Kurshab

or Kurshabdar’ia, called Gul’cha in its upper courses, a river in the Kirghiz SSR; left tributary of the Karadar’ia River (Syr Darya Basin). Length, 157 km; basin area, 3,750 sq km. It originates on the Alai Mountain slopes and flows into a deep valley, receiving many tributaries along the way. Average water discharge is 24.6 cu m per sec. In summer the Kurshab waters often do not reach the Karadar’ia River because they are diverted for irrigation.