In which part of the country does the Lena River flow. Brief description of the Lena River: location, hydrological regime and economic use. Lena river. Source and estuary on the map

Lena- a river flowing through the territory of North-Eastern Siberia in the Irkutsk region and the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia). Refers to
The Lena River ranks tenth in length among all rivers in the world and eighth in the world in full flow. The Lena River - flowing under one name - its length from source to mouth is 4400 km.

The Lena River flows from the south to the northeast, and after the city of Yakutsk to the north. It originates near Lake Baikal (Baikal ridge), 145 km from the village of Kachug, Kachugsky district, Irkutsk region of Russia. It flows through the Kachugsky, Zhigalovsky, Ust-Kutsky Kirensky districts of the Irkutsk region, then flows through the Lensky, Olekminsky, Khangalassky, Urban Okrug - Yakutsk, Namsky, Kobyaysky, Zhigansky Bulunsky districts of the Republic of Yakutia. The Lena River flows into the Laptev Sea 160 km from the Chekurovka settlement of the Bulunsky District of Yakutia.

Settlements.
The largest settlements on the Lena River from source to mouth: Changur, Kachug, Verkholensk, Zhigalovo, Ust-Ilga, Orlinga, Omoloy, Ust-Kut, Kirensk, Chuya, Vitim, Peleduy, Hamra, Lensk, Chapaevo, Olekminsk, Khorintsy, Markha, Sinsk, Elanka, Kachikatsy, Bestyakh, Pokrovsk, Yakutsk, Maimaga, Sangar, Bakhanay, Zhigansk, Dzharjan, Siktyakh, Kyusyur, Chekurova.

The largest ports on the Lena River: Osetrovo, Kirensk, Lensk, Yakutsk, Olekminsk, Pokrovsk, Sangar, Tiksi.

There are few large cities along the Lena River. Many settlements are located only in the Yakutsk region. Many villages are abandoned or are small rotational settlements.

Routes (access roads).
At the source of the highway P-418 "Irkutsk-Kachug", a plexus of roads near the village of Zhigalovo, Zhigalovsky district of the Irkutsk region of Russia. Further there are good access roads near the city of Ust-Kut, the P-419 highway and the 25K26 autobahn. You can also drive directly to the river near the village of Kirensk. The P-501 highway runs near the city of Yakutsk. In addition to the main highways and highways, many villages and villages run along the river, connected by smaller roads.

Main tributaries.
The largest left tributaries of the river: Kuta, Vilyui, Molodo.
The largest right tributaries of the river: Kirenga, Chaya, Vitim, Aldan, Olekma, Chuya.

Smaller tributaries:
- on the left: Anai, Chanchur, Ilikta, Inda, Kulenga, Yamny, Rudovskaya rechka, Meneevsky, Ilga, Trofimovka, Fedorovka, Maly, Bots, Deceased, Nizhnyaya, Elovy, Nemtanka, Nizhnyaya Golovskaya, Ilinga, Bear, Nizhnyaya Sarafanikha, Atalanga Kukhta, Upper Katyma, Lower Katyma, Selenga, Nora, Kokara, Shulaga, Mokchenikha, Turuka, Rassokha, Half, Goose, Elovka, Dry, Murdered, Upper Bochakta, Mill, Baranovy, Kazimirka, Potapovka, Semiga, Chembalovka, Pakhil, Zakhil , Ichera, Stepanikha, Bobrovka, Peleduy, Tabalak, Horse, Djerba, Namana, Markha, Sinyaya, Tyugene, Lunakha, Tympylykan, Horuonka, Moloda, Eekit, Olenekskaya.
- on the right: Anga, Bolshaya Rechka, Tutura, Ziminskaya, Malaya Balakhnya, Zharkov, Vinokurenaya, Berezovka, Kovtorov, Elovenky, Bicha, Botovka, Kuzmin, Vyatkin, Zybunya, Balaganny, Talovy, Listvennichny, Efremkov, Chichapta, Dyadin, Verkhnyaya Sarafani Sukhusha, Zakobeninskaya river, Orlinga, Iga, Shapkin, Tayura, Ulkan, Chechuy, Parshinka, Yukte, Tuolba, Buotama, Belyanga, Dianshka, Undyulyung, Sobolokh-Mayan, Menkere, Dzharjan, Besyuke.

Relief and soil.
The upper reaches of the Lena River and most of the basins of its right branches are located in the highlands of the Baikal region, Transbaikalia and on the Aldan Upland. The main part of the left-bank river basin is located on the Central Siberian plateau. The most lowered section of the river lies in the middle (Central Yakutsk lowland) and in the lower reaches of the Lena.

