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The Irtysh / ɜːr ˈ t ɪ ʃ , ˈ ɪər t ɪ ʃ / is a river in Russia , China , and Kazakhstan . It is the chief tributary of the Ob and is also the longest tributary river in the world.

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64-803: The river's source lies in the Mongolian Altai in Dzungaria (the northern part of Xinjiang , China) close to the border with Mongolia . The Irtysh's main tributaries include the Tobol , Demyanka and the Ishim . The Ob-Irtysh system forms a major drainage basin in Asia , encompassing most of Western Siberia and the Altai Mountains. From its origins as the Kara-Irtysh (Black Irtysh) in

128-596: A (sparse) chain of guard posts on both sides. In the summer of 1828, the Prussian explorer Alexander von Humboldt visited the Irtysh region on his journey through Russia and Central Asia; he came face-to-face with Chinese and Mongol border guards. The situation in the borderlands in the mid-19th century is described in a report by A. Abramof ( ru ; 1865). Even though the Zaysan region was recognized by both parties as part of

192-754: A big bend, the river (600 km (370 mi) long) pierces the Katun Belki , and enters a wider valley, lying at an elevation of 600–1,100 m (2,000–3,600 ft), which it follows until it emerges from the Altai highlands to join the Biya River . Here, the two rivers merge together to form the Ob River . The next valley is that of the Charysh , which has the Korgon and Tigeretsk Range on one side and

256-566: A few kilometres upstream from the mouth of the Tobol (where today's Tobolsk is situated). The Khanate of Sibir was conquered by the Russians in the 1580s. The Russians started building fortresses and towns next to the sites of former Tatar towns; one of the first Russian towns in Siberia (after Tyumen ) was Tobolsk , founded in 1587 at the fall of the Tobol into the Irtysh, downstream from

320-531: A grotto in this glacier bursts tumultuously the Katun river. The middle and lower parts of the Bukhtarma valley have been colonized since the 18th century by runaway Russian peasants, serfs, and religious schismatics ( Raskolniks ), who created a free republic there on Chinese territory ; and after this part of the valley was annexed to Russia in 1869, it was rapidly colonized. The high valleys farther north, on

384-513: A report published by Kazakhstan fishery researchers in 2013, the total Irtysh water use in China is about 3 cubic kilometres (0.7 cu mi) per year; as a result, only about 2/3 of what would be the river's "natural" flow (6 km out of 9 km) reach the Kazakh border. Major cities along the Irtysh, from source to mouth, include: Seven railway bridges span the Irtysh. They are located in

448-566: A system of remote mountains in central Asia that cover an area of 845,000 km (326,000 sq mi). The mountains stretch for 2,525 km (1,569 mi) from northwest to southeast. In the north of the region is the Sailughem Mountains , also known as Kolyvan Altai , which stretch northeast from 49° N and 86° E towards the western extremity of the Sayan Mountains in 51° 60' N and 89° E. Their mean elevation

512-489: Is 1,500–1,750 m (4,920–5,740 ft). The snow-line runs at 2,000 m (6,600 ft) on the northern side and at 2,400 m (7,900 ft) on the southern, and above it the rugged peaks tower some 1,000 m (3,300 ft) higher. Mountain passes across the range are few and difficult, the chief being the Ulan-daban at 2,827 m (9,275 ft) (or 2,879 m (9,446 ft) according to Kozlov), and

576-546: Is a small herd in a nursery in the Altai Republic . Moor frogs are near bodies of water as high up as 2,000 m (6,600 ft) in the Altai mountains. The Altai mountains have retained a remarkably stable climate, changing little since the last ice age. In addition the mix of mammals has remained largely the same, with a few exceptions such as extinct mammoths, making it one of the few places on earth to retain an ice age fauna. The Altai mountains were home to

