Birding Tours Aktybinsk Region.

“Ulu-Irgiz emerges from the Karaadyr Mountains and flows first to the southeast, then to the south, finally, again turning to the southeast, it flows into Turgai, not far from the confluence of this latter into Lake Aksakal. We are talking here about the main Irghiz, and not about small rivers, to which the Kirghiz also give the name Irghiz and of which they number several. Many people confuse Ulu-Irgiz with Chit-Irgiz, flowing from the Mugojar mountains and connecting with the previous one. Ulu-Irgiz is very narrow, and although it overflows far in the spring, at the end of summer, like many neighboring rivers, it stops flowing continuously and turns into a series of lakes. Its banks are for the most part very steep and high. Destroyed sea shells were seen in the layers of these shores, and weak shrubs and lakes were found on the surface of the shores. In addition to fish, there are many turtles in the water. There are quite salty springs along the banks of the Irgiz, which is why its water also has a salty taste.”

Levshin A.I. “Description of the Kyrgyz-Cossack or Kyrgyz-Kaisak mountains and steppes.” 1833.

"From the Irgiz River to the Aral Sea - specifically to the Tyshtyrgich Mountains - it is a distance of 243 versts; the road is sandy in places and features small hillocks; fodder (for horses) and timber are available - though the timber is fit only for fuel - but there is no water. However, it was said that in times of need, one can dig wells about two sazhens deep in low-lying areas; the travelers themselves, however, made the journey in winter and relied on snow instead."

Yakov Khanykov, «A Journey from Orsk to Khiva and Back, Undertaken in 1740-1741». ...by Gladyshev and Muravin.” P. 549. 1851.

Tours and travels in Aktybinsk Region.

The headwaters of the Irgiz River are located 2 km south of the Yegvindsay ravine; 16.2 km northwest of the settlement of Zhambyl; 24.2 km southwest of the settlement of Ushkatty; and 2 km east of the Russian Federation state border, within the Khobda District in the north of the Aktobe Region.

The Irgiz River (Kazakh: *Ырғыз*) is a right-bank tributary of the Torgay River. The Irgiz spans 593 km, with a drainage basin area of ​​approximately 316,000 km². Throughout its course, the river flows south and southwest. Its mouth is located near the settlement of Kuyylsys, within the Tuap Rural District of the Irgiz District, Aktobe Region.
Here, the river joins the Torgay River as a right-bank tributary and loses its name. It is a low-flow river with a sandy, meadow-like floodplain. The channel is winding and braided, with a width of 80-120 meters. The river flows through sandy terrain. The valley is 1.3-2.0 km wide, narrowing to 0.3-0.5 km in certain places.
The valley slopes are moderately steep, ranging from 5 to 8 meters in height. A redistribution of the river's flow occurs along the Irgiz: a portion of the spring runoff is diverted southeastward into the Amankol tract, subsequently entering a newly formed channel that flows into the Torgay River.
A significant volume of water spreads across the Karakuga salt-marsh tract and is consumed by filling local lakes. Continuous flow occurs only during the high-water season; with the onset of summer heat, the river's flow is interrupted in places, and water remains only in isolated pools.
The river is fed primarily by snowmelt. The water is fresh in the upper reaches but becomes brackish towards the lower reaches in summer. The water is of the chloride type. In spring, mineralization ranges from 0.4–0.7 g/L in the middle reaches to as much as 2.0 g/L in the lower reaches.
Water hardness is correspondingly classified as moderately hard to very hard. In summer, the water in the pools of the middle section contains up to 2.0 g/kg of dissolved salts, while in the lower reaches, the content reaches 4.5–5.0 g/kg. During this period, the water is unfit for drinking.
The long-term average discharge is 4.0 m³/s near the Dongeleksor *sor* (salt marsh/depression) and 7.56 m³/s near the village of Yrgyz. The river freezes in mid-November, with ice thickness reaching 1 meter, and breaks up during the first ten days of April.
During the flood season, the water level rises by 4-5 meters, but by the end of April, the river is already flowing within its banks. Low-water season lasts from July to October. The Yrgyz River serves as the primary water source for many settlements located along its banks.
The water is also used for watering livestock, irrigating vegetable gardens, and *liman* irrigation (flood-plain irrigation).

Geographic coordinates of Yrgyz River: N49°21'14 E60°12'44

Geographic coordinates of Yrgyz River's confluence with Torgay River: N48°14'51 E62°03'40

Geographic coordinates of Yrgyz River's headwaters: N50°38'35 E59°59'17

Authority:
Natural Resources of the Aktobe Region. Ecoproject LLP. 216 pp.

Photos by:
Alexander Petrov.