In the Irkutsk region through which the Lena River flows, soils are mainly represented by eluvial and deluvial deposits, covering bedrocks and Quaternary strata.
The soils are mainly podzolic; there are also chernozems and swampy areas. Saline and solonetzic soils are found. Mountainous areas of the region are characterized by mountain-forest podzolic and mountain-tundra soils with outcrops of bedrock and stony placers.
Permafrost chernozems are located in central Yakutia along which the river flows. Previously, they were called meadow-chernozem soils of above-floodplain terraces, similar in their properties to ordinary chernozems.

Vegetation.
Part of the territory is covered with coniferous forests and endless taiga. The area is rich in pines, spruces, firs, larch and cedars.
Along with dense taiga forests and undersized tundra bushes, near the river there are meadows overgrown with steppe vegetation (fescue, wormwood, etc.). The taiga forests of the Lena River basin consist mainly of pine, larch, Siberian cedar and birch; these forests are often called the "Green Gold of Russia".

Hydrological regime.
The Lena River is 4,400 km long. The catchment area is 2,490,000 km 2. The maximum width of the floodplain is 30 km. Maximum depth 21 m.

By the nature of the flow, the Lena River is conventionally divided into 3 sections: the first section - from the source to the mouth of the Vitim River; the second section - from the mouth of the Vitim River to the confluence of the Aldan River and the third section (lower reaches) - from the confluence of the Aldan River to the mouth.

The upper reaches of the river. The upper part of the river practically occupies one third of its length. It covers the territory of the mountainous Cisbaikalia. Water consumption in the area of the city of Kirensk - 1100 m³ / sec. The width of the valley ranges from 1-2 km to 10 km, sometimes the channel narrows to 200 m.The slopes of the river are steep and rocky, up to 300 m high.

Middle course of the river. The middle course includes a section of the Lena River between the Vitim and Aldan rivers, with a length of 1415 km. In the middle reaches, the Lena River is already full-flowing. The depth of the river reaches 10-12 m. Lena greatly increases in size after the confluence of the Olekma River. The width of the channel is up to 2 km, the width of the valley is up to 30 km, there is a wide floodplain with a large number of small lakes. The river valley is not symmetrical: the left slope is more gentle; the right slope is represented by the northern edge of the Patom Upland, it is steeper and higher. Below the Olekma River (up to the city of Pokrovsk), the Lena River valley is narrow with steep and dissected limestone slopes, which are individual rocks of amazing shape (Lena Pillars). Below the city of Pokrovsk, the Lena River begins to flow across the plain. As a result, there is a sharp expansion of the Lena River valley. The speed of the current slows down greatly - 1.3 m / s and drops to 0.5-0.7 m / s. The floodplain of the river is 5-7 km wide, in some places up to 15 km, and the entire valley is 20 km or more wide.

Lower reaches of the river. Below the city of Yakutsk, the Lena River receives 2 large tributaries - the Aldan River and the Vilyui River. After them, the Lena River turns into a gigantic water stream. Even where the river flows in one channel, its width reaches 10 km, and the depth exceeds 16-20 m. In places where there are many islands, Lena expands to 20-30 km. The banks of the river in this area are deserted.
The extensive Lena delta begins about 150 km from the Laptev Sea. The area of the Lena delta is larger than the Nile delta and is about 30,000 km 2. The sizes of the Lena delta are marked in the Guinness Book of Records.

According to various sources, the annual flow of the river roughly ranges from 489 to 542 km³, the average annual discharge at the mouth is from 15,500 to 17,175 m³ / sec.

The nutrition of the Lena River is almost the same as for all its tributaries - it is melted snow water - 50% and rainwater. Due to permafrost within the catchment area, the river is poorly fed by groundwater, the only exception is geothermal sources. Groundwater accounts for only 1-2% of the Lena River recharge.
The Lena is characterized by spring floods, several large floods in summer and a low autumn-winter low-water period of up to 366 m³ / sec in the lower reaches of the river.

The Lena River differs from other Russian rivers in its ice regime and powerful freeze-up. A strong and thick layer of ice on the river is formed in very cold, long and little snowy winters. The river without ice in the south lasts for about 5-6 months, in the north for 4-5 months. On the Lena, the freeze-up is established about 10 days later than on its tributaries. In the upper reaches, the Lena begins to freeze from the end of October, in the lower reaches it freezes from the end of September. The ice begins to break up in mid-May - in the upper reaches and at the beginning of June in the lower reaches. Spring ice drift is very powerful, ice jams often occur and, as a result, large areas are flooded. First of all, at the end of April, the spring flood begins in the area of the city of Kirensk, which is on the upper Lena, and gradually moves northward, stepping on the river still covered with ice. The spill reaches the lower reaches of the river around mid-June. During a spill, the water rises 6-8 m above the low-water level. In the lower reaches, the rise of water is up to 18 m. The Lena annually carries into the Laptev Sea about 41 million tons of dissolved substances and 12 million tons of suspended sediment.
The highest water temperatures in the upper reaches of the river are 19 ° С, in the lower reaches of the river about 14 ° С in July.

