One of the largest rivers. Rivers of Russia. The largest rivers in Russia
About 2.5 million rivers can be found in Russia. Most of the rivers are not very long and deep. Their length is usually no more than 100 kilometers. But if we talk about large rivers, then they are truly huge and reach shocking sizes.
The Ob River is located in Siberia. It is obtained by the confluence of the Biya and Katun rivers. If we count from the source of the Irtysh, then its length is 5410 kilometers. Thanks to these numbers, it became the largest river in length in our country. The river flows into the Gulf of Ob in the North - a bay in the Kara Sea. The Ob basin area is 2,990,000 square kilometers. Of course, more than 50 species of fish live in the waters of this river. Half of them are of industrial importance.
There is another river in Siberia - the Yenisei. It flows into the Kara Sea. From the sources of the Small Yenisei, the length of the river is 4287 kilometers. It also takes place on the territory of two countries - Mongolia and ours. The area is 2,580,000 square kilometers. Thanks to this, Yenisei takes the second place in our rating.
The river originates in the mountains of Siberia. Further, it flows into the Laptev Sea. This handle is considered one of the largest Russian rivers. Its length reaches 4,480 kilometers. And the area, in turn, is 2,490,000 square kilometers. So Lena is in third place on our list. Some believe that the Russians first learned about this river in the 17th century, sending a detachment of Cossacks in search of it.
Cupid passes through the territory of three states: China, Mongolia and Russia. The basin area is 1,855,000 square kilometers. The length is 2824 kilometers. There are many points of view about the origin of Cupid. The most important of them is the basis of the Tungus-Manchu languages \u200b\u200b"Amar" and "Damur".
The next river on our list originates from the Valdai plateau in the Tver region. On Earth, the river is considered one of the largest. And all because its length is 3530 kilometers. It is located on the territory of two countries - Kazakhstan and Russia. The basin area is 1,361,000 square kilometers.
You will find this river in Yakutia. Its length is 2,129 kilometers. The river was formed by the confluence of two rivers Kulu and Ayan-Yuryakh. Further, the Kolyma flows into the Kolyma Bay. As for the area of \u200b\u200bthe basin, it is equal to about 645,000 square kilometers. Kolyma was discovered not only by Russians, but also by valiant Cossacks.
The Don River flows in Russia. It takes its origins in the Central Russian Upland. The Don area reaches 422,000 square kilometers, and its length is about 1,870 kilometers. The Don is still considered one of the most ancient rivers in our country. Two million-plus cities were built on the Don: Rostov-on-Don and Voronezh.
The river basin is entirely located within the steppe and forest-steppe zones. The Don is also distinguished by high spring floods and low low-water periods; at other times, summer floods are also very rare. The river freezes, as a rule, in late November - early December. Freezing up can last from 140 days in the upper reaches and up to 30-90 days in the lower reaches.
You will see the river in the Krasnoyarsk Territory. Its length is 1636 kilometers. Khatanga is obtained at the confluence of two rivers - Kheta and Kotui. Further, it flows into the Khatanga Bay. As for the area of \u200b\u200bthe basin, it is equal to about 364,000 square kilometers. Mainly, the food of Khatanga is snowy. The high water comes from the end of May to August. May freeze in late September. In the waters of the river, industrial fishing of omul, vendace, nelma, taimen and char occurs. The river is navigable.
The river originates on the slopes of the Khalkan ridge. The source consists of two rivers - Omekon and Kuidusun. As for the area, it is equal to 360,000 square kilometers. The length of Indigirka is 1,726 square kilometers. Since the river basin is located in the area of \u200b\u200bdevelopment of permafrost rocks, it is characterized by the formation of large icings. There are several settlements on the river itself. It is navigable from the mouth of the Moma River. The main piers are Druzhina, Honuu, Tabor and Chokurdakh.
Northern Dvina originates in the Vologda region. It turns out at the confluence of two rivers - South and Sukhona. The basin area is 357,000 square kilometers. By the way, it was in these waters that the history of Russian shipbuilding began. In the upper reaches of the river there are the cities of Krasavino, Koryazhma, Kotlas and others. The river is navigable throughout.
In the middle of the 19th century, there was even a plan to improve navigation along the Dvina in the Arkhangelsk region. These were handled by American engineer George Whistler. If we write about the origin of the name, then the folk etymology explains it as a “double river”. And all because of the merger of Vychegda and Sukhona. By the way, it is here that the oldest paddle steamer in Russia operates, which could survive in our time.
Video: Top 10 largest rivers in Russia
07.11.2019
The largest river in Russia. 10 largest rivers in Russia: a list with names:
On the territory of our country, there are a huge number of rivers (2.5 million). Most of them are small, their length usually does not exceed 100 kilometers. Then the question arises: what are the most big rivers Russia? We will try to answer it in this article.
First, we will present you with a list of these rivers:
- Enisey.
- Lena.
- Amur.
- Volga.
- Kolyma.
- Khatanga.
- Indigirka.
- Northern Dvina.
Now let's talk about them in more detail.
River Ob
The largest river in Russia, which is located in Western Siberia. It is formed by the confluent rivers Biya and Katun. From the source of the Irtysh, its length is 5410 kilometers. In the North, it flows into the Ob Bay.
The water basin of the river occupies a huge area - 2,990 thousand square meters. km. According to this indicator, it rightfully occupies a leading position in our list. In terms of water content, the Ob is in third place, behind only Lena and Yenisei.
