Karatal

{{Infobox river

| name = Karatal

| image = karatal balkhash.jpg

| image_size = 250px

| image_caption = Satellite image of Karatal river delta as it enters Lake Balkhash, September 1996. The darker areas within the river valley floodplain are areas of irrigation.

| map = Lakebalkhashbasinmap.png

| map_size = 250px

| map_alt =

| map_caption = Map of the Lake Balkhash drainage basin

| source1_location = Dzungarian Alatau

| mouth_location = Lake Balkhash

| mouth_coordinates = {{coord|46|28|31|N|77|13|07|E|region:KZ_type:waterbody_source:kolossus-dewiki|display=it}}

| subdivision_type1 = Country

| subdivision_name1 = Kazakhstan

| length = {{convert|390|km|mi|abbr=on}}

| source1_elevation =

| discharge1_avg =

| basin_size = {{convert|19100|km2|mi2|abbr=on}}

| tributaries_left = Koksu

}}

The Karatal ({{langx|ru|Каратал}}, Karatal; Khalkha Mongolian: Хартал Hartal, "Black Steppe"), also known as the Qaratal River ({{langx|kk|Қаратал}}, Qaratal), is a river of the Balkhash-Alakol Basin, Kazakhstan. It originates in the Dzungarian Alatau Mountains near the border with China and flows into the endorheic Lake Balkhash. It is the easternmost of two large rivers that flow into the lake; the other is the Ili. The Karatal is one of the main rivers of the historic region of Zhetysu. The river is {{convert|390|km|mi}} long and has a basin area of {{convert|19100|km2|mi2}}.[http://bse.sci-lib.com/article059030.html Каратал], Great Soviet Encyclopedia

The river flows west-southwest from the border with China before turning northwestward south of Taldykorgan and then northward when it reaches the Saryesik-Atyrau Desert, a large sand desert south of Lake Balkhash. The river empties into Lake Balkhash near the centerpoint of its southern side. Karatal freezes up in December and stays icebound until March. Because of diversions for irrigation, the river's flow into Lake Balkash is limited.[https://web.archive.org/web/20041118012933/http://www.spaceflight.nasa.gov/gallery/images/shuttle/sts-79/html/sts079-781-100.html STS-79 Shuttle Mission Imagery] (STS079-781-100) NASA