Aktash (river)

The Aktash (Акташ) is a river in the Kasbek and Khasavyurt districts of the Republic of Daghestan in Caucasian Russia. It is 156 km long, with its width varying from 1.5 meters (5 ft) to 160 m. It has an overall slope of 14%. Its watershed is 3390 km2.

Name
Aktash derives from the Turkic ak- ("white") and taş ("stone").

History
The river's basin was settled by the Mountain Cossacks from the 1520s. The Don Cossacks arrived under Andrei Shadrin in the late 1570s, founding Andreyevo (present-day Endirey). The two groups eventually formed the Terek Cossacks. The mountainous area of the river was depopulated in 1877 by the Russian Adjutant-General Svistunov to prevent possible uprisings in support of Alibek Haji.

Diversion of the river for irrigation now means that it usually does not reach the Caspian Sea during the summer months.

Tributaries
Major tributaries include:
 * Tsyrkikal
 * Salasu
 * Yaryksu
 * Aksay