9965-893-19-5
External links
edit
Media related to Ashchykol Depression at Wikimedia Commons
