Talas River

Talas Талас
Talas River near Taraz
Course of the Talas
Location
Country	Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan
Physical characteristics
Source
• location	confluence of the Karakol and Uch-Koshoy
• coordinates	42.4902°N 72.567°E / 42.4902; 72.567
• elevation	1,497 m (4,911 ft)
Mouth	Muyunkum Desert
• location	Akzhar lakes
• coordinates	44.0600°N 69.6600°E / 44.0600; 69.6600
• elevation	300 m (980 ft)
Length	661 km (411 mi)
Basin size	52,700 km^2 (20,300 sq mi)

The Talas (Kyrgyz, Kazakh: Талас) is a river that rises in the Talas Region of Kyrgyzstan and flows west into Kazakhstan. The river is 661 kilometres (411 mi) long and has a basin area of 52,700 square kilometres (20,300 sq mi).

Course

It is formed from the confluence of the Karakol and the Uch-Koshoy and flows roughly west and northwest. It runs through the city of Taraz in Zhambyl Province of Kazakhstan and vanishes in the Muyunkum Desert before reaching Lake Aydyn.^[1]

The Ili, Chu and Talas are three steppe rivers that flow west and then north-west. The Ili rises in Xinjiang, flows west to a point north of Lake Issyk Kul and then turns north-west to reach Lake Balkash. The Chu rises west of Lake Issyk Kul, flows out into the steppe and dries up before reaching the Syr Darya. The Talas starts west and south of the Chu, flows west and north-west, but dries up before reaching the Chu.

History

Talas River in the Syr Darya basin

During the Battle of Talas (named after the river) in 751, the Abbasid force defeated the Tang 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.^[2][3]

References

1. Талас (река), Great Soviet Encyclopedia
2. The Chinese recorder, Volume 5. American Presbyterian Mission Press. 1874. p. 192. Retrieved 2011-05-08.
3. E. Bretschneider (1875). Notes on Chinese mediaeval travellers to the West. American Presbyterian Mission Press. p. 34. Retrieved 2011-05-08. further to the west we arrived in four days at the T'a-la-su mo-lien [Talas muren] ... The river, which is deep and broad, comes from the east...