Sarysu

Sarysu 

a river in Dzhezkazgan and Kzyl-Orda oblasts, Kazakh SSR. The Sarysu measures 671 km long and drains an area of 81,600 sq km. It originates at the confluence of the Zhaman-Sarysu and Zhaksy-Sarysu rivers. It flows southwesterly within the Kazakh Melkosopochnik; the lower course skirts the western edge of the Betpak-Dala Desert. In the upper course the valley is narrow, and in the lower course it ranges from 5 to 10 km in width. The downstream section is a vast debris cone. The Sarysu is fed by snow. The mean flow rate measured 382 km from the mouth is 7.3 cu m per sec. The river dries up in the upper and lower courses in July and remains dry through January. The flow is constant below the Kara-Kengir, a left tributary of the Sarysu. The Sarysu is used for industrial water supply and for irrigation.