The Ob feeds mainly on melt water. During spring-summer floods, the largest river in Russia receives most of its annual flow.
note
In April, high water begins in the upper reaches, in the second half of April it begins in the middle reaches, and in early May this process occurs in the lower reaches. The water level rises even during freeze-up.
When the river breaks open, as a result of the resulting congestion, short-term insignificant level rises occur.
The high water ends in the upper reaches in July. In September - October, a rain flood begins, which continues until freezing in the lower and middle reaches. Ice cover on the Ob is preserved on average up to 220 days a year.
The main tributary of the Ob is the Irtysh. The length of this river from the source, which is located on the border of China and Mongolia, to the confluence with the Ob is 4,248 km.
Fishing has been developing on this river for a long time. Even at the end of the 19th century, there were many ruff, perch, rockfisher, pike, shokur, muksun, nelma and other fish species in the river waters. Today there are fewer fish in the Ob waters, but nevertheless there are about 50 species of it.
Yenisei
Today we present to you the largest rivers in Russia. The list continues with the mighty Yenisei. This river is considered a natural border between West and East of Siberia.
Its length is 4287 km. The Yenisei flows through the lands of two neighboring states - Mongolia and Russia. The total area of \u200b\u200bthe river is 2,580 thousand square kilometers. This indicator allows this huge river to rank second in Russia.
On the left bank of this Siberian river, there are plains, and on the right bank, the endless mountain taiga stretches. In this regard, there is a sharp asymmetry of the banks of the Yenisei.
The right bank is more than 5 times higher than the left bank. On its way from source to mouth, the river crosses all climatic zones of Siberia.
That is why camels are found in the upper reaches of the Yenisei, and polar bears are found in the lower reaches, closer to the ocean.
Lena river
It cannot be said that this is the largest river in Russia, although its size is impressive. The length of the river is 4480, and its total area is 2490 thousand square meters. km. The Lena River is rightfully ranked third among the major rivers of our country.
The river is mainly fed by waters from melting glaciers and snows - about 50% of the total. Precipitation provides the river with about 38% of the water and about 13% is underground recharge, which is more typical for the upper reaches.
In mid-October, Lena freezes in the upper reaches. It opens in mid-April. Ice cover stays on the river for about 270 days a year.
Amur
The topic of our article is the largest rivers in Russia. The names of many are known not only to Russians, but also to our neighbors from other countries. For example, Cupid. This is one of the longest rivers in our country and the largest in the Far East. It flows on the border of Russia and China and carries its waters through the territory of Mongolia. The Amur flows into the Sea of \u200b\u200bOkhotsk.
The basin area of \u200b\u200bthis river is 1,855 thousand square kilometers, and its length is 2,824 km.
Volga
Glorified by poets and composers, which inspired artists to create immortal paintings, this is, of course, the Volga River. And even if it is not the largest river in Russia, it is a symbol of our country.
The source of the Volga is located on the Valdai plateau of the Tver region. The Volga is considered one of the largest rivers on our planet. The length of the river is 3530 km. The total area is 1361 thousand sq. km. The river flows through the lands of Russia and Kazakhstan.
Kolyma river
This river is located in Yakutia. Its length is 2,129 km. Water pool - 645 thousand sq. km. Kolyma was formed as a result of the confluence of two small rivers Kulu and Ayan-Yuryakh. Kolyma flows into the bay of the same name.
Don
This river is considered the oldest in Russia. The Don originates in the Tula region on the Central Russian Upland. Its length is 1870 km, the water basin is 422 thousand sq. Km.
The current is very slow, which is why the Cossacks call this unhurried and majestic river "the quiet Don". This is due to the flat profile in which the channel runs. The slope towards it is quite insignificant, on average this value does not exceed 0.1 degrees. In some areas, the valley is 13 km wide. The right bank is steep and high, while the left is low.
Khatanga river
This river is located in the Krasnoyarsk Territory. Its length is 1636 km. Water pool with an area of \u200b\u200b364 thousand sq. km. It is formed by the two rivers Kotui and Kheta.
This river flows through a wide valley in the North Siberian lowland. There are over 112 thousand lakes in the Khatanga basin. Their total area is 11.6 thousand square kilometers.
Indigirka
In Yakutia, on the slopes of the Khalkan Range, there is the source of the Indigirka River. Its length is 1726 km, a water basin with an area of \u200b\u200b360 thousand square meters. km. Its source is made up of two medium-sized rivers - Omyokon and Kuidusun.
Indigirka is the coldest river in Russia. IN winter time in the lower reaches, it freezes through. In summer, it is covered with ice and turns into a sparkling ice stream, streaming picturesquely among the mountains. From the end of September, the river is frozen by ice, which does not melt until June.
Northern Dvina
Our list of the 10 largest rivers in Russia has come to an end. It is completed by the Northern Dvina, which flows through two large regions - Arkhangelsk and Vologda.
Its length is 744 km, area is 360 thousand square meters. km. At its source, the small rivers Sukhona and Yug are connected. This northern river famous for the fact that the history of Russian shipbuilding began on it.
Top 10 largest rivers in Russia
There are about 2.5 million rivers in Russia. Most of these rivers are relatively small and their length is usually no more than 100 kilometers. But as for the big rivers, they are truly huge and reach shocking sizes.
1 Ob River -
the largest river in Russia
The Ob is a river in Siberia, formed by the confluence of the Katun and Biya rivers. If we count from the source of the Irtysh, then it has a length of 5410 kilometers, which makes it the largest river in Russia in length.
