Naryn (river)
The Naryn is the largest and most water-abundant river in Kyrgyzstan. rises in the Tian Shan mountains in Kyrgyzstan, Central Asia, flowing west through the Fergana Valley into Uzbekistan. Here it merges with the Kara Darya to form the Syr Darya. It is long and drains a basin area of. It has an annual flow of.
The basin is bounded by the Terskey Alatoo, Kyrgyz Ala-Too and Talas Ala-Too ranges to the north; by the Kakshaal Too to the south; by the Ak-Shyrak Massif to the east; and by the Fergana Range to the west.
The river contains many reservoirs which are important in the generation of hydroelectricity. The largest of these is the Toktogul Reservoir in Kyrgyzstan containing of water. Dams downstream of the Toktogul in Kyrgyzstan include: Kürpsay, Tash-Kömür, Shamaldy-Say and Üch-Korgon. Upstream of Toktogul in Kyrgyzstan are the Kambar-Ata-2 and At-Bashy Dams while the Kambar-Ata-1 Dam is in planning stages.
Course
The river originates at an elevation of 3,730 m, from a lake at the foot of the Petrov Glacier on the north-western slope of the Ak-Shyrak Massif, where it begins under the name Kumtor. After joining with the Arabelsuu, it forms the Taragay River. When the Taragay merges with the Karasay, the river is called Chong Naryn, and it flows westward through a wide, terraced valley.In the central part of the Upper Naryn Valley, the river branches, its channel widens, and farther west it narrows again. In this section, the Karakol and Ulan rivers flow into it. From the confluence of the Ulan River to the junction with the Ayrisuu, the river flows through a very narrow gorge.
In the eastern part of the Naryn Valley, the Chong Naryn and Kichi Naryn merge to form the Naryn River, which initially flows east–west along the left side of a wide, terraced valley. Near the confluence with the Tekesekirik, carbonate limestones on the left bank approach red Paleogene–Neogene rocks on the right bank, narrowing the valley. The river then passes the Alamyshyk area through the narrow Ak-Kyya Gorge and turns northwestward.
Farther downstream, the valley widens again, with low banks and a channel width of 80–100 m. Near Kulanak, the river splits into several channels, forming small wooded islands, and receives the At-Bashy and Ala-Buga rivers. From the Alabuga confluence, the Naryn flows westward for about 50 km through a narrow gorge between the Moldo Too and Ak-Shyyrak ranges, entering the Toguz-Toro Depression, where it again divides into multiple channels separated by gravel islands and sandy bars.
In the western part of the Toguz-Toro Depression, the Kökirim joins the river, which then flows northward through a 40-km-long gorge between the Moldo Too and Kökirim ranges. After leaving the gorge, the Naryn is joined by its largest tributary, the Kökömeren, and continues westward through a narrow, terraced valley, widening to 100–150 m.
Farther west, the valley opens into the Ketmen-Töbö Valley, where the Chychkan and Uzunakmat rivers join the Naryn. The river then flows southwestward for about 100 km through an antecedent valley separating the At-Oynok and Fergana Ranges, before turning south, widening, and receiving the Karasuu. Upon entering the Fergana Valley, the Naryn merges with the Kara Darya, forming the Syr Darya.
Tributaries
The main tributaries of the Naryn are, from source to mouth:- Kichi-Naryn
- On-Archa
- At-Bashy
- Kajyrty
- Ala-Buga
- Kökirim
- Kökömeren
- Chychkan
- Uzun-Akmat
- Kara-Suu
Settlements