| Turgay | |
| Other Name: | Торғай |
| Map: | Тургай.png |
| Map Size: | 280 |
| Mouth: | Shalkarteniz |
| Mouth Coordinates: | 48.0206°N 63.0319°W |
| Subdivision Type1: | Country |
| Subdivision Name1: | Kazakhstan |
| Length: | 825km (513miles) |
| Discharge1 Avg: | 9m3/s |
| Basin Size: | 157000km2 |
The Turgay ([torɣai]) (also known as Torgai, Torghay or Turgai; Kazakh: Торғай, Romanised: Torğai; Russian: Тургай Romanised: Turgay) is a river in Kazakhstan.[1] It has a length of and a drainage basin of .[1]
The Naurzum Nature Reserve is a protected area located in the river basin.
The river originates at the confluence of the Zhaldama and Kara-Turgai rivers, which have their sources in the Kazakh Uplands. It then flows along the Turgay Depression. The Turgay disappears in the endorheic basin of Shalkarteniz.
The Ubagan, a tributary of the Tobol, drains the valley to the north, the Turgay to the south. There are many shallow, often salty lakes in the valley. In the summer it dries up and its water becomes salty in the lower reaches of certain sections. The river is mostly fed by snow. It freezes in November and thaws in April.[2] [3]
The main tributaries of the Turgay are the 593km (368miles) long Irgiz, the 284km (176miles) long Karatorgai and the Kobarga on the left, as well as the Zhaldama, Tokanay and Ulkayak on the right. In years of high water the 164km (102miles) long Saryozen river may flow across lake Sarykopa into the Turgay through a channel near Tauysh village.[4]