In the North, the river flows into the Gulf of Ob - a bay in the Kara Sea. The Ob basin has an area of \u200b\u200b2,990,000 square kilometers (which is why the river takes first place in our rating).
More than 50 fish species live in the waters of this river, half of which are of industrial importance.
2 Yenisei River
The Yenisei is a river in Siberia that flows into the Kara Sea. The length of the river, from the sources of the Small Yenisei, is 4287 kilometers. The Yenisei flows on the territory of two countries (Russia and Mongolia), its area is 2,580,000 square kilometers, which allows it to take the second place among the rivers of Russia.
3 Lena River
The Lena River originates in the mountains of Siberia and flows into the Laptev Sea. Lena, one of the largest Russian rivers, with a length of 4,480 kilometers. Its area is 2,490,000 square kilometers, which rightfully makes it the third largest river in Russia. It is believed that the Russians first learned about this river in the 17th century, sending a detachment of Cossacks to search for it.
4 Amur River
Amur is a river flowing in the territory of three states (Russia, Mongolia and China). The basin area is 1,855,000 square kilometers and the river is 2,824 kilometers long. There are many points of view about the origin of the name Cupid, one of which is - common ground Tungus-Manchu languages \u200b\u200b"Amar" and "Damur" (big river).
5 Volga River
This river originates from the Valdai plateau in the Tver region. The Volga is one of the largest rivers on Earth, its length is 3530 kilometers, and it is located on the territory of two states (Russia and Kazakhstan). The basin area is about 1,361,000 square kilometers, making it the largest river in Europe.
6 Kolyma River
This is a river in Yakutia, the length of which is 2,129 kilometers. Kolyma is formed by the confluence of two rivers (Ayan-Yuryakh and Kulu) and flows into the Kolyma Bay. The basin area is approximately 645,000 square kilometers. The discovery of Kolyma by the Russians was also carried out by the valiant Cossacks.
7 River Don
Don is a river of Russia, originating in the Central Russian Upland (Tula region). Its area is 422,000 square kilometers and its length is about 1,870 km. Don is one of the oldest rivers in Russia.
There are so many natural attractions in a vast territory surprising in its size Russian state... Some of the gambling wanderers are exploring the secrets of the thick coniferous forests... Others cannot imagine their life without a multi-day vacation on clear lakes rich in fish. Still others go on exciting river cruises.
The beauty of the rivers of Russia, like no other natural monuments, largely depends on how diverse the landscapes surrounding them are. It is also important that Russians have much more choice than many other nations. But still there are several rivers, the beauty of which is well known to both compatriots and foreign guests.
Chirka-Kem
Passionate fans of rafting will love the 221-kilometer Chirka-Kem, a river of Russia located in the northern part of taiga Karelia. It will delight lovers of active pastime with an abundance of rapids, which turn into waterfalls in winter. The river surprises with its "character" - now it is calm and slow, then suddenly stormy and fast.
Indigirka
Not every traveler will have the courage to go to harsh Yakutia to explore the natural landscapes on the banks of the 1726-kilometer Indigirka. Gold miners once rushed to these lands, to the deserted forest-tundra and taiga forests. Now those who are not afraid of severity want to get here arctic desert or the disheartening tundra. On this river, in Oymyakon, a tiny village, there is a cold pole.
Volga
Not a single large river in Russia has as many cities and other settlements located on its banks as the 3530-kilometer Volga, one of which is several reservoirs passing into each other. There are as many as four megalopolises here, each with a population of over a million. Their sights and picturesque landscapes attract fans of river cruises here.
Don
Thanks to the novel created by the genius M. Sholokhov, many travelers are well aware of the Don's features. The 1870-kilometer river of Russia really calmly and slowly carries its waters across the vast European plains. Cruise participants from hospitable Rostov-on-Don to the Russian capital have long appreciated the modest beauty of the forest-steppe landscapes along the way.
Pechora
Originating in the uninhabited Northern Urals, the 1809-kilometer Pechora flows for quite a long time like a fast mountain river. But then, closer to the forest-tundra, its waters slow down. It amazes with the abundance of various fish and the beauty of the landscapes. It is impossible not to admire the high green hills and slender rocks reflected in its surface. The adornment of the river is also the statues of swans that often come here.
Yenisei
Considered one of the most powerful and full-flowing rivers, the 3487-kilometer Yenisei is constantly being influenced by humans. This is evidenced by several hydroelectric power plants built in different years, and other industrial facilities. Particularly beautiful is the rebellious river of Russia during the spring ice drift, when for almost a month solid blocks have been moving along its bed, emitting a roar that frightens the arriving foreigners. Yenisei is one of the.
Amur
Passionate fishermen have long known about the variety of fish that live in the waters of the 2824-kilometer Amur. There are 108 varieties of river "inhabitants" here. Some sections of this border river in Russia - primarily those located above Khabarovsk - are more like lakes. The Amur becomes especially full-flowing during the spring floods.
Ob
Numerous bridges in Novosibirsk, Barnaul, Surgut and other West Siberian cities make the 3650-kilometer Ob one of the most beautiful rivers Russia. Thanks to the taiga plains located on its shores, this area takes on a look worthy of the paintings of painters. The Ob Bay seems to tourists like the sea, surprising with the colors of colorful sunsets and sunrises reflected in the water.
Northern Dvina
Once in the villages located in the vicinity of Arkhangelsk, they talked a lot about the wandering river - this was the name of the Northern Dvina due to the fact that it changed its course. Now this 744-kilometer river slowly flows through the vast Arkhangelsk region, starting not far from Veliky Ustyug. On its long banks, many recreation centers have been built for those who like fishing, river rafting and for those who cannot imagine a vacation without picking berries in the dense taiga forests.
