Ashchyozek

{{Short description|River in Kazakhstan}}

{{about||the river in the Karasor Basin|Zharly}}

{{Infobox river

| name = Ashchyozek

| other_name = Ащыөзек

| image = Ashchyozek 2024-08-18-23 59 Sentinel-2 L2A.jpg

| image_caption = Last stretch of the Ashchyozek Sentinel-2 image

| source1_location = near Borsy

| source1 =

| source1_elevation = {{convert|37|m|ft|abbr=on}}

| source1_coordinates = {{coord|49|57|29|N|47|32|29|E|source:wikidata-and-enwiki-cat-tree_region:KZ}}

| mouth = Zhalpaksor

| mouth_elevation = {{convert|-4|m|ft|abbr=on}}

| mouth_coordinates = {{coord|49|10|45|N|48|08|38|E|source:wikidata-and-enwiki-cat-tree_region:KZ|display=it}}

| progression =

| length = {{convert|258|km|mi|abbr=on}}

| discharge1_avg = {{convert|2.04|m3/s|abbr=on}}

| basin_size = {{convert|7150|km2|abbr=on}}

| pushpin_map = Kazakhstan

| pushpin_map_size =

| pushpin_map_caption= Mouth location in Kazakhstan

}}

The Ashchyozek ({{langx|kk|Ащыөзек}}, meaning "bitter river"; ({{langx|ru|Ащыозек}}), also known as "Gorkaya" (Горькая){{cite web|url=https://maps.vlasenko.net/smtm1000/m-38.jpg|title=M-38 Topographic Chart (in Russian)|access-date=15 November 2024}} in Russian, is a river in the Zhanybek and Kaztal districts of West Kazakhstan Region, Kazakhstan. The river is {{convert|258|km|mi|abbr=on}} long with a basin area of {{convert|7150|km2|abbr=on}}.Google EarthKazakhstan National Encyclopedia / Ch. ed. B.O. Jacob. — Almaty: « Kazakh encyclopedia» ZhSS, 2011. ISBN 9965-893-64-0(T.Z.), ISBN 9965-893-19-5

The river flows in the northern sector of the Caspian Depression, between the Volga and the Ural. The water is used for irrigation and watering livestock. There is a protected area in the lower reaches of the river.[https://web.archive.org/web/20161230000841/http://www.acbk.kz/iba/docs/kz2-ru.pdf Низовья реки Ащыозек]

==Geography==

The Ashchyozek has its origin in a source to the southeast of Borsy village in Zhanibek District, very close to the Kazakhstan–Russia border. The river heads roughly southeastwards all along its course, meandering strongly in its last stretch. Finally it ends in lake Zhalpaksor, close to Aralsor. The valley is not well defined. The river is fed by snow and its waters are fresh in the spring, becoming salty and bitter in the summer, when it breaks up into disconnected pools.{{cite web|url=https://maps.vlasenko.net/smtm1000/m-39.jpg|title=M-39 Topographic Chart (in Russian)|access-date=15 November 2024}}

River Ashchyozek has seven tributaries with a total length of {{convert|169|km|mi|abbr=on}}; the main ones are the {{convert|91|km|mi|abbr=on}} long Sherimbetsai, Tatkensai and Bersharal, all from the right. The Ashchyozek freezes in November and thaws in April.