Kara Irtysh

The Kara Irtysh flows northwest along the southern foot of the Altai Mountains. Fed by snow, rain and glaciers, it gathers streams from the high ridges before crossing the dry country toward Lake Zaysan. Beyond the lake its waters continue north to the Ob and eventually reach the Arctic Ocean. The contrast between the watered river valley and the surrounding arid plains made this a distinctive landscape on the northern edge of the Dzungarian basin.