Kara Darya
The Kara Darya (Kyrgyz: Кара-Дарыя, Qara-Darıya/Kara-Daryýa, قارا-دارىيا; Uzbek: Qoradaryo, Қорадарё, قارەدەريا - literally black river)[1] or Qaradaryo (Russian: Карадарья) is a tributary of the Syr Darya in Kyrgyzstan and eastern Uzbekistan. The river is formed by the confluence of the rivers Kara-Kulja and Tar. Its length is 177 kilometres (110 mi), and watershed area 30,100 square kilometres (11,600 sq mi).[2] The upper Kara Darya flows northwest across eastern Osh Region southwest of and parallel to the Fergana Range. It enters the Ferghana Valley and Uzbek territory a few kilometres west of Uzgen at Andijan Dam. The lower course is through the Fergana Valley, where it is used for irrigation. In the Fergana Valley its confluence with the Naryn River forms the Syr Darya, the second largest river of Central Asia. There are several dams on the river.
Kara Darya Карадарыя, Карадарья | |
---|---|
Karadarya river near Andijan city | |
Etymology | Kara-Darya: Kyrgyz meaning "black river" |
Native name | Кара-Дарыя |
Location | |
Country | Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan |
Physical characteristics | |
Source | Confluence of Tar and Kara-Kulja |
• location | Kara-Kulja District, Osh Region, Kyrgyzstan |
• coordinates | 40.64867°N 73.42275°E |
Mouth | Syr Darya |
• coordinates | 40.9°N 71.75°E |
Length | 177 km (110 mi) |
Basin size | 30,100 km2 (11,600 sq mi) |
Discharge | |
• location | Uchtepa |
• average | 136 m3/s (4,800 cu ft/s) |
• minimum | 68.4 m3/s (2,420 cu ft/s) |
• maximum | 265 m3/s (9,400 cu ft/s) |
Basin features | |
Progression | Syr Darya→ North Aral Sea |
Tributaries | |
• left | Kurshab, Aravan-Say |
• right | Jazy, Kögart, Kara-Üngkür |
There are more than 200 known tributaries of Kara Darya; the largest are, from source to mouth:
- Kara-Kulja (right)
- Tar (left)
- Jazy (right)
- Kurshab (left)
- Kögart (right)
- Kara-Üngkür (right)
- Aravan-Say (left)
References
- Darya means "river", so Kara Darya River is a tautology.
- Карадарья, Great Soviet Encyclopedia