title: Baikonyr
text: # Baikonyr
  
  The Baikonyr or Baikonur (Kazakh: Байқоңыр; Russian: Байконыр) is a river in the Ulytau District, Karaganda Region, Kazakhstan. It has a length of 235 km (146 mi) and a drainage basin of 4,940 $km^2$ (1,910 sq mi).
  
  The river flows by Baikonur village. Ancient petroglyphs have been found on rocks along both banks of river Baikonyr.
  
  ## Course
  
  The Baikonyr river has its origin at the confluence of rivers Kurambai (Kuanbai) and Aktas in the southwestern slopes of the Ulutau Range. It heads roughly southwestwards within a valley having a maximum width of 2 km (1.2 mi) to the northeast of the Kalmakkyrgan. In its final stretch it flows roughly westwards, bending northwestwards to end up in the southeastern end of the Shubarteniz lake, to the south of the mouth of the Zhymyky.
  
  The Baikonyr is fed by the winter snows. In the spring its water is fresh. But it turns salty as the flow diminishes and in the summer it dries largely up, breaking up into small pools.
  
  