Editing Jetisu (section)

==Geography==
[[File:Operational Navigation Chart F-6, 6th edition.jpg|left|thumb|Map including the Jetisu region (US [[Defense Mapping Agency]], 1985)]]
The lands of the 19th-century [[Semirechye Oblast]] included the [[steppe]]s south of [[Lake Balkhash]] and parts of the [[Tian Shan]] Mountains around Lake [[Issyk Kul]]. The province had an area of 147,300&nbsp;km², and was bounded by the province of [[Semipalatinsk]] on the north, by [[China]] ([[Xinjiang]]) on the east and south, and by the former Russian provinces of [[Fergana Oblast|Fergana]], [[Syr-Darya Oblast|Syr-darya]], and [[Akmolinsk Oblast (Russian Empire)|Akmolinsk]] on the west.
[[File:Lakebalkhashbasinmap.png|thumb|300px|Remaining rivers flowing to [[Lake Balkhash]]]]
The [[Dzungarian Alatau]] Mountains, which separated it from the Chinese region of [[Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture|Kulja]], extend south-west towards the river [[Ili River|Ili]], with an average height of 2,700&nbsp;m (9,000&nbsp;ft) above the sea, several isolated snow-clad peaks reaching 3,400 to 4,300 m (11,000 to 14,000&nbsp;ft). In the south, the region embraces the intricate systems of the [[Ala-Tau]] and the Tian Shan. Two ranges of the former, the Trans-Ili Ala-tau and the Terskey Ala-tau, stretch along the north shore of Lake Issyk Kul, both ranging from 3,000 to 4,600 m (10,000 to 15,000&nbsp;ft) and both partially snow-clad. South of the lake, two ranges of the Tian Shan, separated by the valley of the [[Naryn]], stretch in the same direction, lifting up their icy peaks to 1,800 and 2,400 m (6,000 and 8,000&nbsp;ft); while westwards from the lake the precipitous slopes of the Alexander chain, 2,700 to 3,000 m (9,000 to 10,000&nbsp;ft) high, with peaks rising 900 to 1,200 m (3,000 to 4,000&nbsp;ft) higher, extend into the former province of Syr-darya (containing the southern Kazakh cities of [[Chimkent]], [[Taraz|Auliye-ata]] and [[Hazrat-e Turkestan|Turkestan]]). Another mountain complex of much lower elevation runs north-westwards from the Trans-Ili Ala-tau towards the southern extremity of Lake Balkhash. In the north, where the province bordered Semipalatinsk, it included the western parts of the Tarbagatai range, the summits of which (3,000 m or 10,000&nbsp;ft) do not reach the limit of perpetual snow. The remainder of the province consisted of a fertile steppe in the north-east ([[Sergiopol]]), and vast uninhabitable sand-steppes on the south of Lake Balkhash. Southwards from these at the foot of the mountains and at the entrance to the valleys, there are rich areas of fertile land.

===Climate===
[[Image:IMG 9366-Kaindy.jpg|thumb|left|[[Lake Kaindy]]]]
The climate in Jetisu is thoroughly continental. In the Balkhash steppes the winter is very cold. The lake freezes every year, with temperatures falling to &minus;11&nbsp;°C (13&nbsp;°F). In the Ala-kul steppes the winds blow away the snow. The passage from winter to spring is very abrupt, and the steppes are rapidly clothed with vegetation, which, however, is soon scorched by the sun. Average temperatures at [[Almaty]] (733&nbsp;m, 2,405&nbsp;ft high) are: for the year {{convert|8|°C|°F|abbr=on}}, for January &minus;8&nbsp;°C (17&nbsp;°F), for July 23&nbsp;°C (74&nbsp;°F). At [[Przhevalsk]] (1,660&nbsp;m, 5,450&nbsp;ft): for the year 2.5&nbsp;°C (36.5&nbsp;°F), for January &minus;5&nbsp;°C (23&nbsp;°F), for July 17&nbsp;°C (63&nbsp;°F); still higher in the mountains, at [[Naryn]] (2,100&nbsp;m, 6,900&nbsp;ft), the average temperature  for the year is only 6.5&nbsp;°C (43.7&nbsp;°F), for January &minus;17&nbsp;°C (1.4&nbsp;°F), for July 18&nbsp;°C (64.4&nbsp;°F).

===Bodies of water===
[[Image:E8405-Bishkek-Almaty-hwy.jpg|thumb|In the hills between [[Bishkek]] and [[Almaty]]]]
The most important river is the [[Ili River|Ili]], which enters Jetisu from the Tian Shan mountains of China's [[Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture]] in northern [[Xinjiang]], and drains it for 250&nbsp;km before it enters Lake Balkhash. The [[Chu River]] also rises in the Tian Shan mountains and flows north-westwards through the former Akmolinsk province of the [[Governor-Generalship of the Steppes]].  The [[Naryn River]] flows south-westwards along a [[longitudinal valley]] of the Tian Shan, and enters the [[Fergana Valley]] to join the [[Syr Darya]].  The major lakes of the area include Lake Balkhas (or Denghiz) and Lake Ala Kul, which was connected with Balkash in the post-Pliocene period but now stands some hundred feet higher, connected by a chain of smaller lakes with Sissyk Kul, Lake [[Issyk-Kul]], and the alpine lakes of [[Son-Kul]] and [[Chatyr-Kul]].