640-531: Is also a protected site. Violations of the protection status of Argali sheep and other species have been alleged, together with accusations of corruption, in the Altaigate Scandal . The incident arose from the death of several Russian VIPs in a helicopter crash early in 2009, purportedly on a poaching excursion. The Siberian Altai represents the northernmost region affected by the tectonic collision of India into Asia. Extensive fault systems run through

704-671: Is also called Uch-Sumer. The second highest peak of the range is in Mongolian part named Khüiten Peak . This massive peak reaches 4,374 m (14,350 ft). Numerous spurs, striking in all directions from the Sailughem mountains, fill up the space between that range and the lowlands of Tomsk . Such are the Chuya Belki , having an average elevation of 2,700 m (8,900 ft), with summits from 3,500–4,177 m (11,483–13,704 ft) and several glaciers on their northern slope;

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768-685: Is an example of a steppe region in North America outside of the Great Plains. In South America , cold steppe can be found in Patagonia and much of the high elevation regions east of the southern Andes . Relatively small steppe areas can be found in the interior of the South Island of New Zealand . In Australia , a moderately sized temperate steppe region exists in the northern and northwest regions of Victoria , extending to

832-684: Is another steppe region in Central Europe , centered in Hungary but also including portions of Slovakia , Poland , Ukraine , Romania , Serbia , Croatia , Slovenia , and Austria . Another large steppe area ( prairie ) is located in the central United States , western Canada and the northern part of Mexico . The shortgrass prairie steppe is the westernmost part of the Great Plains region. The Columbia Plateau in southern British Columbia , Oregon , Idaho , and Washington state ,

896-816: Is based on bovine , sheep , horse husbandry , hunting , agriculture , forestry , and mining . The proposed Altaic language family takes its name from this mountain range. Altai is derived from underlying form * altañ "gold, golden" (compare Old Turkic 𐰞𐱃𐰆𐰣 altun "gold, golden") with coda -ñ underlying the -n & -y correspondence among cognates in different Turkic languages & dialects (e.g. qōñ ~ qoy "sheep", Qitan ~ Qitay "Khitans", etc.), as well as in Mongolian. The mountains are called Altain nuruu ( Алтайн нуруу ) in Khalkha Mongolian , altai-yin niruɣu in Chakhar Mongolian , and Altay tuular ( Алтай туулар ) in

960-967: Is found in Eastern Europe and Central Asia , and neighbouring countries stretching from Ukraine in the west through Russia , Kazakhstan , Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan to the Altai , Koppet Dag and Tian Shan ranges in China . The Eurasian Steppe is speculated by David W. Anthony to have had a role in the spread of the horse, the wheel and Indo-European languages . In the Eurasian steppe, soils often consist of chernozem . The inner parts of Anatolia in Turkey , Central Anatolia and East Anatolia in particular and also some parts of Southeast Anatolia , as well as much of Armenia and Iran are largely dominated by cold steppe. The Pannonian Plain

1024-685: Is studded with large lakes, e.g. Uvs 720 m (2,360 ft) above sea level, Khyargas , Dorgon and Khar 1,170 m (3,840 ft), and traversed by various mountain ranges , of which the principal are the Tannu-Ola Mountains , running roughly parallel with the Sayan Mountains as far east as the Kosso-gol , and the Khan Khökhii mountains, also stretching west and east. The north western and northern slopes of

1088-569: Is very difficult. The oldest known text that describes skiing is from a Chinese text that dates to the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC to 24 AD) and refers to skiers in the Altai Mountains. A vast area of 16,178 km (6,246 sq mi) , which incorporates the Altai and Katun Natural Reserves, Lake Teletskoye , Mount Belukha , and the Ukok Plateau , this area is designated as a World Heritage Site (UNESCO), entitled

1152-783: The Altay language . They are also called Алтай таулары or التاي تاۋلارى in Kazakh ; Altajskije gory ( Алтайские горы ) in Russian ; Altay Taghliri ( ىالتاي تاغلىرى ‎ or Алтай Тағлири ) in Uyghur ; ā'ěrtài shānmài in Chinese ( 阿尔泰山脉 simplified , 阿爾泰山脈 traditional , or اَعَرتَىْ شًامَىْ in Xiao'erjing ); and Arteː shanmeː ( Артэ Шанмэ ) in Dungan . The Altai Mountains are

