Late Cenozoic valley network transformations in the watershed area of Nura and lake Karasor
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31489/3106-9649/2026-3-4.GSD/30-39Keywords:
bifurcation, river capture, paleovalley, fluvial processes, erosion, Late Cenozoic, Pleistocene, HoloceneAbstract
Recent and paleovalleys morphology for the upper reaches of Paleo-Nura catchment were investigated using remote sensing and geological survey stock materials. Large-scale transformation of valley network westward from Karasor lake were established.
Separation of Karasor catchment from Paleo-Nura watershed was triggered by local tectonic uplift and, primarily, by Zharly paleovalley fan transgressive aggradation. Zharly fan completely dam Matak-Karasor paleovalley and, simultaneously, some tributary valleys, causing formation of lakes like Saumalkol’.
Aggradation process is still active. Presumably in the end of the Late Pleistocene – beginning of the Early Holocene it leads to overflooding of low saddles in near-valley interfluve hilly terrain by alluvial sediments and divergation of flow during the floods. Thus the most resent braids of Zharly river were formed and bifurcation occurred. Kabanbulak and Syrymbet channels flow to the west – toward Nura river basin. But the easternmost channel flow to the east -in Karasor Lake.
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