Ili River

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Ili River
River-ili-2.jpg
Ili River
Location
Country Kazakhstan and China
Physical characteristics
Source 
 • locationTekes and Künes rivers
 • elevation Tian Shan
Mouth  
 • location
 Lake Balkhash
Length1,439 km (894 mi)
Basin size140,000 km2 (54,000 sq mi)
Discharge 
 • average480 m3/s (17,000 cu ft/s)
Official nameIli River Delta and South Lake Balkhash
Designated1 January 2012
Reference no.2020 [1]
Map of the Lake Balkhash drainage basin showing the Ili River and its tributaries Lakebalkhashbasinmap.png
Map of the Lake Balkhash drainage basin showing the Ili River and its tributaries

The Ili River (Uyghur : ئىلى دەرياسى‎‎, ULY : Ili deryasi, UYY : Ili dəryasi ? , Или Дәряси; Kazakh : Ile, ئله; Russian : Или; Chinese :伊犁河; pinyin :Yīlí Hé; Dungan : Йили хә, Xiao'erjing: اِلِ حْ; Mongolian : Ил, literally "Bareness") is a river situated in Northwestern China and Southeastern Kazakhstan. It flows from the Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture of the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region to the Almaty Region in Kazakhstan.

Contents

It is 1,439 kilometres (894 mi) long, 815 kilometres (506 mi) of which is in Kazakhstan. The river originates from the Tekes and Künes) rivers in Eastern Tian Shan. The Ili River drains the basin between the Tian Shan and the Borohoro Mountains. Flowing into Lake Balkhash, the Ili forms a large delta with vast wetland regions of lakes, marshes and vegetation. [2] [3]

Etymology

Earlier mentions of Ili river can be traced back to the Mahmud al-Kashgari's dictionary of Turkic languages, the Dīwānu l-Luġat al-Turk (written in 1072–74). In the book, the author defines it in the following way: "Ili, the name of a river. Turkic tribes of Yaghma, Tokhsi and Chiglig live on its banks. Turkish countries regard the river as their Jayhoun (Amu Darya)." [4] The name possibly originated from Uyghur word Il, meaning hook, resembling the river's geographical shape. [5]

Chinese region

Qing bases in the Ili region, ca. 1809. Note that the map is upside down, i.e. the north is at the bottom, and the east is on the left Yili-military-complex-ca-1809.jpg
Qing bases in the Ili region, ca. 1809. Note that the map is upside down, i.e. the north is at the bottom, and the east is on the left

The upper Ili Valley is separated from the Dzungarian Basin in the north (by the Borohoro Mountains), and from the Tarim Basin in the south (by the Tian Shan). This region was the stronghold of the Qing administration in Xinjiang in the late 18th and 19th centuries. It was occupied by Russia from 1871 to 1881 (from the Yaqub Beg rebellion until the Treaty of Saint Petersburg (1881)).

Presently, the region forms part of Xinjiang's Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture. The main city of the region, Yining (Kulja), is located on the northern side of the river (about 100 kilometres (62 mi) upstream from the international border). Until the early 1900s, the city was commonly known under the same name as the river, 伊犁 (Pinyin: Yīlí; Wade-Giles: Ili). Qapqal Xibe Autonomous County in located on the southern side, which is home to many of the China's Xibe people (who resettled there in the 18th century as part of the Manchu Garrison).

There are at least two dams on the Ili's tributary: the Kash River (喀什河) in Nilka County, at 43°51′40″N82°50′52″E / 43.86111°N 82.84778°E / 43.86111; 82.84778 and 43°51′14″N82°48′08″E / 43.85389°N 82.80222°E / 43.85389; 82.80222 . At least two dams have been constructed on the Ili's left tributary, the Tekes River, and the Qiapuqihai Hydropower Station (恰甫其海水电站) in Tokkuztara County ( 43°18′14″N82°29′05″E / 43.30389°N 82.48472°E / 43.30389; 82.48472 ). There is also another smaller dam at 43°23′41″N82°29′20″E / 43.39472°N 82.48889°E / 43.39472; 82.48889 , on the border of Tokkuztara and Künes Counties.

Kazakh region

On the Kapchagay Reservoir Kapchigai lake.jpg
On the Kapchagay Reservoir

The region of Kazakhstan partially drained by the Ili and its tributaries is known in Kazakh as Zhetysu ('Seven Rivers'). In Russian it is known as Semirechye (meaning the same).

The Kapshagay Hydroelectric Power Plant was constructed between 1965 and 1970 near Kapchagay in the middle reaches of the Ili River. [6] This currently comprises the Kapchagay Reservoir, an artificial 110 kilometres (70 mi) long lake north of Almaty.