Lena
This beautiful full-flowing river of Russia originates about 15 km from the picturesque Baikal. Its delta is equal in area to the territory of the Moscow region. Flowing through the vast northeastern Siberia, the 4400-kilometer river slowly carries its waters past deserted taiga forests, abandoned villages, green meadows and silent tundra covered with stunted bushes. Travelers climb into these places for the sake of the Lena Pillars - 100-meter vertical cliffs that stretch for about 40 km along the coast. No less interesting are the Tukulans, unexpected for this region - bright brown sand dunes on the shore not far from the place where the fast Buotama - a relatively small tributary - flows into the Lena.
The less people interfere with the natural processes taking place in nature, the more beautiful the landscapes and landscapes surrounding cities and villages. This also applies to several rivers in Russia, which are lucky to be located in remote and uninhabited regions of vast Siberia. Therefore, most of the visiting guests who appreciate the pristine nature, which civilization have spared so far, strive to get here!
The rivers of Russia are beautiful and majestic. The deepest of them are Siberian, but in the European part there are also large waterways.
All Russian rivers can be divided into several groups depending on the depth, length, location. One of the characteristics is high flow.
Additional characteristics:
| Name | Annual flow, km 3 | River basin, million km 2 |
| Yenisei | 624,4 | 2,6 |
| Lena | 515,6 | 2,5 |
| Amur | 403,7 | 1,8 |
| Ob | 394,0 | 3,0 |
| Volga | 254,2 | 1,3 |
| Aldan | 159,6 | 0,7 |
| Angara | 142,9 | 1,0 |
| Pechora | 130,0 | 0,3 |
| Kolyma | 123,0 | 0,6 |
| Northern Dvina | 110,0 | 0,4 |
The number of rivers in the country exceeds 2.5 million, with most of them small in size. Despite this, they provide almost the entire territory of Russia with fresh water.
Yenisei
The deepest rivers in Russia, especially their number, are a unique feature of the country:
In the vicinity of Krasnoyarsk there is a reserve " Yenisei Pillars", Where there are many bizarre outlier rocks. This place is popular with climbers and local tourists.
Lena
Lena is the longest Russian river, it crosses the country without going beyond its borders. Its source lies at an altitude of almost 1.5 thousand meters on the western slope of the Baikal ridge. In the late 1990s, a chapel with an explanatory plaque was built in this place. In the upper and middle reaches, the Lena is surrounded by mountains and only after Yakutsk comes out into the open. Together with the delta, its length is 4.4 thousand km.
When it flows into the Laptev Sea (the marginal sea of \u200b\u200bthe Arctic Ocean basin), the river divides into many channels, forming an extensive triangular delta. The Lena is the only major river in the world, whose basin is located in the permafrost zone.
Because of this, low-lying areas are often swampy, including the estuary. Despite its size, the river receives few tributaries, but they are mostly full of water. In the lower reaches, 2 right tributaries - Vitim and Olekma, turn a small mountain river into a powerful stream up to 12 m deep and up to 20 km wide with islands.
After passing Yakutsk, the Lena enters the floodplain lowland, the Aldan (occupies 6th place in the Top-10) and Vilyui flow into it, it spills for almost 30 km, the channel deepens to 20 m.Nearing the ocean, the river again passes between the mountain ranges, then spills into the delta, not reaching 150 km to the sea coast. The delta covers an area of \u200b\u200b60 thousand km 2.
This is a unique territory, which is actively used by migratory birds for rest and breeding chicks. The specialists of the Ust-Lensky Reserve are engaged in their study and protection. Lena is predominantly a Yakut river that flows through the region with abnormally low winter temperatures, dropping to -62 ° C.
As a result of severe cold weather, their duration, weak snow cover, the ice thickness reaches 1.5 - 2 m. Spring melting begins unevenly - when in the mountains ice rushes downstream, in the middle and lower reaches there is still a stable cover. For this reason, congestion is generated every year, causing catastrophic flooding.
The largest jams can reach 50 - 100 km and raise the water level by 15 - 20 m. Explosions are used to combat, if this is not possible, river icebreakers are used. The deepest rivers in Russia, especially in Siberia, are navigable over a long distance. Lena is the main transport artery of Yakutia.
Therefore, the settlements along the river serve as ports for unloading "summer delivery" ships. The northernmost is the urban-type settlement Sangar. The largest is the capital of Yakutia, Yakutsk. There are river and air ports here. Lensk is a city that provides the diamond mines of Yakutia with the necessary cargo. Olekminsk has a river port for passenger and cargo use, as well as an airport.
Ust-Kut is the southernmost of the cities located on the banks of the Lena. It is the only one where the railway, which belongs to the Western BAM, is suitable. In addition, there is an airport and a river port.
Environmental problems are associated with human activities - deforestation, gold mining, surface water pollution as a result of sewage discharges in villages, river routes, blasting operations in spring congestions. The natural park "Lena Pillars" is located 200 km up the Lena River. In summer you can get there by motor ship or boat, in winter - by river on any winter transport.
Amur
The Amur is a border river, its origins are in Mongolia and China, the lower reaches are on Russian territory, the rest is the border of China and Russia. The length of the Amur is measured from the confluence of Argun and Shilka (2.8 thousand km). The Shilka has tributaries, one of them is the Onon, which begins in Mongolia, its source is called the beginning of the Shilka.
