Charyn

(also Sharyn; in the upper course, Sholkodagsu; in the middle course, Kegen), a river in Alma-Ata Oblast, Kazakh SSR; a left tributary of the IIi. The Charyn measures 427 km in length and drains a basin of 7,720 sq km. It originates on the southern slopes of the Ketmen’ Range and divides into several arms in the lower course. It is fed by snow and groundwater. The mean flow rate 84 km from the mouth is 35.4 cu m per sec. The river freezes over between November and February, and the ice breaks up in March or early April. The Charyn is used for irrigation.