Rafting on the Kaluton River -
The Kaluton River is in the Ishim Valley.
Geographical Location
It flows through the Shortandy, Akkol, Buland, Sandiktau, and Astrakhan districts of the Akmola Region. Its length is 223 km, and its catchment area is 17,400 square kilometers.
River Origin
It originates in a lake near the village of Novorybinka in the Akkol District and flows directly into the Ishim River below the village of Kalkutan.
Information
The left bank of the river is a gently rolling lacustrine-alluvial plain, while the right bank is cut by ravines. The catchment area consists of carbonate chernozems and solonchaks. Steppe plants grow here. The river floodplain is home to a variety of meadow grasses mixed with shrubs. The right-bank slopes are covered with birch bushes and shrubs. A small pine forest grows in the upper reaches. One-third of the area is open.
Hydrology
The valley is 0.2-0.8 km wide, reaching 0.6-0.8 km in the middle. The channel to Lake Shortankol dries up during the summer months. The viewing depth is 0.5-0.8 m, and the width is 12-35 m. The depth of running water is 1-2.5 m. It is fed by snow and groundwater. The water freezes in the second half of November (approximately 140-160 days) and thaws in the second ten days of April. The mineral content of the spring's lower reaches is 300-400 mg/kg, with a hardness of 2.5-4.0 mg/eq (soft to moderate hardness).
In summer, the mineral content reaches 800 mg/kg, and the hardness remains high for 6-7 days. The water is used for drinking, livestock, and domestic purposes. The total capacity of the Kalkutan spring is 18.8 million cubic meters. Five dams have a total capacity of 27.5 million cubic meters. 209 ponds with a capacity of m³ have been constructed.
