Rafting on the Narym River -
The Narym River is a river in eastern Kazakhstan, a tributary of the Irtysh River, originating at the junction of the Narym and Sarymsakty ridges, a wetland formed by mountain streams. With its low headwaters and smooth clay-sand bed, the width of the river valley in places reaches more than 20 kilometers (12 miles); in other places, it narrows to 25-250 meters (82-820 feet).
The river's width ranges from 15 to 25 meters (49 to 82 feet), and its depth varies from 0.5 to 2.5 meters (1.6 to 8.2 feet).
Information
Until 1960, the Narym River flowed directly into the Irtysh River, and the village of Ust-Narym was located at the river's mouth. Since 1960, with the construction of the Bukhtarma Reservoir, which flooded surrounding settlements, the Narym flows into the Bukhtarma Reservoir, and the village of Ulken Narym Auyly is located at the river's mouth. Along the river are the towns of Yuldyz, Novoberezovka, and Maimyr.
History
According to Chinese chronicles, the Narym River basin was home to the eastern Hunnic tribe of Ala-at, Tr. for "piebald horse," called "he-la" and "boma" ("piebald horse" in Chinese chronicles); one of the eastern Shanuy Xiongnu, Helog Tou, came from the Alat tribe. Alat Tou, most likely named after its parent tribe.
The modern descendants of the ancient Alat are the Alat in the Altai Mountains, and the Halakhes and Khalaj in northern India and the eastern Iranian plateau. It is known that, under the Arabicized name Khalajs, Alat was one of the main Hephthalite tribes of the 5th-6th centuries CE.
