Origin of the name Kandysu

From historical sources it is known that two major battles with the Dzungars took place on the territory of Eastern Kazakhstan: Shagan and Shorgin.

Tens of thousands of Kazakhs and Kalmyks took part in the Battle of Shorginsky (1750). The battle lasted 80 days. The victory was won by the Kazakh warriors under the command of Kabanbai. Abylai Khan and Kazybek bi took part in this battle.

This battle was one of the glorious, but at the same time one of the bloody pages in the history of the Kazakh people. Kalmyks fleeing across the river were cut down with swords, the blood of defeated enemies turned the water crimson, horses drowned under the Dzungars… There was panic and chaos all around. Since then, the river has been called Kandysu (Bloodshed).