Kushum
{{short description|River in Kazakhstan}}
{{Infobox river
| name = Kushum
| other_name = Көшім
| image = Кушум-канал - panoramio (1).jpg
| image_caption = Panorama of the river
| source1 = Ural near Krugloozyornoye
| source1_elevation =
| source1_coordinates = {{coord|51|05|25|N|51|19|12|E|source:wikidata-and-enwiki-cat-tree_region:RU}}
| mouth = near lake Birkazan
| mouth_elevation =
| mouth_coordinates = {{coord|49|12|33|N|50|20|47|E|type:river_region:RU|format=dms|display=it}}
| progression =
| subdivision_type1 = Countries
| subdivision_name1 = Kazakhstan
| length = {{convert|375|km|abbr=on}}
| discharge1_avg = {{convert|4.4|m3/s}}
| basin_size =
| pushpin_map = Kazakhstan
| pushpin_map_size =
| pushpin_map_caption= Mouth location in Kazakhstan
}}
The Kushum or Koshim ({{langx|kk|Көшім}}; {{langx|ru|Кушум}}) is a river in the West Kazakhstan Region, Kazakhstan. It is {{convert|375|km}} long.
The Kushum is a distributary of the Ural river. It flows across the Bayterek, Akzhaik and Zhanakala districts. Its water is used for agricultural irrigation and the riverbanks as grazing ground for local cattle. The last stretch of the river, including the lakes adjoining it, is a {{convert|175315|ha|abbr=on}} Important Bird Area.[http://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/kushum-lakes-iba-kazakhstan Kushum Lakes - BirdLife Data Zone]
Course
The Kushum begins branching off the right side of the Ural river northeast of the village of Krugloozyornoye. It heads roughly southwards forming meanders and oxbow lakes. Its mouth is in lake Birkazan, near Zhanakala village, over {{convert|112|km|abbr=on}} west of the Ural river channel.{{cite web|url=https://maps.vlasenko.net/smtm1000/m-39.jpg|title=M-39 Topographic Chart (in Russian)|access-date=28 February 2023}}Google EarthKazakhstan National encyclopedia, volume VIII / Chief editor A. Nysanbayev - Almaty "Kazakh encyclopedia" General editor, 1998 ISBN 9965-9746-4-0
The right bank of the Kushum is bound by steep cliffs, while the left bank is mostly flat. The river is fed by snow, rain and groundwater. The Dongulyuk, Kirov, Pyatimar and Bitik reservoirs, as well as a network of irrigation canals were built along the Kushum river in the last half of the 20th century. Since the dams and canals were built the natural flow was disturbed and the water of the river does not reach lake Zhaltyrkol anymore.[http://www.cawater-info.net/bk/1-1-1-1-3-kz_e.htm Reservoirs in Kazakhstan - CAWater-Info]
| valign="top"
|File:Zhanakala 2020-04-03-23 59 Sentinel-2 L2A.jpg and the lake area where the Kushum ends.]] |
==Fauna==
The main fish species in the Kushum include zander, common bream, white-eye bream, chub, perch, silver bream, ruffe, common rudd, blue bream and sabrefish.[http://ibirzha.kz/velichie-i-upadok-rybolovstvo-na-kushume/ Величие и упадок. Рыболовство на Кушуме]
See also
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{commonscat inline|Kushum (Ural distributary)}}
- [https://www.researchgate.net/publication/270578926_The_current_state_of_cross-border_rivers_of_Kazakhstan_and_problems_of_their_joint_using The current state of cross-border rivers of Kazakhstan and problems of their joint using]
- [https://egov.kz/cms/en/articles/forestry/vodoemi_rk Restrictions and prohibitions to use wildlife objects and fishery resources at water reservoirs of the Republic of Kazakhstan]
{{Rivers of Kazakhstan}}