It connects the Irtysh River with Karaganda (Qaraghandy), a major industrial center in north-central Kazakhstan.

The canal starts at 51°59′38″N 76°59′27″E / 51.99389°N 76.99083°E / 51.99389; 76.99083, just south of the city of Aksu (formerly Yermak), where it takes water from one of the branches of the Irtysh River.

It reaches an industrial area on the north-eastern outskirts of Karaganda at 49°58′22″N 73°15′49″E / 49.97278°N 73.26361°E / 49.97278; 73.26361 (Kokpekti District), at which point its water apparently goes into an underground pipeline.

As Karaganda is located at a higher elevation than the Irtysh, the canal is furnished with 22 pumping stations, raising the water by 475 m in total.

In the early 21st century, a pipeline was built from the canal to the Ishim River, to supply Kazakhstan's capital, Astana with water.