a river in Rostov Oblast, RSFSR (lower course in Volgograd Oblast); a right tributary of the Don. The Chir is 317 km long and drains an area of 9,580 sq km. It rises in the Don Ridge and empties into the Tsimliansk Reservoir. The river is fed chiefly by snow, and high water occurs in late March and April. The mean flow rate 10 km from the mouth is 12 cu m per sec. The upper course of the Chir sometimes dries up. The river’s principal left tributary is the Kurtlak. The city of Surovikino is located near the Chir’s mouth.