If we count the length of the Amur together with Onon and Shilka, we will get almost 4.3 thousand km, together with Argun - more than 4.4 thousand km. In any case, all the rivers of this region, including the tributaries of the Zeya, Bureya, Ussuri and others, begin in the mountains and make their way through the ridges over a long distance.
The place where the Amur flows into the sea basin is called the Amur estuary. Until now, there are disputes about its belonging to the Sea of \u200b\u200bOkhotsk or the Sea of \u200b\u200bJapan, but they are both marginal seas of the Pacific Ocean. The estuary does not exceed 4.5 m in depth, it stretches for almost 185 km in length, and reaches 40 km in width. Amur is a restless river that floods vast areas every summer.
The rise in the water level, sometimes up to 7 - 9 m, is associated with intense monsoon rains. IN calm state its average depth is 10-15 m, in some pools 40-50 m, near the cliffs it can reach up to 80 m. This channel allows navigation along the entire length, from the estuary, almost to the confluence of the Argun and Shilka. The towns along the river are closely related to the history of Russia.
These are Khabarovsk, Blagoveshchensk, Amursk, Komsomolsk-on-Amur and Nikolaevsk-on-Amur. There is a unique structure in Khabarovsk - the Amur railway tunnel, built before the Great Patriotic War and still operating today. It was laid under the river, the length is more than 7 km, the plan of its reconstruction has been approved.
Environmental problems are associated with natural disasters and human activities. During floods, cities and towns, highways and railways are flooded, the river changes its course and washes the banks. Dam and barrier walls are being built, but the situation is complicated by the border position of the Amur. It is not always possible to coordinate actions with the Chinese side.
The environmental legislation of this country is still under development, which creates a constant threat of pollution of the Amur waters.
Ob
The Ob river system occupies most of the West Siberian lowland. Its beginning is in the Altai mountains, where the sources of the Katun and Biya are located, which, merging, form a powerful stream. The rivers here are mountainous - fast flowing, rocky bottom with rifts, cold water, summer floods.
Having got out of the gorges, the Ob turns into a calm flat river with a slow current, expands the channel up to several kilometers, and receives many tributaries. The largest is the Irtysh, which is not inferior in size to the main stream. It began outside the country on the border of China and Mongolia. The rest are much smaller: Tom, Vasyugan, Bolshoi Yugan and others.
It is here, among the vast swamps, that the main volume of water flows into the Ob. The lower course of the river is in the area of \u200b\u200bpermafrost; in summer, only the surface layer of the soil thaws. Here the channel is divided into several channels with islands, when it flows into the Kara Sea, it forms an extensive delta. The estuary connects to the sea through the Gulf of Ob, which is an ancient flooded river valley.
The Ob is covered with ice for 6 - 7 months, during floods there are congestions that break ice drifts or sappers with explosives to prevent floods. The length of the river is slightly more than 3.6 thousand km, the depth is 1.1 - 3.0 m, at the mouth it increases to 10 - 15 m, therefore navigation is possible in all sections.
In the upper reaches, the Novosibirsk hydroelectric power station has been built, whose dam maintains the required water level in the reservoir and the channel.
In the Gulf of Ob, sea vessels operate, in winter accompanied by icebreakers. On the banks of the Ob there are cities founded during the development of Siberia by the Cossacks in the XVII - XIX centuries: Biysk, Barnaul, Surgut, Labytnangi, the most ancient Salekhard (XVI century), the largest - the millionaire Novosibirsk. Some cities of the twentieth century were built for industrial necessity (Nefteyugansk).
Environmental problems: water and air pollution by enterprises and during mining.
Volga
The deepest rivers in Russia are not only in Siberia. Among the European rivers, the first largest is the Volga. Its length is 3.5 thousand km. It starts with a small stream flowing out of a swamp on the Valdai Upland. A wooden chapel was built on this place in the middle of the 17th century, which survived many events - it was destroyed by wars and oblivion, it was restored and rebuilt more than once.
Finally, in 1998, a new chapel appeared, from which the Volga procession is performed annually. At the confluence with the Caspian Sea, the river forms a vast delta with many channels and islands that are constantly changing shape. In the lower course along the main channel, another one was formed - the Akhtuba River. The Volga-Caspian Canal is laid through the delta, which ensures the passage of ships to the Caspian Sea.
The Volga is the only large river in the world with a large number of tributaries (almost 200) and a permanent watercourse that has no connection with the ocean.
The most significant tributaries are: Kotorosl, Mologa, Oka, Sviyaga, Kama. The construction of 8 power plants in the twentieth century led to the blocking of the Volga and Kama channel by dams with the formation of reservoirs, therefore it is impossible to accurately determine the coastline, the depth of the river, and the flood time. All parameters change depending on the needs of the waterworks, which regulate the passage of the water flow.
The average depth of the river is 5 m, the maximum is 23 m. Thanks to the dams, navigation is possible from the Rzhev in the upper reaches to the Caspian Sea.
The Volga is called the river of the four seas, with which, thanks to the channels, there is communication:
- Volga-Donskoy - the way to Azov and Black Sea;
- Volgo-Baltic - communication with the Baltic;
- The White Sea-Baltic leads to the White Sea.
Many cities appeared on the Volga shores at different times, 4 of them - millionaire: Volgograd, Samara, Kazan, Nizhny Novgorod. The main factor in the environmental disaster of the Volga system is man. Sources of pollution - outdated treatment facilities industrial enterprises and cities, heavy shipping, coastal washout.
