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Which rivers and lakes drain parts of the Junggar Basin?
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Xinjiang
Pagoda close to Tian Lake, Ürümqi, Uyghur Autonomous Region of Xinjiang, China.
The Junggar Basin in Xinjiang is primarily an area of internal drainage, characterized by a few rivers that flow from the surrounding mountains into local lakes.1
The drainage patterns are as follows:
- Northern Drainage: The Irtysh River flows through the far north of the basin before crossing the border into Kazakhstan to drain into Lake Zaysan.1
- Altai Mountain Drainage: Rivers originating from the Altai Mountains drain into Lake Jili.1
- Southern Range Drainage: Rivers flowing from the southern mountain ranges, such as the Tien Shan, drain into Lake Manasi or Lake Aibi (Ebinur).1
Additionally, the basin contains seasonal watercourses that often terminate in saline marshes throughout the region's steppe and desert zones.1