The Tamgaly-Tas, a protected site that comprises rock drawings, is located 20 kilometres (12 mi) downstream along the Ili River. The name Tamgaly in Kazakh means "painted" or "marked place" (Tas means "stone").

Ili Delta

Balkhash lake with Ili delta Balkhash labeled eng.jpg
Balkhash lake with Ili delta

The Ili River flows into the southeastern edge of Lake Balkhash, where it forms a large delta of about 8,000 square kilometres (3,100 sq mi). The delta is situated between the Saryesik-Atyrau Desert and the Taukum Desert. An area of 9,766 km2 (3,771 sq mi) within the delta has been designated as a Ramsar Site. This site has 427 species of plants and 345 species of animals, including important populations of rare species (Dalmatian pelican, goitered gazelle, marbled polecat, white-headed duck, red-breasted goose, ship sturgeon, and others). [1] The delta has also become popular amongst anglers for its wels catfish, which can grow up to over 300 lb (140 kg). The Ili river ranks third in Kazakhstan after the Irtysh river and the Ural river in terms of water content.

The Government of Kazakhstan plans to join the three sanctuaries Balkash, Karoy and Kukan (situated in the delta) into one National Park. [7] Until 1948, the delta was a refuge of the extinct Caspian tiger. An introduction of the Siberian tiger to the delta has been proposed on account that it is a genetically close relative of the Caspian tiger. A large population of wild boar, the main prey base of the Caspian tiger, can be still found in the delta. There is also a small population of roe deer. In the drier steppes to the south of the delta live saiga antelopes and goitered gazelles.

Reintroduction of the Bactrian deer, another prey of the Caspian tiger, is currently under consideration. Another potential prey species considered to be reintroduced is the Asiatic wild ass. [8]

Historical connections

The Ili River treaty of 638 AD formalized the division of the Western Turkic Kaganate (552–638 AD) into the Nushibi and the Dulu. It also established the Ili River as the border between the two states. [9] In the 21st century, increasing need for water in both China and Kazakhstan makes the management of the cross-border Ili River a topic of concern for environmentalists and politicians in Kazakhstan (who feel that their country may not get enough water flowing in from China any more). [10]

The amount of precipitation in summer reaches 150-250 cubic meters.

Fishing

On the river, the most popular type of fishing is fishing for catfish, one of the largest aquatic predators, which reaches 5 meters in length and weighs up to 300 kg. on the river , or catch smaller specimens – 50 – 100 kg.

Tributaries

Related Research Articles

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Tian Shan system of mountain ranges located in Central Asia

The Tian Shan, also known as the Tengri Tagh or Tengir-Too, meaning the Mountains of Heaven or the Heavenly Mountain, is a large system of mountain ranges located in Central Asia. The highest peak in the Tian Shan is Jengish Chokusu, at 7,439 metres (24,406 ft) high. Its lowest point is the Turpan Depression, which is 154 m (505 ft) below sea level.

Uyghur language Turkic language spoken by the Uyghur people

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Lake Balkhash lake in southeastern Kazakhstan

Lake Balkhash is one of the largest lakes in Asia and 15th largest in the world. It is located in Central Asia in southeastern Kazakhstan and belongs to an endorheic (closed) basin shared by Kazakhstan and China, with a small portion in Kyrgyzstan. The basin drains into the lake via seven rivers, the primary of which is the Ili River, bringing the majority of the riparian inflow; others, such as the Karatal, provide both surface and subsurface flow. The Ili is fed by precipitation, largely vernal snowmelt, from the mountains of China's Xinjiang region.

Zhetysu Historical toponym in Central Asia

Zhetysu, Jeti-Suu or Semirechye is a historical name of a part of Central Asia, corresponding to the southeastern part of modern Kazakhstan. It owes its name, meaning "seven rivers" in Kazakh and Persian, to the rivers which flow from the south-east into Lake Balkhash.

Charyn Canyon canyon on the Charyn River in Kazakhstan

Charyn Canyon is a canyon on the Sharyn River in Kazakhstan. The canyon is roughly 90 kilometres (56 mi) in length. It is part of the Charyn National Park, and is located within the territory of the Uygur District, Raiymbek District and Enbekshikazakh District. Over time, the canyon has gained colorful formations of varying shapes and sizes. Though it is much smaller than the Grand Canyon, it has been described as being equally impressive.

Karatal River river in Kazakhstan

The Karatal River, also known as the Qaratal River, is a river in Kazakhstan that originates in the Dzungarian Alatau Mountains near the border of with China and flows into Lake Balkhash. It is the easternmost of two large rivers that flow into the lake; the other is the Ili River. The Karatal is one of the main rivers of the historic region of Zhetysu.

