Khemchik

(Kemchik), a river in the Tuva ASSR, a left tributary of the Enisei. The Khemchik is 320 km long and drains an area of 27,000 sq km. It rises in the Shapshal Range and flows through a broad valley in the western part of the Tuva Basin. It is fed predominantly by subterranean water. The mean flow rate 74 km from the mouth is about 119 cu m per sec. The Khemchik freezes in November, and the ice breaks up in late April or early May. The Khemchik’s main tributaries are the Alash and Ak-Sug from the left and the Barlyk and Chadan from the right. A network of irrigation canals extends from the Khemchik within its basin. The city of Ak-Dovurak is located in the Khemchik river valley.

a mountain range in the Zapadnyi Saian, on the border between Krasnoiarsk Krai and the Tuva ASSR. The Khemchik Range is 70 km long and rises to 2,213 m. It is composed of sandstones and shales. The northern slopes of the range are covered with taiga of nut pine and larch; up to elevations of 1,600–1,700 m the southern slopes are covered primarily with forest-steppe.