The Olenti (Kazakh: Өлеңті; Russian: Оленти) is a river in the Akmola, Karaganda and Pavlodar regions, Kazakhstan. It is 273 kilometres (170 mi) long and has a catchment area of 4,320 square kilometres (1,670 sq mi).[1]

Olenti
Өлеңті
Final stretch of the Olenti and its mouth in the Auliekol western lakeshore Sentinel-2 image
Olenti (Auliekol) is located in Kazakhstan
Olenti (Auliekol)
Mouth location in Kazakhstan
Location
CountriesKazakhstan
Physical characteristics
SourceYereymentau
Kazakh Uplands
 • coordinates50°54′52″N 72°57′05″E / 50.91444°N 72.95139°E / 50.91444; 72.95139
 • elevationca 530 m (1,740 ft)
MouthAuliekol
 • coordinates
52°11′00″N 74°46′04″E / 52.18333°N 74.76778°E / 52.18333; 74.76778
 • elevation
126 m (413 ft)
Length273 km (170 mi)
Basin size4,320 km2 (1,670 sq mi)
Discharge 
 • average0.6 cubic metres per second (21 cu ft/s) at its mouth

The Olenti belongs to the Irtysh basin. The name of the river originated in the Kazakh word for sedge.[1] There are petroglyphs on the right bank of the lower course of the river, 10 km (6.2 mi) south-west of Tai village, part of the Ekibastuz City Administration.[2]

Sample of the Olenti Petroglyphs.

Course

edit

The Olenti has its sources on the eastern slopes of the Yereymentau Mountains of the Kazakh Uplands. It heads roughly northeastwards, skirting the feet of the eastern slopes of the range and bending northwards after a stretch. It bends again northeastwards to the east of lake Teniz and continues in that direction for a long stretch. Shortly before reaching its mouth, the Olenti bends southeastwards and finally it reaches lake Auliekol, entering it from the western shore.[3][4][5]

The Olenti flows within a narrow gorge, its width not surpassing 120 m (390 ft), as it heads roughly northwards beneath the mountainous area. After descending into the floodplain, the valley widens reaching 1 km (0.62 mi) to 1.5 km (0.93 mi). The river is fed mainly by snow and groundwater. Its water is fresh and is used for domestic purposes and agricultural field irrigation of the settlements near its banks.[1]

Fauna

edit

The main fish species in the Olenti include pike, crucian carp, perch, roach and tench.[1]

See also

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ a b c d Kazakhstan National encyclopedia, volume VIII / Chief editor A. Nysanbayev - Almaty "Kazakh encyclopedia" General editor, 1998 ISBN 5-89800-123-9
  2. ^ Olenty neolithic drawings
  3. ^ "M-43 Topographic Chart (in Russian)". Retrieved 20 February 2022.
  4. ^ "N-43 Topographic Chart (in Russian)". Retrieved 20 February 2022.
  5. ^ Google Earth
edit