The 'Ural' (,
Kazakh: ''Жайық'', 'Jayıq' or ''Zhayyq''), known as 'Yaik' before
1775, is a river flowing through
Russia and
Kazakhstan. It arises in the southern
Ural Mountains and ends at the
Caspian Sea. Its total length is 1,509 mi (2,428 km). It forms part of the
traditional boundary between
Europe and
Asia.
It arises on the eastern side of the Urals, about 150 km north of
Magnitogorsk, flows south through Magnitogorsk, and around the southern end of the Urals, through
Orsk where it turns west for about 300 km, to
Orenburg, when the
Sakmara River joins. From Orenburg it continues west, passing into Kazakhstan, then turning south again at
Oral, and meandering through a broad flat plain until it reaches the Caspian at
Atyrau.
Tributaries, in order going upstream:
★
Cagan River
★
Irtek River
★
Utva River
★
Ilek River
★
★
Bol'saja Chobda
★
Kindel'a River
★
Sakmara River
★
★
Salmys River
★
Or River
★
Suunduk River