A tributary of the Don, it is 420 kilometers (260 mi) long, with its current source at the mouth of the Kalaus in the southwestern part of the Republic of Kalmykia.

The remaining water became the East Manych and flowed roughly southeast and dried up on the steppe before reaching the Caspian Sea.

The East Manych is now fed by irrigation canals coming from the Kuma and Terek Rivers.

[3] Since the mid-20th century both Manych Rivers receive significant amounts of fresh water via a network of irrigation canals.

According to A. Bazelyuk's calculations, the annual water flow in the West Manych (measured at the Vesyoly township) is 8.3 times as high as it was previous to the canal and dam constructions, while that in the East Manych (measured at the Chogray Dam) is 4.3 times as high as before.