Charyn
Charyn River near Charyn National Park
Location in Kazakhstan
Location
Country	Kazakhstan
Physical characteristics
Source
• coordinates	43°16′14″N 80°32′04″E / 43.27056°N 80.53444°E / 43.27056; 80.53444
2nd source
• coordinates	42°27′50″N 79°30′06″E / 42.46389°N 79.50167°E / 42.46389; 79.50167
3rd source
• coordinates	42°52′16″N 78°33′29″E / 42.87111°N 78.55806°E / 42.87111; 78.55806
Mouth	Ili
• coordinates	43°55′52″N 79°25′39″E / 43.93111°N 79.42750°E / 43.93111; 79.42750
Length	427 km (265 mi)
Basin size	7,720 km2 (2,980 sq mi)
Basin features
Progression	Ili→ Lake Balkhash

The Charyn (Kazakh: Шарын, Şaryn) is a river in the Almaty Province of Kazakhstan. It flows through the Charyn National Park and merges into the Ili River, which is considered to be the largest artery of Lake Balkhash. The Charyn is 427 kilometres (265 mi) long, and has a drainage basin of 7,720 square kilometres (2,980 sq mi).^[1] It runs through the territory of Kegen and Uighur regions, forming the Charyn Canyon.^[2][3]

The Moinak Hydro Power Plant lies on the river.^[4]

Description

The Sharyn river is full-flowing due to many tributaries that flow into it from the Northern slope of the Terskei and Kungei Alatau ranges. With its waters, it cuts a canyon through the Eastern parts of the Zhalanash depression and the Toraigyr mountains. In the Zhalanash valley, the canyon is called Aktogay, which means White stream in Kazakh, due to its trapezoidal shape.