In years of abundant spring floods, the Sarysu river flows into the Ashchykol Depression from the north, bends westwards, and reaches the Telikol from the east. In such years the water level rises in the whole area, connecting the lakes. The lake bottom is smooth, made up of clay and silt. The long Shieli-Telikol Canal was built for irrigation, connecting the lacustrine basin with the Syr Darya river to the south near Shieli.
