Sarysu Сарысу
ISS image of the river
Map showing the course of the Sarysu
Location
Country	Kazakhstan
Physical characteristics
Source	confluence of Zhaman-Sarysu and Zhaksy-Sarysu Kazakh Uplands
• coordinates	48°40′28″N 71°35′38″E / 48.67444°N 71.59389°E / 48.67444; 71.59389
• elevation	477 m (1,565 ft)
Mouth	Telikol
• coordinates	45°12′39″N 66°36′28″E / 45.21083°N 66.60778°E / 45.21083; 66.60778
• elevation	128 m (420 ft)
Length	671 km (417 mi)
Basin size	81,600 km2 (31,500 sq mi)
Discharge
• average	7.3 m3/s (260 cu ft/s)

The Sarysu (Kazakh: Сарысу, Sarysu; Russian: Сарысу́, Sarysu) is a river in Karaganda, Turkistan and Kyzylorda Regions of Kazakhstan. It is 671 kilometres (417 mi) long, and has a drainage basin of 81,600 square kilometres (31,500 sq mi).^[1]

The name sary su means yellow water in Turkic languages.

Course

It arises above Atasu and flows generally westward to Kzyl-Dzhar where it turns south-westward past Birlestik and Zhanabas, then heading ever-more southerly it ends in the Telikol, across a cluster of small intermittent lakes at the western end of the Ashchykol Depression and to the east of the Dariyaly plain. River Boktykaryn runs parallel to it just before the Sarysu bends west towards the Telikol.^[2][3][4]

The 181 kilometers (112 mi) long Shieli-Telikol Canal was built for irrigation, connecting the Telikol lacustrine basin to the north with the Syr Darya river near Shieli.^[5]