Akbastau

For the mine, see Akbastau mine.

Akbastau Ақбастау
Sentinel-2 image of the confluence of rivers Akbastau (left) and Nura (right).
Mouth location in Kazakhstan
Location
Countries	Kazakhstan
Physical characteristics
Source	Zhaksy Karazhal Kazakh Uplands
• coordinates	49°08′44″N 74°12′37″E
• elevation	ca 850 metres (2,790 ft)
Mouth	Nura
• coordinates	49°36′39″N 74°19′44″E
• elevation	624 metres (2,047 ft)
Length	83 km (52 mi)
Basin size	1,570 km^2 (610 sq mi)
Discharge
• average	0.18 m^3/s (6.4 cu ft/s)

The Akbastau (Kazakh: Ақбастау; Russian: Ақбастау) is a river in Karkaraly District, Karaganda Region, Kazakhstan. It is 83 kilometres (52 mi) long and has a catchment area of 1,570 square kilometres (610 sq mi).^[1][2]

Course

The Akbastau has its sources in a spring of the northern slopes of Zhaksy Karazhal mountains, at the northern end of Shet District. It heads northwards as a mountain river, forming rapids within a narrow valley. Towards the end it enters a floodplain and its channel divides into branches and becomes sinuous, flowing roughly northwards all along. Finally it reaches the left bank of river Nura close to the western slopes of Mount Yegizkyzyl.^[1][3][2]

The Akbastau is fed by snow and groundwater. It is frozen between early December and mid-April. Its main tributaries are the Ainasu and Kamystybulak from the left, and the Kaskakudyk from the right. The water of the river stays fresh all year round. ^[2][3][4]

Ecology

The river basin is used as pasture for local cattle. Grasses, willow thickets, fescue and sedges grow near the banks.^[4]

See also

• List of rivers of Kazakhstan

References

1. Google Earth
2. "M-43 Topographic Chart (in Russian)". Retrieved 12 April 2024.
3. Kazakhstan National Encyclopedia Vol. 1 / Ch. ed. A. Nysanbayev. — Almaty: "Kazakh encyclopedia", 1998 ISBN 5-89800-123-9
4. Karaganda Region Encyclopedia. - Almaty: Atamura, 2006. ISBN 9965-34-515-5