Kichi-Kemin River
| Kichi-Kemin River (Кичи-Кемин дарыясы) | |
| River | |
| Countries | Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan |
|---|---|
| Source | |
| - elevation | 3,495 m (11,467 ft) |
| - coordinates | 42°51′53″N 76°18′25″E / 42.86472°N 76.30694°E |
| Mouth | Chu River |
| - elevation | 1,001 m (3,284 ft) |
| - coordinates | 42°49′52″N 75°33′25″E / 42.83111°N 75.55694°E |
| Length | 81 km (50 mi) |
| Basin | 614 km2 (237 sq mi) |
The Kichi-Kemin River (Kyrgyz: Кичи-Кемин) is a river in Kemin District of Chuy Province of Kyrgyzstan and Korday District of Kazakhstan. It is a right tributary of the Chu River in Chuy Valley. It has a length of 81 km with a basin area of 614 km ².[1]
Course
The source of Kichi-Kemin River is high in the shoots of Trans-Ili Alatau in Kyrgyzstan. For about 10 km the river flows to the north and than to the west along Kyrgyzstan - Kazakhstan border from altitude of about 3500 m to 2500 m. The river passes through urban-type settlement Ak-Tuz and flows to the southwest in a narrow gorge. Further, it passes through village Imeni Il'icha and enters Kichi-Kemin Valley. The Kichi-Kemin River turns west and passes near villages Kichi-Kemin, Boroldoy, and Beysheke. It flows in parallel to Chu River at a distance of 3–4 km and crosses Kyrgyzstan - Kazakhstan border. In Kazakhstan, in passes near villages Karasay batyr and Enbek gradually approaching Chu River, and flow into it near Chim-Kurgan.
Ecology and environment
Contamination of the River
In 1964, mudflows damaged tailings pond No.2 located in vicinity of Kichi-Kemin River and 1.5 million meters3 of radioactive tailings contaminated the river and lower part of Kichi-Kemin Valley with thorium, lead, copper, zinc, beryllium and other heavy metals.[2]
Environmental Monitoring
The Kyrgyz State Agency on Hydrometeorology runs two water quality monitoring stations on the Kichi-Kemin River: one of them is located in 3 km upstream and another in 8 km downstream of Ak-Tuz.[3]
References
- ↑ Чүй облусу:Энциклопедия [Encyclopedia of Chuy Oblast] (in Kyrgyz and Russian). Bishkek: Chief Editorial Board of Kyrgyz Encyclopedia. 1994. p. 718. ISBN 5-89750-083-5.
- ↑ Stavinskiy, V.; Shukurov, E.; Suyumbaev, M. (2001), "Mining Industry and Sustainable Development in Kyrgyzstan", in Bogdetsky (editor), V., Mining, Minerals, and Sustainable Development No.110, International Institute for Sustainable Development, p. 62, G00573 http://www.iied.org/
|url=missing title (help) - ↑ "Kyrgyz State Agency on Hydrometeorology: water quality". Retrieved 2010-09-04.
