| Talas River (Талас) | |
| River | |
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Talas River near Taraz
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| Countries | Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan |
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| Length | 661 km (411 mi) |
| Basin | 52,700 km2 (20,348 sq mi) |
The Talas River rises in the Talas Province of Kyrgyzstan and flows west into Kazakhstan. It is formed from the confluence of the Karakol and Uch-Koshoy. It runs through the city of Taraz in Zhambyl Province of Kazakhstan and vanishes before reaching Lake Aydyn.
The Ili, Chu and Talas rivers are three steppe rivers that flow west and then northwest. The Ili River rises in Xinjiang, flows west to a point north of Lake Issyk Kul and then turns northwest to reach Lake Balkash. The Chu River rises west of Lake Issyk Kul, flows out into the steppe and dries up before reaching the Syr Darya. The Talas River starts west and south of the Chu, flows west and northwest, but dries up before reaching the Chu.
During the Battle of Talas (named after the river) in 751, the combined Arab, and Turkic forces defeated the invading Tang Chinese blocking Tang Dynasty's westward expansion.
The Chinese monk Xuanzang arrived from the Chui river to Talas during one of his journeys.[1][2]
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