1216-586: The Chapchan-daban , at 3,217 m (10,554 ft), in the south and north respectively. On the east and southeast this range is flanked by the great plateau of Mongolia, the transition being affected gradually by means of several minor plateaus, such as Ukok (2,380 m (7,810 ft)) with Pazyryk Valley, Chuya (1,830 m (6,000 ft)), Kendykty (2,500 m (8,200 ft)), Kak (2,520 m (8,270 ft)), (2,590 m (8,500 ft)), and (2,410 m (7,910 ft)). This region

1280-698: The Denisovan branch of hominids who were contemporaries of Neanderthals and of Homo sapiens (modern humans), descended from Hominids who reached Asia earlier than modern humans. The Denisova hominin , dated to 40,000 years ago, was discovered in the Denisova Cave of the Altai mountains in southern Siberia in 2008. Knowledge of the Denisovan humans derives primarily from DNA evidence and artifacts, as no complete skeletons have yet been recovered. DNA evidence has been unusually well preserved because of

1344-624: The Golden Mountains of Altai . As stated in the UNESCO description of the site, "the region represents the most complete sequence of altitudinal vegetation zones in central Siberia, from steppe, forest-steppe, mixed forest, subalpine vegetation to alpine vegetation". While making its decision, UNESCO also cited Russian Altai's importance for preservation of the globally endangered mammals, such as Snow leopard , Altai argali , and Siberian ibex that live in these mountains. The Uvs Nuur basin

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1408-659: The Katun Belki , which have a mean elevation of about 3,000 m (9,800 ft) and are mostly snow-clad; the Kholzun range; the Korgon , highest point Mayak Shangina , the Talitsk and Selitsk ranges; as well as the Tigeretsk Range . Several secondary plateaus of lower elevations are also distinguished by geographers. The Valley of the Katun river begins as a wild gorge on the south-west slope of Belukha; then, after

1472-661: The Khovd basin on the north from the Irtysh basin on the south, is a true border-range, in that it rises in a steep and lofty escarpment from the Dzungarian depression (470–900 m (1,540–2,950 ft)), but descends on the north by a relatively short slope to the plateau (1,150–1,680 m (3,770–5,510 ft)) of north-western Mongolia . East of 94° E the range is continued by a double series of mountain chains, all of which exhibit less sharply marked orographical features and are at considerably lower elevations. The slopes of

1536-901: The Mediterranean area also hosts the same steppe-like vegetation, such as the Algerian-Moroccan Hautes Plaines and by extension the North Saharan steppe and woodlands . In Asia , a subtropical steppe can be found in semi-arid lands that fringe the Thar Desert of the Indian subcontinent as well as much of the Deccan Plateau in the rain shadow of the Western Ghats , and the Badia of

1600-762: The Mongolian Altay mountains in Xinjiang , China , the Irtysh flows northwest through Lake Zaysan in Kazakhstan , meeting the Ishim and Tobol rivers before merging with the Ob near Khanty-Mansiysk in western Siberia, Russia after 4,248 kilometres (2,640 mi). The name Black Irtysh ( Kara-Irtysh in Kazakh, or Cherny Irtysh in Russian) is applied by some authors, especially in Russia and Kazakhstan, to

1664-844: The Project 635 Dam . There are also the Burqin Chonghu'er Dam and the Burqin Shankou Dam on the Irtysh's right tributary, the Burqin River and the Jilebulake Dam and Haba River Shankou Dam on another right tributary, the Haba River . The Northern river reversal proposals, widely discussed by the USSR planners and scientists in the 1960s and 1970s, would send some of the Irtysh's (and possibly Ob's) water to