Ichthyofauna.
Of the types of fish, the river is inhabited by: lenok, grayling, whitefish, omul, pike, taimen, catfish, pike perch, tugun, perch, wild boar, burbot, dace, carp, roach, bream, crucian carp, ruff, car, ide.

Water quality.
Turbidity of water in the river is not more than 50-60 g / m 3. The degree of water mineralization is different - from fresh to salty. River water Lena is characterized mainly by low and medium mineralization. The average mineralization of water in the Lena is from 80 to 100 mg / l during floods and floods. In low water it reaches up to 160-500 mg / l. According to its chemical composition, the water is classified as hydrocarbonate-calcium.

Use, tourism and recreation.
The Lena River is the main transport artery of the Irkutsk Region and the Republic of Yakutia. The beginning of navigation is considered to be the Kachug pier. Upstream from the port of Osetrov, small vessels pass along it. The navigation period lasts from 125 to 170 days
On the Lena River, boat cruises take place, fishing, swimming, boating, rafting, hiking in historical places and many other types of entertainment are popular.
Of the sights, the most famous place in the upper reaches of the Lena is the Shishkinsky rocks with well-preserved drawings of ancient people. This is the only place in the world where the creativity of primitive people is so brightly and widely represented.
The Lena Pillars are also popular with tourists - these are geological formations and a natural park on the right bank of the river. It is located in the Khangalassky region of Yakutia, 104 km from the city of Pokrovsk.
There are two historical settlements near the river: Sottintsy is a historical and architectural museum-reserve "Druzhba", the place where the city of Yakutsk was originally founded. And the settlement Zhigansk founded in 1632.

Reference Information.

Length: 4400 km.
Basin area: 2,490,000 km².
Pool: Laptev Sea
Source: near Lake Baikal, Baikal ridge.
Location: 145 km from the village of Kachug, Kachugsky district, Irkutsk region of Russia.
Coordinates: 54 ° 0'51.12 ″ s. lat., 108 ° 4'16.76 ″ in. etc.
Mouth: the Laptev Sea.
Location: Bulunsky district of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia).
Coordinates: 72 ° 36'15.1 ″ s. lat., 128 ° 23'32.79 ″ in. etc.

The great Siberian river Lena is one of the longest rivers on the planet. Its source is near Baikal, then the river makes a huge bend towards Yakutsk, and then turns to the north and flows into the Laptev Sea, forming a wide delta.

More precisely, Lena is the tenth longest river in the world. True, sometimes there are disputes about this, associated with the determination of the point of origin (source) of different rivers. The Lena River is 4400 km long. The catchment area is 2,490 thousand sq. Km. The Lena River flows in the permafrost zone. Lena's food is mainly due to the melting of snow and rainwater. Permafrost does not allow groundwater to replenish the drain of this river.
It flows through the territory of Yakutia in the Irkutsk region.

In northeastern Siberia, the Lena River is the largest waterway. Part of its tributaries bring water into it from Transbaikalia, the Krasnoyarsk Territory, as well as from Buryatia. The Lena River is located only on the territory of the Russian Federation.

The name of the Lena River comes from the Even word Yelyu-Ene, which means “Big River”. It was discovered in 1619-1623 by the explorer Pyanda and recorded exactly this name. In the Russian language, such a name did not get along and it is called simply - the Lena River.

Where is the source of the Lena River

The source of the Lena is a small lake near Lake Baikal. I have not found the name of this lake. So, at the greatest Siberian river, a nameless source. This source is located near Lake Baikal. Different distances to Baikal are indicated, from 12 to 7 km. But the coordinates of the source are given exactly: 53 ° 56'20.4 ″ s. sh. 108 ° 05′08 ″ east (G), but to be sure, here you will find a small chapel with a corresponding plaque.

The height of the place where the Lena River originates is 1470 meters above sea level.

The nature of the flow of the Lena River

This river is divided into three sections. They are distinguished precisely by the nature of the flow:

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the first (upper) section is located from the source to the confluence of the Vitim River,
the second (middle) - from the confluence of the Vitim to the mouth of the Aldan,
the third (lower) - from the mouth of the Aldan to the delta with the Laptev Sea.

The main tributaries of the Lena River are Sinyaya, Vitim, Aldan, Nyuya, Olekma, Vilyui, Kirenga, Chuya, Molodo. The largest is the Aldan River.

All top part the Lena current is located in the mountainous Cisbaikalia.

middle part the current has a length of 1415 kilometers. The middle reaches of the Lena are the territory of Yakutia. After the confluence of the Lena Vitim, the size of the river becomes enormous. Its depth reaches 12 meters in places, the channel expands significantly and flows around many islands.

