Kara-Balta (river)

The Kara-Balta (Карабалта, Кара-Балта) is a transboundary river in Jayyl District of Chüy Region in northern Kyrgyzstan and in Shu District of Jambyl Region in southern Kazakhstan. It rises on north slopes of Kyrgyz Ala-Too, passes through the Sosnovka Gorge, flowing through the Chüy Valley from south to north. The river discharge in Ak-Suu, itself a tributary of the Chu, in Kazakhstan. The Kara-Balta river is 133 km long, and has a drainage basin of 577 km2. Its average annual discharge is 5.25 m3/s. The catchment area contains small glaciers covering an area of 8 km2 and small lakes with an area of 2.22 km2. It flows through the settlements Sosnovka, Kara-Balta and Stavropolovka.