In 2017, a program was created for the cleaning of the river, the adjacent space and the development of territories.
Aldan
In Russia, the tributaries of large rivers are among the deepest. One of them is Aldan. This is the right tributary of the Lena, making up a third of its flow. The source of the Far Eastern river is in the Stanovoy Ridge, more than 2.2 thousand km long, about 5 m deep, there are many small lakes in the valley. It is located in the permafrost zone, which in places goes 2 - 4 m deep. It has 275 tributaries, the Amga and Maya are the largest.
A channel with rifts and islands, often forms branches, bending around stone obstacles, the current is fast. When it flows into the Lena, it is divided into sleeves. From the village of Tommot it is navigable for 4 months, from October to May it is covered with ice. During spring floods, the water level increases by 7-10 m. There are no large cities along the river. River ports are located in the city of Tommot and the townships of Eldikan, Khandyga, Ust-Maya.
Due to the low population density, the ecological situation is favorable, except for mining sites (gold, coal). The Lena federal highway and the Amuro-Yakutsk railway line pass through Tommot.
Angara
Angara is one of the Yenisei tributaries, the deepest. The length is about 1.8 thousand km, it is impossible to talk about the depth, since the whole river is a chain of reservoirs formed during the construction of four power plants. This is the only water stream flowing out of Lake Baikal. The source of the Angara is a narrow gorge in the southwestern part of the lake.
The entire river system is located in the mountains of the Baikal region, therefore, its components are characterized by rapids, fast currents, and summer floods. Of the many tributaries, the most significant are Ilim, Irkut, Belaya, Oka. Before the appearance of dams, navigation on the Angara was impossible. At present, there are constant flights between the HPPs.
The cities on the banks of the Angara were built at different times - Irkutsk, Bratsk and Usolye-Sibirskoye were laid in the 17th century in the form of fortresses, Angarsk and Ust-Ilimsk appeared in the 20th century for industrial needs. Today these are developed industrial centers.
Environmental problems are associated with dams blocking rivers, which disrupted fish reproduction, as well as harmful runoffs and emissions from cities.
Pechora
The deepest rivers of Russia in the European part of the country also belong to the basin of the Arctic Ocean. One of them is Pechora, its length is 1.8 thousand km. The beginning of the river on the western slope of the Northern Urals. In the 80s of the 20th century, a plate with a commemorative inscription was installed in this place. Within the Urals, the river has a mountainous regime: fast current, rocky bottom, summer floods.
Descending from the mountains, the Pechora turns into a calm flat river with a depth of 2 to 4 m, expands the channel to 2 km, it is surrounded by flooded meadows with forbs. Gradually the river becomes fuller, forms sleeves, loops, islands appear. Sections separated from the main channel become lakes "oxbows", which eventually become overgrown with reeds.
Approaching the ocean, the water flow is divided into 2 channels (Bolshaya and Malaya Pechora) and forms a vast delta almost 45 km in size. In the lower reaches, the river flows in the permafrost zone, although the upper soil horizon thaws over the summer. Its depth increases to 6 - 10 m. The place where it flows into the Barents Sea is called the Pechora Bay.
The Pechora has many tributaries, the largest are Izhma, Usa, Tsilma. In the interfluve of the Pechora and its right tributary Ilych, there is the Pechora-Ilychsky nature reserve, which preserves the intact forests of the Komi Republic. In its northern part, it is crossed by a small ridge Manpupuner, which is famous for outlier rocks standing on a plateau at an altitude of almost 700 m.
The Mansi people living here call them stone idols. The Pechora lowland is poorly populated, there are no highways and large cities. Naryan-Mar can be reached sea \u200b\u200bships, further to the village of Ust-Tsilma and to Pechora only river vessels pass. Due to the inaccessibility of the area, the ecological situation is very favorable, there is no one to pollute water and air, except for tourists.
Kolyma
The Kolyma is a Siberian river famous for its gold mines and sad fate. It was exiled here in the 19th century, prisoners worked here in the 20th century. Now known for extreme tourism, wild nature and harsh climate. On the Kolyma Upland, the sources of the Ayan-Yuryakh and Kulu rivers, which, uniting, give rise to the Kolyma. The length of the river is slightly more than 2.1 thousand km, if we count together with Kulu - more than 2.5 thousand km.
When it flows into the East Siberian Sea, it forms a vast delta with three channels, one of which is used by ships. The depth of the channels is from 3.5 to 9 m. Out of 35 Kolyma tributaries, only one Omolon feeds the river in spring, the rest, like the main channel, are freed from ice by the beginning of June, having been frozen for 8 months. At the same time, the water warms up weakly even in summer, up to 10 - 15 ° C.
There are no cities along the Kolyma, only three ports - Seimchan, Zyryanka, Cape Zeleny (since 2011 it is part of the port of Tiksi). The Kolyma and Ust-Srednekanskaya power plants provide electricity to the Magadan region and gold mines. The harsh climate and the absence of roads keep the nature clean, but the development of gold mining worsens the ecological situation.
Northern Dvina
The Northern Dvina is one of the many Russian rivers flowing into the marginal seas of the Arctic Ocean. It begins on the East European (Russian) Plain from the confluence of the Sukhona and the Yug River, its length is 744 km. If we count from the source of the Sukhona in Lake Kubenskoye, the figure will increase to 1.3 thousand km. The river has many tributaries, the largest are Vychegda, Vaga, Pinega.
