{{Short description|Plain in Kazakhstan}} {{About||other meanings|Ashchykol (disambiguation){{!}}Ashchykol}} {{Infobox landform | name = Ashchykol Depression | other_name = {{nativename|kk|Ащыкөл ойпаты}}<br />{{nativename|ru|Ащыкольская впадина}} | type = [[Depression (geology)|Depression]] | image = Ashchykol depression-23 59 Sentinel-2 L2A.jpg | caption = Ashchykol Depression [[Sentinel-2]] image | coordinates = {{coord|45|10|N|67|25|E|type:landform|format=dms|display=inline,title}} | length = {{Convert|90|km|mi|abbr=on}} | width = {{Convert|25|km|mi|abbr=on}} to {{Convert|300|km|mi|abbr=on}} | part_of = | elevation = {{Convert|120|m|abbr=on}} to {{Convert|200|m|abbr=on}} | pushpin_map = Kazakhstan | map_caption = Location in Kazakhstan | pushpin_relief = Yes | location = [[Kazakhstan]] }} The '''Ashchykol Depression''' ({{langx|kk|Aştşyköl oipaty}}), is a [[Depression (geology)|depression]] in the [[Turkistan Region|Turkistan]] and [[Kyzylorda Region|Kyzylorda]] regions, [[Kazakhstan]].<ref name="GЕ">[[Google Earth]]</ref>
The village of [[Taykonyr]], [[Suzak District]], Turkistan Region is located in the depression.<ref name="GЕ"/> The Ashchykol zone includes a {{convert|147950|ha|sp=us}} [[Important Bird Area]].<ref name="IBA">[http://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/21938 Lakes in the lower reaches of the Chu River - BirdLife Data Zone]</ref>
==Geography== The Ashchykol Depression lies between the lowest reaches of the [[Sarysu (river)|Sarysu]] in the west and the mouth of the [[Chu (river)|Chu]] river in the east. It extends roughly from east to west for a length of roughly {{Convert|100|km|mi|abbr=on}} to the southwest of the [[Betpak-Dala]] desert, west of the [[Moiynkum Desert]] and north of the northwestern end of the [[Karatau Range]].<ref name="STM">{{cite web|url=https://maps.vlasenko.net/smtm1000/n-41.jpg|title=L-42 Topographic Chart (in Russian)|access-date=25 July 2022}}</ref>
It is a largely flat [[endorheic basin]] filled with mixed sand and clay deposits, as well as sandy [[alluvium|alluvial]] sediments. There are numerous intermittent salt lakes and [[Sor (geomorphology)|sor]]s. The main lakes are [[Akzhaikyn]] and [[Ashchykol]]. In wet years the Chu river may reach lake Akzhaikyn at the eastern end and the [[Boktykaryn]] the Ashchykol lake. At the western end the Sarysu river usually ends in the [[Telikol]] lake. The latter is located between the western limit of the Ashchykol Depression and the [[Daryalyktakyr|Daryaly]] [[Takir (soil)|takir]] plain further to the west.<ref name="KЕ">''Kazakhstan National Encyclopedia'' / Ch. ed. B.O. Jakyp. — [[Almaty]]: «Kazakh encyclopedia» ZhSS, 2011. ISBN 9965-893-64-0 (T.Z.), ISBN 9965-893-19-5</ref><ref name="STM"/>
==Flora== [[Phragmites|Reeds]] and [[sedges]] may grow in marshy areas and lake shores. [[Artemisia (plant)|Wormwood]], [[winterfat]], ''[[Aeluropus]]'' and [[Salsola|saltwort]] grow sparsely in the land areas in between.<ref name="KЕ"/>
== See also == * [[Geology of Kazakhstan]]
==References== {{Reflist}} ==External links== *{{commonscat inline}}
[[Category:Depressions of Kazakhstan]] [[Category:Turkistan Region]] [[Category:Kyzylorda Region]] [[Category:Chu (river)]]