The width of the river valley also increases (reaches 20-30 kilometers). The left slope of the river floodplain is flat, and the right one is high and steep.

The slopes are covered with coniferous forests and sparse meadows. After Pokrovsk, the Lena valley is still expanding, as the river goes to the plain. The Lena's current speed here significantly decreases and does not exceed 1.3 m / s, and for the most part is no more than 0.7 m / s.

In this part of the Lena River, on its right bank are the famous Lena Pillars - one of the main attractions of the Lena River .

Downstream the Lena River receives water flows from two main tributaries: Vilyui and Aldan. Merging with Vilyui, the Lena River forms a huge floodplain, where there are many swamps and lakes. The channel is 10 km wide. The depth of the river rises to 15-20 meters. In some places, numerous channels have formed. There is a harsh taiga along the banks, and human settlements are very rare. The Lena Delta is very extensive and begins approximately 150 kilometers from the mouth.

Relief of the Lena River

The Lena River basin is the border of two different landscapes. The Central Siberian Plateau lies on the western side, and the Chersky and Verkhoyansk ranges, as well as the Suntar-Khayat ridge, on the eastern side. The largest tributaries of the Lena River are the Olekma, Vitim, Vilyui and Aldan rivers.

Vitim has a length of 1,820 km and a water regime typical of all Far Eastern rivers, that is, a mountain stream passing through a narrow valley, and its channel contains a large number of rocky rapids.

The Olekma River has a length almost equal to that of Vitim, that is, 1810 km. The river valley is sandwiched between mountains, and there are many rapids at the mouth.

The longest tributary of the Lena, as already mentioned, is the Aldan. Its length is 2240 km. In the upper reaches of the Aldan there is a plateau on both banks, and in the lower one there is an intermontane plain.

The Lena River basin includes twelve reservoirs with a total volume of 36,200 million cubic meters. m.

Human use of the Lena River

The Lena River freezes entirely from the lower reaches to the upper reaches. It is opened in the reverse order, i.e. from the headwaters. Navigation on the Lena River lasts 130-170 days. Lena is the main waterway connecting Yakutia with the rest of the country. Small vessels sail practically along the entire waterway. And large river vessels are able to move only along the lower course of the river.

High water occurs in spring. The spill starts in the middle reaches at the end of April in the southern regions. As the snow melts, the spill moves northward. It reaches the lower reaches only by mid-June. At the same time, the water level rises very significantly: by 7-8 meters, and in some places - by 10 meters.

Ice drift is always accompanied by ice jams. The river opens up gradually and regularly from south to north. Freezes from north to south. It is noteworthy that in some areas the water freezes at the bottom, and then on the surface. This causes the formation of ice, which sometimes reaches a height of several meters. During the summer, these ice cliffs melt.

The inhospitable banks of the Lena are little inhabited, its bed, with rare exceptions, is bordered by impenetrable thickets. Here, like thousands of years ago, nature reigns, which is in no hurry to give up its place to man. In the endless expanses of Siberia, human life has always seemed as rare as an oasis in the desert.

Fishing on the Lena river

Since ancient times, the Lena River and its tributaries have attracted fishermen. Platinum on the Lena River is absent and there is a rich food base. Such circumstances create excellent conditions for the life of many species of fish.

Siberian sturgeon is the largest and most valuable fish found in the Lena. They remember the times when this fish reached a length of two meters and a mass of about 200 kilograms. However, a civilized person made certain efforts and now it is not realistic to catch a sturgeon weighing more than twenty kilograms.

In addition, in Lena, you can easily catch taimen and lenok. There are large individuals (0.7 m in length and weighing up to eight kilograms). You can also fish very efficiently for the common whitefish, muksun, boletus, peled, as well as for the Siberian vendace. Grayling can be a common prey. Fans of fishing for predatory fish have the opportunity to go fishing for pike and pike perch. A particularly sophisticated fisherman can try to pull out a burbot. There are also smaller predators: dace, Siberian spiny.

Attractions in the cities standing on the Lena River

In Yakutsk

Nikolskaya Church (1852),
tower of the Yakutsk prison (1685, reconstruction),
the former provincial office (1707), "
Shergik mine "with a depth of 116.6 m (1828-1836),
Spassky Monastery (1664)

Water mud therapy,
Museum of local lore.

House of the Decembrist Golitsyn,
old villages in the vicinity of the city

Olekminsk

Spasskoe, Spassky Cathedral (1860),
chapel of Alexander Nevsky (1891),
memorable places of exiles.

