Waters and rivers of Central Asia

There are about 12 thousand rivers in Central Asia; most of them belong to the mountains and only large rivers cross the deserts. By source of feeding, rivers fall into four groups: rivers fed by glacier and snow waters (Amudarya, Zarafshan), those fed by melting snow and glaciers (Syrdarya, Chirchiq), those fed mainly by seasonal snow (Ohangaron, Kashkadarya), and small rivers fed by seasonal snow and rain. The Amudarya is the most water-rich river of the region: it forms from the junction of the Panj and the Vakhsh and is about 2540 km long (counting from the Panj’s beginning). The Syrdarya is the longest river; it is formed by the junction of the Naryn and the Karadarya and with the Naryn is about 3019 km long. Both rivers take water from the snow and glaciers of the Pamir and Tien Shan and are full in summer, then much water is used for irrigation on the plains. Now their waters no longer fully reach the Aral Sea.