Karatal River
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| Karatal River | |
|---|---|
| Karatal River entering Lake Balkhash as seen from space, September 1996 | |
| Origin | Dzungarsk-Alatau Mountains |
| Mouth | Lake Balkhash |
| Basin countries | Kazakhstan |
| Length | 390 km |
| Basin area | 19,100 km² |
The Karatal River (Russian: Каратал) rises in the Dzungarsk-Alatau Mountains near the border of Kazakhstan and China. The river flows generally northwestward turning generally northward when it reaches the Saryesik-Atyrau Desert, a large sand desert south of Lake Balkhash. The river empties into Lake Balkhash. Karatal freezes up in December and stays icebound until March.

