Irtysh–Karaganda Canal, Canal in Kazakhstan

The Irtysh–Karaganda Canal is a waterway in Kazakhstan that carries water from the Irtysh River to the Karaganda region. It runs for about 280 miles (450 km) across open steppe, passing through several reservoirs and crossing the Nura River before reaching the outskirts of Karaganda.

Construction of the canal began in 1962 and it was fully completed in 1974. After Kazakhstan's independence, it was renamed in honor of Kanysh Satpayev, and later a pipeline was added to supply water to Astana.

The canal is known locally as the Kanysh Satpayev Canal, named after a Kazakh geologist. People in nearby towns use its water for industry and daily needs, and the pumping stations are a familiar sight in the steppe.

The canal is not a tourist site, so visitors should stay on public roads and keep a safe distance from the water and machinery. The best way to see it is by car along the roads that run parallel to the canal, especially near the pumping stations.

The canal lifts water uphill using 22 pumping stations to overcome a height difference of about 1,560 feet (475 m). It also crosses the Nura River through a tunnel, a detail that visitors often miss.