Chu (river)

Chu
In the Chüy Valley below Tokmok
Native name
Location
CountryKyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan
Physical characteristics
SourceConfluence of Joon Aryk and Kochkor
  locationKochkor District, Naryn Region, Kyrgyzstan
  coordinates42°13′15.60″N 75°44′29″E / 42.2210000°N 75.74139°E / 42.2210000; 75.74139
  elevation1,802 m (5,912 ft)
MouthAshchykol Depression
  location
Turkistan Region, Kazakhstan
  coordinates
44°59′N 67°43′E / 44.983°N 67.717°E / 44.983; 67.717
  elevation
135 m (443 ft)
Length1,067 km (663 mi)
Basin size62,500 km2 (24,100 sq mi)
Basin features
Tributaries 
  leftYsyk-Ata, Alamüdün, Ala-Archa, Ak-Suu
  rightChong-Kemin, Kichi-Kemin

The Chu is a river in northern Kyrgyzstan and southern Kazakhstan. Of its total length of 1,067 kilometres (663 mi), the first 115 kilometres are in Kyrgyzstan, then for 221 kilometres the river serves as the border between Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan and the last 731 kilometres are in Kazakhstan. It is one of the longest rivers in Kyrgyzstan and in Kazakhstan. It has a drainage basin of 62,500 square kilometres (24,100 sq mi).

The Chüy Region, the northernmost and most populous administrative region of Kyrgyzstan, is named after the river; so are Chüy Avenue, the main street of the Kyrgyz capital of Bishkek and the city of Shu in Kazakhstan's Jambyl Region.