The depth of the Northern Dvina ranges from 3.5 m to 7.5 m, along the entire length there are shoals, where the water level drops to 1 - 1.5 m. For this reason, ships cannot pass upstream and work only in the port of Arkhangelsk, located at the mouth. At the confluence with the Dvinskaya Bay Of the White Sea The Dvina is divided into channels, forming an extensive delta.
The seabed is constantly cleared and deepened in the port, since in the spring a lot of sand and debris comes here, although here the depth reaches 12 - 24 m. The cities of Veliky Ustyug, Kotlas, Solvychegodsk are built on the banks. The delta is surrounded by Severodvinsk, Arkhangelsk, Novodvinsk. Veliky Ustyug is considered the official place of residence of our Father Frost.
Environmental problems are associated with the industrial development of the area - air and water pollution by enterprises and municipal services of cities. The rivers of Russia are natural wealth country. Both the deepest and the smallest, they play a big role in the development of territories, determine their path in the future.
Article design: Ilchenko Oksana
Video about the deepest rivers in Russia
Top 10 richest rivers in Russia:
As a result of studying the material in this chapter, the student must:
- know the most important rivers and lakes of Russia; geographical patterns of distribution of river and lake systems;
- be able to explain the reasons for the regional uniqueness of rivers and lakes in Russia; use physical-geographical, economic-geographical and cultural-geographical material to characterize rivers and lakes;
- own the basics of physical and geographical analysis of the territory of the country.
The role of rivers and lakes in the history and geography of Russia is exceptionally great. Until the end of the 19th century. not only in the Trans-Urals, but also in European Russia, river systems were the most important mode of transport, the main flows of goods and people moved along them.
Russian rivers
The European and Siberian rivers of Russia differ significantly in their development, natural qualities and role in the history of the country. The rivers of European Russia run north, west and south to the two oceans and the Caspian Sea; at the same time, the basins of large rivers are connected by canals, and reservoirs have been built on many European rivers (Fig. 5).
The largest rivers of the Western and Eastern Siberia flow northward towards the Arctic Ocean. Every spring, the melting of Siberian rivers begins in their southern sections, located in the upper reaches. Ice jams form in the middle and lower reaches of rivers, and therefore there is a risk of flooding for coastal villages. Many reservoirs have been built in Siberia, but there are practically no canals connecting river basins.
As you can see, regional differences between the rivers of Russia are significant.
Figure:
The Volga, the queen of Russian rivers, is also the longest river of the Russian Plain: its length exceeds 3.5 thousand km. Its source is in the Valdai Upland. The Volga basin covers five geographic areas: in the upper and middle reaches, it flows within the zone of mixed and deciduous forests; from Kazan to Samara the river passes the forest-steppe zone, and from Samara to Volgograd - the steppe zone; semi-desert and desert landscapes are located along the banks of the Volga on Caspian lowland... On the banks of this great river, they have lived peacefully for centuries different nations Russia - Slavic, Finno-Ugric, Turkic and Mongolian.
The Volga is the most "urban" river in Russia: 69 cities are located on its banks; for comparison: on the Oka, which ranks second in the country for this indicator, there are “only” 22 cities. The Volga is not only the most “urban”, but also the most “metropolitan” river in the country: its waters wash the embankments of 11 capitals of the subjects of the Russian Federation. The Volga is also valuable with its small towns, including Levitanovskiy Ples, legendary Sviyazhsk, tourist Myshkin, Bolgar with an ancient settlement and many others.
Until the end of the XIX century. The Volga played the role of the country's most important transport artery, and Nizhny Novgorod, located in the center of its basin, with its famous fair, acted as one of the main economic centers of Russia.
The Volga is connected by a system of canals with other river systems of the country. The Volga-Baltic waterway, partly laid along the route of the ancient Novgorod railroad, connects the Volga with St. Petersburg (via the Rybinsk reservoir, Beloe, Onega and Ladoga lakes and a system of canals). The Moscow Canal is laid between the upper reaches of the Moskva River and the Volga, and the Volga-Don Canal, the construction of which Peter the Great had dreamed of, linking the Volga and Don, allows Volga ships to enter the Azov and Black Seas. At present, the Volga as a river has been preserved in separate sections, mainly in the upper and lower reaches: in other places, large reservoirs with dams and hydroelectric power plants stretch for hundreds of kilometers.
The Volga is of great importance for the history and culture of our country; her image in folklore, literature and painting as the most important national river ("Mother Volga") is a separate multifaceted topic.
The largest right tributary of the Volga, which flows into it in the region of Nizhny Novgorod, is Oka.Until the beginning of the 17th century. along the middle course of the Oka was the border of the relative safety of the inhabitants from the raids of the steppe inhabitants; only after the construction of the Belgorod zasechnaya line was this border moved far to the south (see Ch. 8 “Southern and Western vectors spatial development Russia "). Oryol, Kaluga and Ryazan are located on the Oka.
The largest left tributary of the Volga, connecting it with the Urals, is Kama,on the banks of which the "Stroganov empire" was located with the capital in Solikamsk, which marked the beginning of the industrial development of the Urals.
Northern Dvina- the most important river in the Russian North. Among the large rivers of the Russian Plain, only it retained two names: above the Great Ustyug, it is called Sukhonoy , and lower - Northern Dvina. At the mouth of the Dvina, the first seaport of Russia is located - Arkhangelsk.
