Ay (river)

{{Short description|River in Bashkiria and Chelyabinsk Oblast, Russia}} {{Infobox river | name = Ay | native_name ={{native name|ba|Әй}} | name_other = | name_etymology = "month" or "moon" in Bashkir language | image = Река Ай, июль 2014..jpg | image_size = | image_caption = View from the bank of the river | image_alt = | map = | map_size = | map_caption = | map_alt = | pushpin_map = | pushpin_map_size = | pushpin_map_caption= | pushpin_map_alt = | subdivision_type1 = Country | subdivision_name1 = Russia | subdivision_type2 = Oblasts | subdivision_name2 = Chelyabinsk Oblast, Republic of Bashkortostan | subdivision_type3 = Cities | subdivision_name3 = Zlatoust, Kusa | subdivision_type4 = | subdivision_name4 = | subdivision_type5 = | subdivision_name5 =  |length_km=549 | width_min = | width_avg = | width_max = | depth_min = | depth_avg = | depth_max = | discharge1_location= | discharge1_min = | discharge1_avg = | discharge1_max =  | source1 = | source1_location = Uraltau range | source1_coordinates=  | source1_elevation = | mouth = Ufa | mouth_location = | mouth_coordinates = {{Coord|54|39|11|N|59|06|41|E|region:RU-CHE_type:waterbody_source:kolossus-dewiki|display=it}} | mouth_elevation = 525 ft | progression = {{RUfa}} | river_system = |basin_size_km2=15000 | basin_landmarks = | basin_population = | tributaries_left = | tributaries_right = | waterbodies = | waterfalls = | bridges = | ports = | custom_label = | custom_data = | extra = }}

The '''Ay''' ({{langx|ba|Әй}}, ''Äy''; {{langx|ru|Ай}}) is a river in Bashkortostan and Chelyabinsk Oblast in Russia, a left tributary of the Ufa. The river is {{convert|549|km|mi}} long, and its drainage basin covers {{convert|15000|km2|mi2}}.<ref name=gvr>[http://textual.ru/gvr/index.php?card=182632 «Река АЙ»], Russian State Water Registry</ref> The Ay freezes up in late October or early November and remains icebound until mid-April. The cities of Zlatoust and Kusa are along the river Ay. There are many steep cliff sides and caves along the banks of the river.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://nashural.ru/mesta/chelyabinskaya-oblast/reka-ai/|title=Река Ай — Наш Урал|date=2016-01-09|work=Наш Урал|access-date=2018-02-22|language=ru-RU}}</ref> The current of the Ay has been used for generating hydroelectric power. It is also possible to fish for pike, bleak, and carp, to name a few species.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.xn--74-6kca2cwbo.xn--p1ai/nature/lakes_rivers/reka_ay/|title=Ай, река - КАРТА74.РФ|website=www.xn--74-6kca2cwbo.xn--p1ai|access-date=2018-02-22}}</ref>

[[File:Кургазакская пещера у побережья реки Ай.jpg|thumb|left|Kurgazak Cave near the banks of the river Ay]] thumb|left|Rocky ledge near the river Ay {{Clear}}

==References== {{Reflist}}

Category:Rivers of Bashkortostan Category:Rivers of Chelyabinsk Oblast