The Ili River is a river in Kazakhstan and in the western part of the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region, in northwestern China.
It is 1,439 km (870 miles) long, 815 km of which in Kazakhstan. It takes its beginning in eastern Tian Shan from the Tekes and Kunges rivers. The Ili River drains the basin between the Tian Shan the P'o-lo-k'o-nu Mountains to the north.
Flowing into lake Balkhash it forms an immense delta with vast wetland regions of lakes, marches and jungle-like vegetation.
The Kapchagai Hydroelectric power station was built from 1965 to 1980 in the middle flow of Ili River, forming the Kapchagay Reserve. Tamgaly , some 20 km downstream along Ili River is a site of rock drawings. The name Tamgaly in Kazakh means painted or marked place.
Tributaries include
Last updated: 05-15-2005 13:50:52
