Irtis

Irtis is the Lithuanian name for the Irtysh River, a major transboundary river in Asia. The Irtysh rises in the Altai Mountains and flows generally northwest across China, Kazakhstan, and Russia, ultimately joining the Ob River in western Siberia. With a length of approximately 4,248 kilometers, it is one of the world’s longest rivers and serves as a key geographic feature of the region. The river's basin supports large-scale irrigation, water supply for urban areas, and hydroelectric power in several projects. Along its course lie important cities such as Semey in Kazakhstan and Omsk in Russia. The Irtysh plays a significant role in regional transport and historical trade routes linking Central Asia with Siberia and the Russian Far East. Because the river crosses several national boundaries, its management involves international cooperation and faces environmental challenges, including dam construction, water allocation, and pollution from industrial and agricultural sources. Efforts focus on sustainable water use, habitat conservation, and monitoring of water quality to balance development with ecological health.