Kuma-Manych Canal
Encyclopedia
The Kuma–Manych Canal is an irrigation
canal
in Russia's Stavropol Krai
. The canal, completed in 1965, runs across the Kuma–Manych Depression, connecting the Kuma River
, which flows into the Caspian Sea
, with the East Manych River
, which also flows toward the Caspian, but dries out long before reaching it. The East Manych River should not be confused with the West Manych
, a tributary of the Don
which flows into the Sea of Azov
and connects to the Black Sea
.
The Kuma–Manych Canal begins near the village of Novokumsky on the Kuma River, between the cities of Budyonnovsk
and Neftekumsk
. Its starting point is at a small reservoir on the Kuma River (44°48′10"N 44°39′40"E) into which the Terek–Kuma Canal (Терско–Кумский канал; completed 1958) brings the Terek water from the south. From there, the Kuma–Manych Canal carries water first toward the north-east, and then toward the north-west, ending at the southern shore of the Chogray Reservoir
on the East Manych
River; Google maps show a small peninsula, formed by the alluvial deposits
at the canal's end point there (45°27′50"N 44°37′33"E).
suggested that Russia build a much deeper canal (dubbed Eurasia Canal
) along the bottom of the Kuma–Manych Depression, suitable for large-ship navigation between the Caspian Sea
and the Black Sea
. The Kazakhstan Academy of Sciences
started conducting a review of possible routes.
Irrigation
Irrigation may be defined as the science of artificial application of water to the land or soil. It is used to assist in the growing of agricultural crops, maintenance of landscapes, and revegetation of disturbed soils in dry areas and during periods of inadequate rainfall...
canal
Canal
Canals are man-made channels for water. There are two types of canal:#Waterways: navigable transportation canals used for carrying ships and boats shipping goods and conveying people, further subdivided into two kinds:...
in Russia's Stavropol Krai
Stavropol Krai
Stavropol Krai is a federal subject of Russia . Its administrative center is the city of Stavropol. Population: -Geography:Stavropol Krai encompasses the central part of the Fore-Caucasus and most of the northern slopes of Caucasus Major...
. The canal, completed in 1965, runs across the Kuma–Manych Depression, connecting the Kuma River
Kuma River (Russia)
The Kuma is an long river in southern Russia. Its drainage basin is 33 500 square km. Its source is in the Greater Caucasus, in the republic Karachay-Cherkessia, west of Kislovodsk...
, which flows into the Caspian Sea
Caspian Sea
The Caspian Sea is the largest enclosed body of water on Earth by area, variously classed as the world's largest lake or a full-fledged sea. The sea has a surface area of and a volume of...
, with the East Manych River
Manych River
Manych is a river in the western and central part of the Kuma-Manych Depression in southern Russia.Tributary to the river Don. The river is 219 km long; its source is Lake Manych-Gudilo in the south-westerm part of the Russian republic of Kalmykia...
, which also flows toward the Caspian, but dries out long before reaching it. The East Manych River should not be confused with the West Manych
Manych River
Manych is a river in the western and central part of the Kuma-Manych Depression in southern Russia.Tributary to the river Don. The river is 219 km long; its source is Lake Manych-Gudilo in the south-westerm part of the Russian republic of Kalmykia...
, a tributary of the Don
Don River (Russia)
The Don River is one of the major rivers of Russia. It rises in the town of Novomoskovsk 60 kilometres southeast from Tula, southeast of Moscow, and flows for a distance of about 1,950 kilometres to the Sea of Azov....
which flows into the Sea of Azov
Sea of Azov
The Sea of Azov , known in Classical Antiquity as Lake Maeotis, is a sea on the south of Eastern Europe. It is linked by the narrow Strait of Kerch to the Black Sea to the south and is bounded on the north by Ukraine mainland, on the east by Russia, and on the west by the Ukraine's Crimean...
and connects to the Black Sea
Black Sea
The Black Sea is bounded by Europe, Anatolia and the Caucasus and is ultimately connected to the Atlantic Ocean via the Mediterranean and the Aegean seas and various straits. The Bosphorus strait connects it to the Sea of Marmara, and the strait of the Dardanelles connects that sea to the Aegean...
.
The Kuma–Manych Canal begins near the village of Novokumsky on the Kuma River, between the cities of Budyonnovsk
Budyonnovsk
Budyonnovsk , also spelled Budennovsk, is a town in Stavropol Krai, Russia. Previously, it was named Svyatoy Krest and Prikumsk...
and Neftekumsk
Neftekumsk
Neftekumsk is a town and the administrative center of Neftekumsky District of Stavropol Krai, Russia, located on the right bank of the Kuma River, east of Stavropol. Population:...
. Its starting point is at a small reservoir on the Kuma River (44°48′10"N 44°39′40"E) into which the Terek–Kuma Canal (Терско–Кумский канал; completed 1958) brings the Terek water from the south. From there, the Kuma–Manych Canal carries water first toward the north-east, and then toward the north-west, ending at the southern shore of the Chogray Reservoir
Chogray Reservoir
Chogray Reservoir is an artificial reservoir on the East Manych River on the border of Stavropol Krai and Kalmykia in southern Russia.The reservoir, 49 km long, was constructed in 1969-1973, primarily to satisfy the demands of local irrigated farming....
on the East Manych
East Manych
East Manych is a river in the eastern and central part of the Kuma-Manych Depression in southern Russia.East Manych flows east through Kalmykia and along its border with the Stavropol Krai, and ends in the Sostino Lakes...
River; Google maps show a small peninsula, formed by the alluvial deposits
River delta
A delta is a landform that is formed at the mouth of a river where that river flows into an ocean, sea, estuary, lake, reservoir, flat arid area, or another river. Deltas are formed from the deposition of the sediment carried by the river as the flow leaves the mouth of the river...
at the canal's end point there (45°27′50"N 44°37′33"E).
Other proposed canals in the area
In June 2007, the leaders of KazakhstanKazakhstan
Kazakhstan , officially the Republic of Kazakhstan, is a transcontinental country in Central Asia and Eastern Europe. Ranked as the ninth largest country in the world, it is also the world's largest landlocked country; its territory of is greater than Western Europe...
suggested that Russia build a much deeper canal (dubbed Eurasia Canal
Eurasia Canal
The Eurasia Canal is a proposed 700-kilometre long canal connecting the Caspian Sea to the lower Black Sea along the Kuma-Manych Depression, which is often considered the border between Europe and Asia...
) along the bottom of the Kuma–Manych Depression, suitable for large-ship navigation between the Caspian Sea
Caspian Sea
The Caspian Sea is the largest enclosed body of water on Earth by area, variously classed as the world's largest lake or a full-fledged sea. The sea has a surface area of and a volume of...
and the Black Sea
Black Sea
The Black Sea is bounded by Europe, Anatolia and the Caucasus and is ultimately connected to the Atlantic Ocean via the Mediterranean and the Aegean seas and various straits. The Bosphorus strait connects it to the Sea of Marmara, and the strait of the Dardanelles connects that sea to the Aegean...
. The Kazakhstan Academy of Sciences
Kazakhstan Academy of Sciences
Kazakhstan Academy of Sciences was founded in 1946 as a state institution that joins active members , corresponding members, and leading scientists of Kazakhstan...
started conducting a review of possible routes.
See also
- Volga–Don Canal which links the Caspian Sea and Sea of Azov for purposes of transportation.