Sary-Ishikotrau

a sandy desert south of Lake Balkhash, in the Kazakh SSR, between the Ili and Karatal rivers. The western section of the Sary-Ishikotrau is crossed by ancient dry channels of the Ili River, called bakanasy; in the north there is a network of intermittent streams. The landscape consists mainly of fixed sand dunes. Saxaul thickets are found in the west, and Ceratoides, Calligonum, wormwood, and ephedra in the east. Tugaic vegetation grows in the valleys of the Ili and Karatal. The Sary-Ishikotrau is used primarily for winter pasture; however, the bakanasy show promise as a rice-growing area.