Rafting on the Ishim River -
The Ishim River flows through Kazakhstan and Russia. It is 2,450 kilometers (1,520 miles) long; its average discharge is 56.3 cubic meters per second (1,990 cubic feet per second). It is a left tributary of the Irtysh River. The Ishim River is partially navigable in its lower reaches. The upper reaches of the Ishim pass through Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan. In Russia, the river flows through a vast swamp along its course and features countless meanders and undulating lakes. The river freezes over from late November until March.
The Ishim River in Astana
According to Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev, Astana was chosen as the capital in part because of the river. The city is also divided into two parts: the Right (northern) bank of the Ishim, or old town, and the Left (southern) bank, home to new government buildings such as Ak-Orda, Government House, and the Supreme Court, as well as many prestigious residential and condominium complexes.
Since 1998, the Ishim River in Astana has been actively managed to control flooding and maintain water levels to accommodate recreational use and provide a showpiece appearance.
Tourist Information
It is impounded downstream from central Astana, keeping its level higher than it would normally be, while the riverbed has been deepened to allow floodwaters to pass through more quickly. In central Astana, near the city park, there is now a public beach and pedal boat rentals; however, if the river were not impounded, "citizens would be able to walk across it."
Another dam will be built upstream of the city to improve flood control. City authorities also plan to further deepen the river, which will eventually allow small passenger boats to operate on the 22-kilometer stretch of river through the capital. To maintain the desired flow rate, water is supplied to the Ishim from the Irtysh River via the Irtysh-Karaganda Canal and a pipeline.