1728-644: The Qing empire , it had been annually used, by fishing expeditions sent by the Siberian Cossack Host . The summer expeditions started in 1803, and in 1822–25 their range was expanded through the entire Lake Zaysan and to the mouth of the Black Irtysh. Through the mid-19th century, the Qing presence on the upper Irtysh was mostly limited to the annual visit of the Qing amban from Chuguchak to one of

1792-467: The Siberian ibex ( Capra sibirica ), whereas the rare argali ( Ovis ammon ) is found on more gentle slopes. Deer are represented by five species: Altai wapiti ( Cervus elaphus sibiricus ), moose ( Alces alces ), forest reindeer ( Rangifer tarandus valentinae ), Siberian musk deer ( Moschus moschiferus ), and Siberian roe deer ( Capreolus pygargus ). Moose and reindeer however, are restricted to

1856-630: The Talitsk and Baschelaksk Range (Бащелакский хребет) on the other. This, too, is very fertile. The Altai, seen from this valley, presents the most romantic scenes, including the small but deep Kolyvan Lake at an altitude of 360 m (1,180 ft), which is surrounded by fantastic granite domes and towers. Farther west the valleys of the Uba , the Ulba and the Bukhtarma open south-westwards towards

1920-453: The dam at Ust-Kamenogorsk . Plans exist for the construction of several more dams. Three dams have been constructed on the Chinese section of the Irtysh as well: the Keketuohai (可可托海) Dam ( 47°10′51″N 89°42′35″E  /  47.18083°N 89.70972°E  / 47.18083; 89.70972 ), the Kalasuke (喀腊塑克) Dam ( 47°08′14″N 88°53′15″E  /  47.13722°N 88.88750°E  / 47.13722; 88.88750 ), and

1984-495: The season and latitude . The term steppe climate denotes a semi-arid climate , which is encountered in regions too dry to support a forest , but not dry enough to be a desert . Steppes are usually characterized by a semi-arid or continental climate. Extremes can be recorded in the summer of up to 45 °C (115 °F) and in winter of down to −55 °C (−65 °F). Besides this major seasonal difference, fluctuations between day and night are also significant. In both

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2048-426: The (theoretical) possibility of a Chinese fleet sailing from Lake Zaysan down the Irtysh and into Western Siberia. A Russian expedition visited Lake Zaysan in 1764, and concluded that such a riverine invasion would not be likely. Nonetheless, a chain of Russian pickets was established on the Bukhtarma River , north of Lake Zaysan. Thus the border between the two empires in the Irtysh basin became roughly delineated, with

2112-420: The Altai Mountains of Siberia" from "an even larger glacial lake" than Lake Missoula, which was once thought to have been "the largest ice-dammed lake in the world". Although earthquakes are generally rare occurrences, on 27 September 2003 a very large earthquake measuring M W 7.3 occurred in the Chuya Basin area to the south of the Altai region. This earthquake and its aftershocks devastated much of

2176-427: The Bukhtarma fortress (345 m (1,132 ft)), it offers the most striking contrasts of landscape and vegetation. Its upper parts abound in glaciers, the best known of which is the Berel , which descends from the Belukha . On the northern side of the range which separates the upper Bukhtarma from the upper Katun is the Katun glacier, which after two ice-falls widen out to 700–900 m (2,300–3,000 ft). From

2240-438: The Cossacks' fishing stations ( Batavski Piket ). The border between the Russian and the Qing empires in the Irtysh basin was established along the line fairly similar to China's modern border with Russia and Kazakhstan by the Convention of Peking of 1860. The actual border line pursuant to the convention was drawn by the Protocol of Chuguchak (1864), leaving Lake Zaysan on the Russian side. The Qing empire's military presence in

2304-485: The Irtysh basin crumbled during the 1862–77 Dungan Revolt . After the fall of the rebellion and the reconquest of Xinjiang by Zuo Zongtang , the border between the Russian and the Qing empires in the Irtysh basin was further slightly readjusted, in Russia's favor, by the Treaty of Saint Petersburg (1881) . The Irtysh River serves as a backdrop in the epilogue of Fyodor Dostoyevsky 's 1866 novel Crime and Punishment . In Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn's The GULAG Archipelago ,