Dnieperin its upper reaches belongs to Russia; historical Smolensk is located on its banks. Dnieper (its dialectal name Nepra) was the main river of Ancient Rus, part of the most important transport route - the route "from the Varangians to the Greeks." In the mainland, the route passed from the mouth of the Neva to Lake Ladoga, then along the Volkhov to the Novgorod Lake Ilmen, from it up the Lovat River and through the portages to the upper reaches of the Dnieper. Thus, on the way “from the Varangians to the Greeks” there were three ancient Russian cities - Novgorod, Smolensk and Kiev.
Don,sung in Cossack songs, it is considered the main river of the Russian South; Voronezh is located in its upper reaches, and Rostov-on-Don and the legendary Azov are in the lower reaches.
FROM Caucasus mountains originate Kubanand Terek.The Kuban flowing into the Sea of \u200b\u200bAzov gave its name to the local Cossacks; on its banks there are two regional capitals - Cherkessk and Krasnodar. The history of the Terek Cossacks is inextricably linked with the Terek running to the shores of the Caspian. Vladikavkaz is located in the upper reaches of the Terek.
Among the significant small rivers of the Russian Plain, we will name two small capital rivers - Moskva Riverand Neva.The waters of these rivers reflect not only the capital's buildings; at different times they witnessed the most important events in Russian history. It is no coincidence that in Russian culture, the Moscow River and the Neva have a vivid and memorable image, on which many prominent writers and painters worked.
Many rivers begin in the Urals, including those that went down in history as part of the ancient railways. West of the Ural Mountains flow Pechora,scenic Chusovaya;river Ufa,which gave the name to the capital of Bashkiria; once a fish river Ural,which, like the Cossacks living on its banks, was punished by Catherine the Great by renaming: before the river was called Yaik.
To the east of the Urals, select the river Tobolwith the first Siberian capital Tobolsk; tributary of the Tobol river Turu,on the banks of which are located the historical Siberian cities - Verkhoturye, which until the end of the XVIII century. served as Siberian customs, and the first Russian city in Siberia Tyumen, as well Iset- the main river of Yekaterinburg, the current Ural capital.
The most important rivers of Western Siberia - the Ob with the Irgysh and the Yenisei - flow into the Kara Sea.
Irtysh,whose source is located on the eastern slopes of the Chinese Mongolian Altai, in historical and cultural terms it can be considered the most developed river in Siberia. His song image took root in public memory: "On the wild bank of the Irtysh stood Ermak, enveloped in a thought." The original Tobolsk is located on the Irtysh (at the confluence of the Tobol). On the banks of the Irtysh there are also two capitals of the subjects of the Russian Federation: Omsk, which is often called the steppe capital of Siberia, and the oil capital of the country, Khanty-Mansiysk.
Ob,which takes its origins in Altai, is naturally remarkable in that it has the largest basin in Russia, covering most of Western Siberia. In the upper reaches of the Ob there are the cities of Barnaul and Novosibirsk - the current capital of Siberia, more precisely - Siberian Federal District... One of the oldest Siberian cities of Salekhard, now the capital of the Yamal-Nenets Autonomous Okrug, is located in the lower reaches of the river directly on the Arctic Circle; the name of the river is included in the historical name of the city - Obdorsk.
Yenisei- the most deep river countries - can be considered a river-border. For hundreds of kilometers, the Yenisei flows, clinging to the steep shores of the Central Siberian Plateau, dividing it and the West Siberian Low Plain. At the confluence of the Yenisei with the Angara, the volume of its runoff is almost 1.5 times less than that of the Angara, and the catchment area of \u200b\u200bthe Angara exceeds the corresponding indicator of the Yenisei by more than 2.5 times. Thus, based on hydrological data, the river flowing after the confluence of these two rivers should be called the Angara. However, the historical and cultural tradition is stronger than objective scientific data, and the Yenisei remains the Yenisei-father, as Siberians often call him. It is symbolic that Tuvans call him Ulug-Khem , or Great river.
The Yenisei flows through three regional capitals of Russia - Kyzyl, Abakan and Krasnoyarsk, and in its upper reaches two hydroelectric power plants with large reservoirs - Sayano-Shushenskaya and Krasnoyarskaya - have been built.
Lena is considered the most long river Russia: its length is 4400 km. Starting in the vicinity of Lake Baikal, the river flows into the Laptev Sea, thus forming a unique natural complex - a huge delta. The Lena River is full-flowing and navigable almost throughout its entire length, thus it is really the main waterway of Eastern Siberia. The capital of Yakutia, the city of Yakutsk, is located on the Lena (this large, dynamically developing city is entirely built on stilts). The famous Lena Pillars are also located on the river bank.
Among other large rivers of Eastern Siberia, the Lower and Podkamennaya Tunguska, the Indigirka river (in the delta of which the northernmost historical settlement of Russia - Russian Ustye is located), and the notorious Kolyma, which is notorious for its "camp" history, stand out. The unique Angara, sung in songs, shared the fate of the Volga: as well as great river Russian Plain, it was flooded by the waters of large reservoirs. The flooding of historic villages as a human tragedy of loss of roots in the story "Farewell to Matera" was reflected by the Siberian writer Valentin Rasputin.
Amur - the main river The Far East... Unlike European rivers in Russia, it has two floods: spring, associated with melting snow, and summer-autumn, which is caused by monsoon rains. At the same time, the water level in the lower reaches can rise by 6-8 m. The extreme nature of the monsoon rainfall in 2013 led to catastrophic consequences for the villages and the national economy of the region. Blagoveshchensk and Khabarovsk, the capital of the Far East, are located on the banks of the Amur.
- See: Zayats D. V., Lazarevich K. S., Rogachev S. V. Framework of Russian civilization, Moscow 2007, p. 7.