The nature of the Lena river

The Lena Delta contains the most important ecological territories: the Baikal-Lensky Nature Reserve, the Ust-Lensk Nature Reserves Deltovy and Sokol, and the largest Russian reserve "Lena-Ustye". And of course the Lena Pillars National Natural Park. The reserves have 402 plant species, 32 fish species, 109 bird species and 33 mammals.

The places here, as already mentioned, are quite wild and harsh. So there is nothing to do here without a guide or serious experience of independent travel, more precisely, it is dangerous.

One of the greatest rivers in the world. Its length is 4400 km, the basin area is 490 thousand km2. It flows through the Irkutsk region and the Republic of Yakutia. It originates on the western slope, at an altitude of 930 m. It flows into the. Most of the pool is located in the area of distribution and ground and is covered. The upper reaches of the Lena and a significant part of the basins of its right tributaries are located in the mountainous regions of the Baikal region, in the Aldan Upland. The main part of the left-bank basin is located on. The lowest part of the Lena basin is located in its middle and lower reaches.

The source of the Lena is considered to be a small lake (it has no name), 10 kilometers from, located at an altitude of 1000 meters. The entire course of the Lena (up to Vitim), that is, almost a third of its length, falls on the mountainous Cisbaikalia.

In the upper reaches, the river flows along the bottom of a deep and narrow valley. In winter, the river freezes almost to the very bottom, and in dry and hot summers it almost dries up. Its depth in this area does not even reach half a meter everywhere. However, after the confluence of the first tributaries, the Lena becomes a full-flowing river.

In its upper reaches, the Lena is quite fast, winding, rapids in places. The banks of the river are made of hard crystalline rocks. For several millennia, rains and other natural phenomena have carved bizarre towers and battlements in the rocks, reminiscent of a fortress wall. Particularly prominent are the figures created by nature at the outcrops of red sandstones. Some cliffs located off the banks of the Lena River (the so-called Lena Pillars) reach a height of 200-300 meters.

After the confluence of a large right tributary (the Kirenga River), the Lena becomes abundant. At the same time, its course also slows down somewhat, and the depths increase to 10 meters. Below, another large right tributary, the Vitim, flows into the river. At this point, its upper course ends. Vitim itself is a rather large river - its length is almost 2 kilometers.

The section of the Lena between the mouths of Vitim and Aldan, about 1.4 thousand km long, is attributed to the middle course. In this section, the river flows almost in a latitudinal direction, and before Yakutsk it turns sharply to the north. After the confluence of Vitim, Lena becomes even more abundant. The depths increase to 12 meters, and islands appear in the widened channel. Some are covered in grass, while others are even. The river valley also expands to 20-30 km. In this area, it is asymmetric: the left slope is more gentle, and the right one is steep and high. Dense coniferous forests grow along the banks of the river, practically along its entire length.

On the site of Medu Vitim and another large tributary, the Olekma, other large tributaries do not flow into the Lena. Olekma, like Vitim, is quite long - 1100 km. The river valley is narrow and abounds in rapids. Below Olekma, in the middle reaches of the Lena, the Lena also does not receive large tributaries. The river here flows mainly in a deep and narrow valley, which widens only at the confluence of tributaries.

The expansion of the valley occurs below the village of Pokrovsk. The floodplain in this place reaches 15 km. The speed of the river flow, accordingly, also slows down and does not exceed 1.3 m / s (on average 0.5 m / s). The fact is that in this section the river is included in the Central Yakutsk, which stretches to the north for more than 500 km. The main tributaries of the Lena Aldan and also flow through it.

Near the city of Yakutsk on the Lena, there are several terraces, along which long manes made of sand stretch. Elongated hollows are located between them. On the terraces there are many dry oxbow lakes. The banks of the river here are also covered with forest, however, unlike the upper reaches, here it is represented not only by conifers, but also deciduous (for example, birches).

The Lena River with its tributaries Aldan (right) and Vilyuy (left). Satellite view

One of the large tributaries of the Lena, the Aldan, flows from the south along a deep and winding valley. Areas with a fast current, abounding in rapids, are often replaced by extended ones, in which the current is rather calm. For some time, Aldan flows parallel to the Lena, and then turns in its direction (to the west). The length of this tributary is almost 2.3 thousand km.

The sources of Vilyui are located on the Central Siberian Plateau. Its upper course is directed from north to south. Then it turns sharply to the east and slowly flows through a narrow valley. In the lower reaches of the Vilyui, there are many and, and the banks are low, very eroded. The width of the channel can be up to 1.5 km, and the depth is up to 12 m. In length, this tributary of the Lena exceeds the Aldan (the length of the Vilyui is 2,650 km), however, in terms of the basin area it is inferior to it.

Below Yakutsk, the Lena is 10 km wide and 20 m deep. In some places, where there are many islands, the river valley expands to 30 km. In the lower reaches, the Lena basin, on the other hand, is very narrow. The Lena delta begins 150 km from the sea. It is one of the largest deltas in the world. It covers an area of 30 thousand km and even exceeds the delta in terms of this indicator. There are many islands here, most of which are composed of sandy sediments.

