Ilek is the largest river flowing into the Urals with a length of 623 km and a catchment area of 41,300 square kilometers. The channel passes through the territory of the Aktobe and Orenburg regions. The first region belongs to Kazakhstan, and the second to Russia.
Etiology
The etiology of the Ilek River is currently not defined. The most plausible version connects the origin of the name with words from the Bashkir, Kyrgyz, Tatar and Chagatai languages.
General description of the river
Ilek is a very picturesque quiet river with a wide valley, originating on the Bestobe ridge and flowing into the Urals. The source is formed by the Karaganda and Zharyka rivers, which merge on the northwestern slopes of the Mugodzharsky mountains. The height of this place is small - 400-500 meters above sea level.
Among the tributaries of the Urals, Ilek is the largest in length and drainage basin, but at a rate of annual flow inferior to Sakmara. The river has 75 tributaries, among which there are 9 main with a length exceeding 14 kilometers.
The main tributaries of the Ilek River| Rights | Left |
| Small hobda | Karabutak |
| Great gerbil | Sarak-Salda |
| Windmill | Hobda |
| Lesser gerbil | Tamdy |
| Ikkyrashan |
Geography
The river begins its course in the Aktobe region of Kazakhstan and twice crosses the state border. The middle part of the channel passes through the territory of Russia. In the lower reaches, the river returns to the Aktobe region, where it flows into the Urals.
In the upper reaches, the channel trajectory moves first to the west, and then to the northwest, around the Podural plateau. This direction remains after the first border crossing. In the middle reaches, Ilek passes through the southern part of the Orenburg region.
Only 4 cities are located on the banks of the river:
- Alga.
- Kandyagash.
- Aktobe.
- Sol-Iletsk.
Near the mouth is the village of Ilek.
Waterway Characteristics
The channel of the Ilek River forms a wide valley, which includes two floodplain terraces. Its size is almost comparable to the Ural. In the course of the course, the channel forms many channels and old lake. The river is characterized by a homogeneous landscape of predominantly steppe character. The exception is the headwaters located on the territory of the Mugodzharsky mountains.
The width of the channel is highly dependent on the season. So, in the spring, Ilek spills heavily, almost completely filling the floodplain terraces. The width of the river valley is heterogeneous. In the upper reaches it is 500 meters, and at the mouth - 3-4 kilometers. The nature of the shores is sheer. The width of the channel in the upper part of the river varies from 20 to 30 m, in the middle - 80-150 m, and in the lower reaches - from 150 to 170 m.
In the Orenburg Region, the Ilek River has an average depth of 1-2 m and a maximum depth of 4-6 m. On sandy rifts it does not exceed ten centimeters, and on reaches reaches from 0.9 to 1.9 m. In the summer months, these values significantly reduced. In areas of the pits, the depth can reach 4-6 m.
Nature
The nature of Ilek floodplain is very diverse and picturesque. Due to the fact that the river was practically not affected by human economic activity, a lot of biotopes inhabited by rich fauna were preserved in it almost unchanged.
In the coastal zone there are:
- tanning forest;
- estuaries;
- floodplain lakes;
- wetlands;
- sand dunes;
- meadow and steppe plots;
- loess cliffs and ravines;
- sandy beaches, islands and spits;
- reed and shrubbery.
Most of the riverbed passes through the plowed steppe, but virgin plots and forest belts are also found. Meadows and low hills are less common. The woody vegetation of the floodplain is represented quite abundantly. The main types of river valley include:
- willow;
- narrow-leaved elm;
- oak;
- poplar;
- aspen.
In smaller quantities alder and oak grow here. Shrub forms are represented by viburnum, blackberry, thorns and rose hips. Grassy flora, including very rare species (Korzhinsky licorice, Schrenka tulip, etc.), is particularly diverse.
The upper reaches of the Ilek River in Kazakhstan are very picturesque, which are located on the slopes of the Mugodzharsky mountains. At the very source, the channel runs along the rich steppe vegetation along which white blocks of limestone are scattered. Downstream, the landscape of the river valley begins to resemble a series of numerous canyons: sandy hills rise on the sides of the river at a distance of several kilometers. In these places there are many rare birds (white-tailed eagle, curly pelican, etc.).
The river is rich in ichthyofauna. The following fish species live in its waters:
- ide;
- roach;
- Chekhon;
- catfish;
- chub;
- asp;
- whitefish abalone;
- carp;
- thick er;
- Podust;
- zander;
- perch;
- dace.
Sometimes a passing beluga enters the river. For fishing, the middle part of the channel is available, passing through the territory of the Orenburg region. In the lower reaches, the river passes along the state border. If you wish, you can get to the upper reaches, but for this you need to go to Kazakhstan.
Hydrology
The Ilek River is fed mainly by melting snow. Groundwater also contributes significantly. Tributaries play a less important role in nutrition.
Ilek is characterized by a slow course. The annual runoff volume is 1.262 km 3 , more than half of which occurs during the spring flood. The rest of the time falls on a deep low water, which is very stable. The long-term average water flow rate is 40 cubic meters per second (measurements were taken at a point 112 kilometers from the mouth).
The flood in the river is very turbulent, but does not last long (no more than seven to eight days). It occurs in the second half of April, during the ice drift. Sometimes this happens in the first decade of the month. Ilek freezes in the second half of November.
Climate
The climate of the Ileka basin is sharply continental, characterized by long winters and stable snow cover. The average temperature in this period is minus 15-16 degrees, and when Siberian anticyclones penetrate, the thermometer column can drop to minus 42. Such weather causes a long icing of the river.
Above zero, the average daily temperature rises only in the second half of March, and frosts begin already in late October. Snow cover lasts about four months (from mid-November to the transition period from March to April). Summer in the Ilek basin is arid and hot, accompanied by dry winds and dust storms.