2368-434: The Irtysh water to the endorheic Lake Ulungur , whose level had been falling precipitously due to the increasing irrigation use of the lake's main affluent, the Ulungur River . In the last years of the 20th century and the early 2000s, a much more major project, the Irtysh–Karamay–Urümqi Canal was completed. Increased water use in China has caused significant concerns among Kazakh and Russian environmentalists. According to

2432-559: The Irtysh. The lower part of the first, like the lower valley of the Charysh, is thickly populated; in the valley of the Ulba is the Riddersk mine, at the foot of the Ivanovsk Peak (2,060 m (6,760 ft)), clothed with alpine meadows. The valley of the Bukhtarma, which has a length of 320 km (200 mi), also has its origin at the foot of the Belukha and the Kuitun peaks, and as it falls some 1,500 m (4,900 ft) in about 3,000 km (1,900 mi), from an alpine plateau at an elevation of 1,900 m (6,200 ft) to

2496-416: The Sailughem Mountains are extremely steep and difficult to access. On this side lies the highest summit of the range, the double-headed Belukha , whose summits reach 4,506 m (14,783 ft) and 4,400 m (14,400 ft) respectively, and give origin to several glaciers and glaciokarst formations (30 km (12 sq mi) in aggregate area, as of 1911 ). Altaians call it Kadyn Bazhy, but

2560-413: The area, including the Kurai fault zone and the recently identified Tashanta fault zone . These fault systems are typically thrusts or right lateral strike-slip faults , some of which are tectonically active. Rock types in the mountains are typically granites and metamorphic schists , and some are highly sheared near to fault zones. Geologist Victor R. Baker "has discovered past cataclysmic floods in

2624-405: The chapter "The White Kitten" details Georgi Tenno's escape from a camp along this river. Altai Mountains 49°N 89°E  /  49°N 89°E  / 49; 89 The Altai Mountains ( / ɑː l ˈ t aɪ / ), also spelled Altay Mountains , are a mountain range in Central and East Asia , where Russia , China , Mongolia , and Kazakhstan converge, and where

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2688-468: The cities of Omsk in 1716, Semipalatinsk in 1718, Ust-Kamenogorsk in 1720, and Petropavlovsk in 1752. The Chinese Qing Empire conquered Dzungaria in the 1750s. This prompted an increase in the Russian authorities' attention to their borderland; in 1756, the Orenburg Governor Ivan Neplyuyev even proposed the annexation of the Lake Zaysan region, but this project was forestalled by Chinese successes. Concerns were raised in Russia (1759) about

2752-521: The claims includes several cave petroglyphs within the Altai Mountains in modern China that depict human figures on skis that are chasing after an ibex . According to a study published by the Australian Rock Art Research Association (AURA) in 2016, this rock art was estimated to be from between 4,000 and 5,250 years ago, which consequently meant it may be just as old or possibly older than ancient skiing rock art and artefacts located in Scandinavia. However, dating petroglyphs accurately with current technology

2816-410: The constituent chains of the system are inhabited principally by nomadic Kyrgyz . The five highest mountains of the Altai are: The Altai-Sayan ecoregion is located at the intersection of the Central Asian and Siberian faunal provinces. The Altai mountains are home to a diverse fauna, because of its different habitats, like steppes, northern taigas and alpine vegetation. Steep slopes are home to

2880-399: The following cities: As the Kuytun–Beitun Railway in China's Xinjiang is being extended toward Altay City , a railway bridge over the Irtysh at Beitun will need to be constructed as well. Numerous highway bridges over the Irtysh exist in China, Kazakhstan, and Russia. The last bridge downstream on the Irtysh, a highway bridge opened in 2004, can be found at Khanty-Mansiysk, right before