Lena's main food is snow and rain. Permafrost hinders food. The river is characterized by spring floods and summer floods. First, the spill is in the upper reaches (at the end of April), and then gradually reaches the lower reaches (in mid-June). During a spill, the water level in the river rises by 6-8 meters, and in the lower reaches up to 10 m. The river freezes, on the contrary, from the lower reaches to the upper reaches. In some areas, this process is rather unusual: freezing begins not from the surface, but from the bottom.

Like all large rivers of Siberia, the Lena flows northward, flowing into the Laptev Sea, the marginal sea of the Arctic Ocean. To some extent, Lena can be called a discoverer: after the glacier melted and the flora and fauna formed, it was this river that was one of the first to blaze a path for itself to the sea, exploring the endless taiga expanses of Siberia.
The usual Russian-speaking name "Lena" has nothing to do with a woman's name - it is just a derivative from the Evenk word of the Tungus-Manchzhur language group "Yelyu-Ene", which translates as "Big River". The Evenk hydronym was used by the discoverer of the river, the Russian explorer Pyanda (Penda), who explored the river in 1619-1623, following downstream from the modern region of Kirensk to Yakutsk. Like all large rivers of Siberia, the Lena flows northward, flowing into the Laptev Sea, the marginal sea of the Arctic Ocean.

the source of the Lena from a mountain lake near Baikal

The question of what exactly is considered the source of the Lena is still open "the latest versions indicate a mountain stream at an altitude of 1650 m. Following further along the channel, the waters of the Lena, depending on the conditions, change their character, showing all types of temperament: choleric - in the beginning of his journey, phlegmatic - in the middle reaches, sanguine in the lower and melancholic in the delta.
By the nature of the flow of the river, three sections are distinguished: from the source to the village of Kachug, from Kachug to Zhigansk, the middle course, and from Zhigansk to the mouth - the lower section.
Before the confluence of the Manzurka River near the village of Kachug, Lena descends along the Baikal ridge and lays down in the mountainous Prebaikalia, here her character can be compared to choleric. With a small size in this part (width 5-7 m), the speed of its current does not drop below 9 km / h.
Then Lena follows to Ust-Kut and below until the confluence of the Chaya and Vitim rivers, here her character becomes closer to phlegmatic. This is especially noticeable after the confluence of the Olekma into it and the significant expansion of the channel from the village. Vesti to Yakutsk, where it reaches 5 km. The slopes of the river in the middle reaches are most often covered with conifers with occasionally visible meadows.
Then the river in its calm movement expands even more, reaching 7-9 km in the channel even before the confluence of the Aldan. And with Aldan and Vilyuy, entering later, the Lena's width reaches 10 km (up to 20 in the island sections), and the depth exceeds 16-20 m.In the Zhigansk region, Lena narrows and therefore its character passes to the sanguine: the stream becomes lively and powerful, reaching a maximum strength.

DELTA OF THE LENA RIVER
About 150 km from the Laptev Sea, the vast Lena delta begins, where it is rather melancholy dispersed into many parts. The world's largest river delta extends over 45,000 km2, surpassing the world's most famous Nile Delta. Thousands of islands divide the sluggish stream, forming channels and lakes, forming, closer to the sea, three main channels: the western one - Olenek, middle Trofimovskaya and eastern Bykovskaya. The last of them, reaching 130 km in length, is of key importance in river navigation, it is along it that ships reach the Tiksi Bay and the port of the same name.
The Lena delta contains the most important ecological territories: the Ust-Lena nature reserves Deltovy and Sokol and the largest Russian reserve "Lena-Ustye". The reserves have 402 plant species, 32 fish species, 109 bird species and 33 mammals.
In the endless expanses of Siberia, human life has always seemed as rare as an oasis in the desert.
Local peoples have existed for centuries in harmony with the surrounding nature, without encroaching on its laws. Even the appearance of the Russians here, in a short time from the end of the 16th to the end of the 17th century. past the "meeting the Sun" to the Pacific Ocean, did not change the relationship between man and nature.

