Kara-Balta (river)

The Kara-Balta is a transboundary river in Jayyl District of Chüy Region in northern Kyrgyzstan and in Shu District of Jambyl Region in southern Kazakhstan. It rises on north slopes of Kyrgyz Ala-Too, passes through the Sosnovka Gorge, flowing through the Chüy Valley from south to north. The river discharge in Ak-Suu, itself a tributary of the Chu, in Kazakhstan. The Kara-Balta river is long, and has a drainage basin of. Its average annual discharge is. The catchment area contains small glaciers covering an area of and small lakes with an area of. It flows through the settlements Sosnovka, Kara-Balta and Stavropolovka.