2944-408: The former Qashliq. Farther east, Tara was founded in 1594, roughly at the border of the taiga belt (to the north) and the steppe to the south. In the 17th century the Dzungar Khanate , formed by the Mongol Oirat people, became Russia's southern neighbor, and controlled the upper Irtysh. As a result of Russia's confrontation with the Dzungars in the Peter the Great 's era, the Russians founded

3008-618: The highlands of Mongolia and northern Nevada , 30 °C (85 °F) can be reached during the day with sub-freezing readings at night. Steppes average 250–500 mm (10–20 in) of annual precipitation and feature hot summers and cold winters when located in mid-latitudes. In addition to the precipitation level, its combination with potential evapotranspiration defines a steppe climate. Steppe can be classified by climate: It can also be classified by vegetation type, e.g. shrub-steppe and alpine-steppe . The world's largest steppe region, often referred to as "the Great Steppe ",

3072-443: The ice-free season, between April and October. Omsk , home to the headquarters of the state-owned Irtysh River Shipping Company, functions as the largest river port in Western Siberia. On the Kazakhstan section of the river there are presently three major hydroelectric plants, namely at Bukhtarma , Ust-Kamenogorsk and Shulbinsk . The world's deepest lock , with a drop of 42 metres (138 ft), allows river traffic to by-pass

3136-400: The lake rise almost sheer to over 1,800 m (5,900 ft). From this lake issues the Biya, which joins the Katun at Biysk , and then meanders through the prairies of the north-west of the Altai. Farther north the Altai highlands are continued in the Kuznetsk district, which has a slightly different geological aspect, but belongs to the Altai system. But the Abakan River , which rises on

3200-473: The low average temperature in the Denisova caves. Neanderthal bones and tools made by Homo sapiens have also been found in the Denisova Cave, making it the only place in the world where all three hominids are known to have lived. A dog-like canid from 33,000 years ago was found in the Razboinichya Cave . DNA analysis published in 2013 affirmed that it was more closely related to modern dogs than to wolves. The Altai Mountains have been identified as being

3264-402: The northern parts also by the wolverine ( Gulo gulo ). The Tien Shan dhole ( Cuon alpinus hesperius ) (a northwestern subspecies of the Asiatic wild dog ) also lives there. Most species of the region are of Mongolian origin. The western Siberian eagle-owl can be found in the western part of the mountains. Until the 20th century, the Caspian tiger ( Panthera tigris tigris ) was found in

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3328-500: The northern parts of the mountain range. The wild boar ( Sus scrofa ) is found in the lower foothills and surrounding lowlands. Until recently, the Mongolian gazelle ( Procapra gutturosa ) was found in the Russian Altai mountains, more specifically in the Chuya River steppe close to the Mongolian border. Large predators are represented by snow leopards ( Panthera uncia , syn. Uncia uncia ), wolves ( Canis lupus ), Eurasian lynx ( Lynx lynx ), and brown bears ( Ursus arctos ), in

3392-426: The point of origin of a cultural enigma termed the Seima-Turbino Phenomenon which arose during the Bronze Age around the start of the 2nd millennium BC and led to a rapid and massive migration of peoples from the region into distant parts of Europe and Asia. Some historians believe that the Altai mountain region may have been the location where skiing was born, however this remains disputed. Evidence to support

3456-406: The region, causing $ 10.6 million in damage ( USGS ) and wiping out the village of Beltir . Authorities cited: Steppe In physical geography , a steppe ( / s t ɛ p / ) is an ecoregion characterized by grassland plains without closed forests except near rivers and lakes. Steppe biomes may include: A steppe is usually covered with grass and shrubs , depending on

3520-428: The river's confluence with Ob. A number of Mongol and Turkic peoples occupied the river banks for many centuries. In 657, Tang dynasty general Su Dingfang defeated Ashina Helu , qaghan of the Western Turkic Khaganate , at the Battle of Irtysh River , ending the Tang campaign against the Western Turks . Helu's defeat ended the Khaganate, strengthened Tang control of Xinjiang , and led to Tang suzerainty over