HISTORY OF THE LENA RIVER

The development of the Lena shores by the Cossacks began in 1619, when explorers founded the Yenisei prison, which became the point of further forays to the Lena and Baikal. By that time, rumors about the "Big River", the banks of which are rich in fur-bearing animals, had been circulating among the Russian people for a long time, so with the appearance of the "outpost" they immediately rushed to find it. They approached the river from the north, along the Lower Tunguska to Vilyuy and from the south - from Yeniseisk. Lena's discovery led to a rapid penetration into Yakutia. Three forts were built. In 1632, the centurion of the Yenisei Cossacks, Peter Beketov, founded the Yakutsk (Lensky) prison, which became a stronghold for campaigns to the east, to the Pacific Ocean and to the south, to Aldan and Amur. In 1634 Vilyuisk was founded, and in 1635 - Olekminsk.
Fortified settlements (forts) quickly turned into cities.
In 1643, the Lensky prison was moved to a new, more convenient place, to the Tuymaada valley, long mastered by the Yakuts, and at the same time received the status of a city and the name Yakutsk.Now it is the largest city on the banks of the Lena. For many centuries it has been a support base for the study and development of Siberia. From here Dezhnev, Atlasov, Poyarkov, Khabarov and others left on their way. Bering, the Laptev brothers, Chelyuskin visited Yakutsk at different times. Since 1954, the diamond stage in the history of Yakutia began, which turns the Siberian settlement on the Lena River into a rich city living in a European way.

In addition to Yakutsk, there are five cities on the Lena: Ust-Kut, Kirensk, Lenek, Olekminsk, Pokrovsk. They play an important role as transport hubs, including key river ports. The most famous of them Osetrovo in Ust-Kut is the largest river port in Russia: its annual cargo turnover is 600 thousand tons, and the length of cargo berths exceeds 1.5 km. In the entire Lena basin, he alone has a connection with the railway, due to which it is called the "gateway to the North". The largest ports of the Lena's tributaries are Bodaibo (on Vitim), Khandyga and Dzhebariki-Khaya (on Aldan).
Lena is still the most important road in Siberia. To a large extent, there is a "northern delivery" along it. The beginning of navigation on the Lena is considered to be the Kachug pier, but before the confluence of the Vitim River into the Lena, not all of its sections are passable for large ships. The rest of the Lena River provides excellent conditions for water transport. True, the period of navigation is limited per year in different sections of the river from 125 to 170 days.
The Lena flows in the permafrost zone, therefore both it and its main tributaries feed mainly on melted snow and rainwater. Water rises during a spill by 6-8 m in the upper reaches and up to 10 m in the lower. Spring ice drift turns into a powerful element and is often accompanied by large ice jams. Such congestions are just inherent in rivers, the opening of which occurs from the top downstream.
During freezing, ice forms on the river, which sometimes return certain sections of the river to the ice age. This happens when ice forms at the bottom, which displaces unfrozen water upward. Gradually, it grows thanks to the water freezing from above, as a result, the ice can rise several meters above the river level. The largest ice masses can stretch for tens of kilometers, turning into a kind of dam.
Among the main tributaries of the Lena (Sinyaya, Vitim, Aldan, Nyuya, Olekma, Vilyui, Kirenga, Chuya, Molodo), the largest is Aldan with an average discharge of water at the mouth of 5060 m3 / s and a basin area of 729,000 km2.
Lena is a large river, the largest of the rivers in Russia, whose basin is completely within the borders of the country. People settle down around it, but the natural world is preserved.

GENERAL INFORMATION - LENA RIVER
River in the Russian Federation in Eastern Siberia.
Source: Baikal ridge.
Mouth: the Laptev Sea.
The largest tributaries: Sinyaya, Vitim, Aldan, Nyuya, Olekma, Vilyui, Kirenga, Chuya. Young, Muna.
Largest cities: Yakutsk, Ust-Kut, Kirensk, Lenek, Olekminsk, Pokrovsk.
The most important ports: Osetrovo (Ust-Kut), Kirensk, Lenek, Olekminsk, Pokrovsk, Yakutsk, Sangar. Tiksi.
The most important airports are Ust-Kut, Lenek, Yakutsk.

LENA PILLARS

NUMBERS
Length: 4480 km.
Width: up to 20-30 km.
Basin area: 2,490,000 km2.
Average water discharge at the mouth: 17,175 m3 / sec.
The height of the source above sea level: 1650 m.

ECONOMY
Agriculture: plant growing, animal husbandry, fishing, hunting.
Service industry: tourism, transport shipping

Lena in the Irkutsk region

CLIMATE AND WEATHER
Sharply continental.
Average January temperature: -25 ° C to -43 ° C.
Average July temperature: from + 17 ° C to + 30 ° C.
Average rainfall: about 200 mm.
ATTRACTIONS OF THE LENA RIVER
■ Yakutsk: Nikolskaya Church (1852), the tower of the Yakutsk prison (1685, reconstruction), the former voivodship chancellery (1707), "Shergikskaya mine" 116.6 m deep (1828-1836), the Spassky monastery (1664)
■ Ust-Kut: water and mud therapy, local history museum.
■ Kirensk: house of the Decembrist Golitsyn, old villages in the vicinity of the city.
■ Olekminsk: Spasskoye, Spassky Cathedral (1860), Alexander Nevsky's chapel (1891), memorial places of exiles.
■ Baikal-Lensky, Olekminsky, Ust-Lensky reserves; National Natural Park "Lena Pillars", wildlife sanctuaries and resource reserves.

