| Charyn | |
| Pushpin Map: | Kazakhstan |
| Pushpin Map Size: | 280 |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location in Kazakhstan |
| Source1 Coordinates: | 43.2706°N 80.5344°W |
| Source2 Coordinates: | 42.4639°N 79.5017°W |
| Source3 Coordinates: | 42.8711°N 78.5581°W |
| Mouth: | Ili |
| Mouth Coordinates: | 43.9311°N 79.4275°W |
| Subdivision Type1: | Country |
| Subdivision Name1: | Kazakhstan |
| Length: | 427km (265miles) |
| Basin Size: | 7720km2 |
The Charyn (Russian: Чарын) or Sharyn (Kazakh: Шарын,) is a river in the Almaty Province of Kazakhstan. It flows through the Charyn National Park and merges into the Ili River, which is considered to be the largest artery of Lake Balkhash. The Charyn is 427km (265miles) long, and has a drainage basin of .[1] It runs through the territory of Kegen and Uighur regions, forming the Charyn Canyon.[2] [3]
The Moinak Hydro Power Plant lies on the river.[4]
The Sharyn river is full-flowing due to many tributaries that flow into it from the Northern slope of the Terskei and Kungei Alatau ranges. With its waters, it cuts a canyon through the Eastern parts of the Zhalanash depression and the Toraigyr mountains.In the Zhalanash valley, the canyon is called Aktogay, which means White stream in Kazakh, due to its trapezoidal shape.