3584-550: The rivers Irtysh and Ob have their headwaters. The massif merges with the Sayan Mountains in the northeast, and gradually becomes lower in the southeast, where it merges into the high plateau of the Gobi Desert . It spans from about 45° to 52° N and from about 84° to 99° E. The region is inhabited by a sparse but ethnically diverse population, including Russians , Kazakhs , Altais , Tuvans , Mongols , and Volga Germans , though predominantly represented by indigenous ethnic minorities of semi-nomadic people. The local economy

3648-507: The same western face of the Sailughem range, are but little known, their only visitors being Kyrgyz shepherds. Those of Bashkaus , Chulyshman , and Chulcha , all three leading to the alpine lake of Teletskoye (length, 80 km (50 mi); maximum width, 5 km (3.1 mi); elevation, 520 m (1,710 ft); area, 230.8 km (89.1 sq mi); maximum depth, 310 m (1,020 ft); mean depth, 200 m (660 ft)), are inhabited by Telengit people. The shores of

3712-538: The southern and mid regions of New South Wales . This area borders the semi-arid and arid Australian Outback which is found farther inland on the continent. In Europe , some Mediterranean areas have a steppe-like vegetation, such as central Sicily in Italy , southern Portugal , parts of Greece in the southern Athens area, and central-eastern Spain , especially the southeastern coast (around Murcia ), and places cut off from adequate moisture due to rain shadow effects such as Zaragoza . In northern Africa ,

3776-433: The southern parts of the Altai mountains, where it reached Lake Zaisan and the Black Irtysh . Single individuals were also shot further north, for example close to Barnaul . Closely related to the Caspian tiger is the extant Amur tiger , which has the taxonomic name Panthera tigris altaica . The wisent was present in the Altai mountains until the Middle Ages , perhaps even until the 18th century. Today, there

3840-409: The upper course of the river, from its source entering Lake Zaysan. The term White Irtysh , in opposition to the Black Irtysh, was occasionally used in the past to refer to the Irtysh below lake Zaysan; now this usage is largely obsolete. The largest tributaries of the Irtysh are, from source to mouth: In Kazakhstan and Russia, tankers , passenger ships, and cargo vessels navigate the river during

3904-425: The water-deficient regions of central Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan . Some versions of this project would have seen the direction of flow of the Irtysh reversed in its section between the mouth of the Tobol (at Tobolsk ) and the confluence of the Irtysh with the Ob at Khanty-Mansiysk, thus creating an "Anti-Irtysh". While these gigantic interbasin transfer schemes were not implemented, a smaller Irtysh–Karaganda Canal

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3968-406: The western Turks. In the north-east of Irtysh, there is the Yenisei Kingdom , ruled by the Melig family from the Ögedei dynasty of the Yuan dynasty , which ruled until 1361. It was destroyed by the Oirats . In the 15th and 16th centuries the lower and middle courses of the Irtysh lay within the Tatar Khanate of Sibir ; its capital, Qashliq (also known as Sibir ) was located on the Irtysh

4032-408: The western shoulder of the Sayan mountains, belongs to the system of the Yenisei . The Kuznetsk Ala-tau range, on the left bank of the Abakan, runs north-east into the government of Yeniseisk , while a complexus of mountains (Chukchut, Salair, Abakan) fills up the country northwards towards the Trans-Siberian Railway and westwards towards the Ob . The Ek-tagh or Mongolian Altai, which separates

4096-457: Was built between 1962 and 1974 to supply water to the dry Kazakh steppes and to one of the country's main industrial center, Karaganda . In 2002, pipelines were constructed to supply water from the canal to the Ishim and Kazakhstan's capital, Astana . In China, a short canal was constructed in 1987 (water intake at 47°26′31″N 87°34′11″E  /  47.44194°N 87.56972°E  / 47.44194; 87.56972 ) to divert some of

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