Isfana River
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Jabbor Rasulov and Spitamen, Tajikistan
| Isfana River Andarsoy/Isfanasoy | |
|---|---|
.jpg) The Isfana River as seen in central Razzkov | |
  | |
| Native name | Исфана суусу (Kyrgyz) |
| Location | |
| Country | Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan |
| Districts | Leilek, Kyrgyzstan Jabbor Rasulov and Spitamen, Tajikistan |
| Towns/villages | Razzakov, Chimgen, Samat, Andarsoy, and Ghulakandoz |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | |
| • location | Turkestan Range, Leilek District, Kyrgyzstan |
| • coordinates | 39°42′36.1″N 69°43′22.2″E / 39.710028°N 69.722833°E |
| • elevation | 2,500 m (8,200 ft) |
| 2nd source | |
| • location | Turkestan Range, Leilek District, Kyrgyzstan |
| • coordinates | 39°42′13.8″N 69°40′54″E / 39.703833°N 69.68167°E |
| • elevation | 2,300 m (7,500 ft) |
| 3rd source | |
| • location | Turkestan Range, Leilek District, Kyrgyzstan |
| • coordinates | 39°46′29.8″N 69°34′27.5″E / 39.774944°N 69.574306°E |
| • elevation | 1,800 m (5,900 ft) |
| Mouth | |
• location | Ghulakandoz, Jabbor Rasulov District, Tajikistan |
• coordinates | 40°12′27.2″N 69°24′50.9″E / 40.207556°N 69.414139°E |
• elevation | 0 m (0 ft) |
| Length | 35 km (22 mi) – 69 km (43 mi) |
| Discharge | |
| • location | Chimgen, Kyrgyzstan[1] |
| • average | 0.6 m3/s (21 cu ft/s) |
| • minimum | 0.1 m3/s (3.5 cu ft/s) |
| • maximum | 1.41 m3/s (50 cu ft/s) |
| Discharge | |
| • location | Kurgoncha, Tajikistan[1] |
| • average | 0.47 m3/s (17 cu ft/s) |
| • minimum | 0.1 m3/s (3.5 cu ft/s) |
| • maximum | 0.84 m3/s (30 cu ft/s) |
| Basin features | |
| Progression | Syr Darya→ North Aral Sea |
The Isfana River (Kyrgyz: Исфана суусу; Uzbek: Isfana soyi or Isfanasoy; Russian: река Исфана), also called Isfanasoy and Andarsoy in its lower course, is a north-flowing transboundary river in Central Asia.[2][3] It is approximately 69 kilometres (43 mi) long and flows through Razzakov, which was also called Isfana until 2022. The river's course runs through Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, from the Turkestan Range into the Syr Darya. Most of the river's water is diverted for irrigation or seeps into the ground, and as such it rarely reaches the Syr-Darya.
The Isfana is fed by unnamed glaciers on the northern flank of the Turkestan Range as well as groundwater. It has 31 tributaries, most of which meet in and around Razzakov. One of the several transboundary rivers in the Syr-Darya basin, the Isfana River flows parallel to the Khojabakirgan River.[4] International donor organizations have supported the establishment of small basin councils in the Isfana River basin, particularly in Tajikistan.[3]
The word "isfana" is believed to have come from the Sogdian word asbanikat, asbanikent or aspanakent which means "the land of horses".[5][6] In Kyrgyz, the river is called Isfana suusu (Kyrgyz: Иcфана суусу),[7] and in Uzbek it is called Isfana soyi or Isfanasoy,[2] which means the "Isfana Creek".[5] In its lower course, the River is also called Andarsoy,[1] since it passes through the village of Andarsoy in Tajikistan.
Course
The headwaters of the Isfana are several unnamed glaciers at roughly 2,500 metres (8,200 ft) elevation in the northern region of the Turkestan Range called Altynbeshik (Kyrgyz: Алтынбешик; Uzbek: Oltinbeshik).[1] The upper portion of the river flows roughly north and northwest. As it passes through the Dagana Gorge (Kyrgyz: Дагана; Uzbek: Dahana) into the Toojayloo basin (Kyrgyz: Төөжайлоо; Uzbek: Tuyayaylov), the river disappears underground.[1] The dry riverbed runs through the Isfana-Kara-Bulak basin and reaches eastern Razzakov, where it reemerges and is fed by several artesian wells.
The Isfana River has 31 tributaries.[8] The portion of the river that runs west from the Dagana Gorge to eastern Razzakov is called Tegirmenlik (variously spelled as Тегирмелик[7] and Тегермалик[1] in Kyrgyz; Uzbek: Tegirmonlik),[5] and the portion that flows through Razzakov is called the Say (Kyrgyz: Сай; Uzbek: Soy), which literally means a "creek". In central Razzakov, the Say receives the Cholgan Creek (Uzbek: Choʻlgan soyi), also fed by an artesian well, from the right.
In the north-west of Razzakov, the Say joins the Taylan Creek, forming the Isfana River proper.[1] The Taylan Creek is also fed by several unnamed glaciers at roughly 1,800 metres (5,900 ft) elevation in Kekche-Tau Mountain (Kyrgyz: Кекче-Тау; Uzbek: Quchchi) in the Turkestan Range.[1] The portion of the Taylan Creek that runs from the eponymous village through Razzakov until it merges with the Say is called the Uzunsay (Kyrgyz: Узунсай; Uzbek: Uzunsoy).
After travelling north from Razzakov for roughly 40 kilometres (25 mi), the Isfana River enters Jabbor Rasulov District of Tajikistan.
Tributaries
Tributaries of the Upper Isfana include:
- Tegirmenlik / Say (which in turn receives Cholgan Creek from the right in central Razzakov)
- Taylan / Uzunsay