Bortala Mongol Autonomous Prefecture Autonomous prefecture in Xinjiang, Peoples Republic of China

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Qapqal Xibe Autonomous County Autonomous county in Xinjiang, Peoples Republic of China

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Almaty Region Region of Kazakhstan

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Saryesik-Atyrau Desert

The Saryesik Atyrau Desert stretches for about 400 km south of Lake Balkhash in eastern Kazakhstan. It is a sand desert, relatively ecologically healthy with little erosion. There are a great number of small lakes and ponds in the desert, as well as occasional grasslands, that support a varied animal and bird population. In September 2017, English explorer Jamie Maddison completed a 70-mile, 30 hour ultra-marathon to make the first recorded on-foot crossing of the desert.

Bakanas village in Almaty Region, Kazakhstan

Bakanas is a village in the Kazakhstan, the regional center of Balkhash district of Almaty region. The administrative center of the Bakanas rural district. The Bakanas is the final pier on the banks of the Ili river. To the North of Bakanas began the ancient delta of the Ili - Bakanas river of the same name. Now it is the territory of the Saryesik - Atyrau desert. At the village begins the world's northernmost massif - Akdalinsk, laid out in the 1970s.

China–Kazakhstan relations Diplomatic relations between the Peoples Republic of China and the Republic of Kazakhstan

China–Kazakhstan relations refer to the relations between historical China and the Kazakhs up to the modern relations between the PRC and Kazakhstan. Ever since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1992, friendly and stable political, cultural, and economic ties have developed between the two. Kazakhstan recognizes the PRC as representing all of China and supports Chinese unification. The Communist Party of China and Kazakhstan's Nur Otan have good ties. China has said that it values exchanges between the two parties and hopes to strengthen ties and cooperation even further.

Kapchagay Place in Almaty Region, Kazakhstan

Kapshagay is a city in Almaty Region of Kazakhstan. It is located on the Ili River, and has been built along with the construction of Kapshagay Dam on that river in the 1960s. The dam has formed Kapchagay Reservoir, a popular weekend destination for beach-goers from Almaty. Population: 39,855 ; 33,428.

Charyn River river in Kazakhstan

The Charyn River is a river in the Almaty Province of Kazakhstan. It flows through the Charyn National Park and merges into the Ili River, which is considered to be the largest artery of Lake Balkhash. The Charyn River is 427 kilometres (265 mi) long. It runs through the territory of Kegen and Uighur regions, forming up the Charyn Canyon.

Shelek Town in Almaty Region, Kazakhstan

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Uyghurs in Kazakhstan or Uyghur Kazakhstanis, are a Turkic ethnic group who primarily practice Islam. Uyghurs form the country's seventh-largest ethnic group, according to the 1999 census.

The Emil River or Emin River, also spelled Emel, Imil, etc., is a river in China and Kazakhstan. It flows through Tacheng (Tarbagatay) Prefecture of China's Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region and the East Kazakhstan Province of Kazakhstan, and is one of the principal affluents of Lake Alakol.

The Borohoro Mountains is one of the major ranges of the Tian Shan mountain system. It is almost entirely located within in China's Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, with only a few westernmost peaks being in Kazakhstan.

Siberian Tiger Introduction Project reestablishment of Siberian tiger populations

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References

  1. 1 2 "Ili River Delta and South Lake Balkhash". Ramsar Sites Information Service. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
  2. ↑ Ili River
  3. ↑ Ili river Kazakhstan
  4. ↑ Mahmud Kashgari, Dīwānu l-Luġat al-Turk (En: Compendium of the languages of the Turks). Vol I, p124. 1072–1074
  5. ↑ Adil Arup, Ili atalghusi heqqide (Etymology of Ili), Journal of Ili Darya, in Uyghur, 2007
  6. ↑ Kezer, K.; Matsuyama, H. (2006). "Decrease of river runoff in the Lake Balkhash basin in Central Asia". Hydrological Processes. 20 (6): 1407–1423. doi:10.1002/hyp.6097.
  7. ↑ Masha Vinokurova (Press officer), Olga Pereladova (Head of the WWF Central Asia Programme): Kazakhstan names large inland delta, WWF Information February, 2012
  8. ↑ Hartmut Jungius (2010). Feasibility Study on the Possible Restoration of the Caspian Tiger in Central Asia Archived 2011-11-17 at the Wayback Machine . WWF
  9. ↑ Zuev Yu.L., The strongest tribe, Almaty, 2004, pp. 55–6,
  10. ↑ Stone, Richard (2012-07-27), "For China and Kazakhstan, No Meeting of the Minds on Water" (PDF), Science, 337: 405–407[ permanent dead link ]

Coordinates: 45°24′N74°08′E / 45.400°N 74.133°E / 45.400; 74.133

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