FUN FACTS
■ Lena is the tenth largest river in the world in length.
■ The world market routinely monitors oil and gas prices, but in the future, clean fresh water may become an important strategic resource. Lena is one of the cleanest rivers in the world. There are no dams or hydroelectric power plants on it. In many places, the water from the river can be drunk without boiling and health risks.
■ In her upward swift course, Lena, as a modernist sculptor, has carved bizarre forms of "fortress walls" in the rocks for thousands of years. Huge, majestic cliffs, the so-called “Lena Pillars”, rise along its banks just above Pokrovsk, reaching a height of 200-300 m.
■ Lena's freezing in some areas starts from the bottom. Sometimes these small pieces of ice rise to the surface and float down. Such "ice drift" is called sludge. It happens that a large amount of sludge completely fills the channel, forming congestions.
■ Not far from the village of Kachug along the banks of the Lena River, there are unique monuments of rock art - Shishkin Pisanitsy. The complex contains more than 3 thousand drawings, the canvas of which is stretched over 3.5 km. Images of animals, travels, battles, holidays, etc. were made in the period from the late Neolithic to the 19th century.

deserts (tukulans) on the Lena

■ There are many miracles in Siberia, but you probably won't find a desert in the middle of the taiga anywhere. And on the right bank of the Lena it is. The sand dunes stretch for about 1 km and create a complete illusion of a hot and arid area, which is destroyed only by the pine trees bordering the area. Until now, there are many versions of the origin of this phenomenon, and none of them is accepted.
■ The traces of an ancient man, discovered in 1982 in the area of the Lena Pillars, reanimated the hypothesis of an extratropical origin of man. And although scientists differently estimate the age of these Neolithic sites, the fact remains that the territory of Yakutia was inhabited by representatives of the genus Homo at least three hundred thousand years ago. The Russian scientist Yu A. Mochanov even dates the age of the sites as 1.8 million years, which puts them on a par with the oldest human sites found in the Olduvai Gorge in Africa.

ARTICLE ON GEOGRAPHY OF THE LENA RIVER
Lena is one of the 10 greatest rivers on the planet. It carries its waters for 4400 km from the sources in the Baikal ridge to the Arctic Ocean. In the middle reaches, the width of the Lena reaches 15 km, the width of the channel in the lower reaches - up to 20-25 km, and the dimensions of the Lena delta are even noted in the Guinness Book of Records.
Its tributaries Vitim, Olekma, Aldan and Vilyui surpass many large rivers in Europe. For seven months the river is bound by an ice shell more than a meter thick, the flood comes in the second half of May.
There are no dams, no hydroelectric power plants, no dams on the Lena, and the beautiful river flows along a natural bed, like millions of years ago. Here you can still drink water by scooping it up from the river with your palm.
Amazing landscapes, Lena cheeks, Lena pillars, rich flora and fauna, a kind of culture of the ancient people - all this can amaze the imagination of the most sophisticated traveler.
Where did the Lena River get its name from? There are many versions. One of them, jokingly, ascribes the "baptism" of the river to the Cossacks: "passing the rivers Muku (where they suffered), Kupa (where they swam), Kuta (where they boozed)" they went out onto a large river, where they could be lazy. From this arose the name of the river - Lena. Most researchers, however, believe that, most likely, this is the Tungus-Manchu (Even-Evenk) "Yelyu-Ene", which means "Big River", changed by the Russians. Indeed, with a river length of 4400 km. R. Lena ranks 11th among the largest rivers in the world and 2nd, after the Amur with its tributaries Shilka and Onon, among the rivers of Russia.
More than 500 tributaries with a length of over 10 km flow down into the Lena River from its drainage basin, which is almost 2,500 km2, on the territory of which Spain, France and all Eastern European states could be located.
The total length of the tributaries of the river. Lena is more than 50 thousand km. Its tributaries such as the Olkma, Vitim, Aldan and Vilyui can compete in length and water content with any major European artery. Lena brings about 540 cubic kilometers of water to the Laptev Sea per year. And along with it - more than 5 million tons of dissolved substances, 27 million tons of suspended sediment and a huge reserve of heat of the Siberian land.

R begins. Lena is very close, just 20 kilometers, from the legendary lake-sea Baikal. It flows in a stream along a rocky channel from a small rounded lake, located at an absolute elevation of about 1640 m, in the watershed part of the Baikal ridge, at about 54 ° N and 107055 "E".
The upper section of the river is shown in detail in the book by A. Kolesov and S. Mostakhov: "Approximately 20 km from the source to the right bank of the Big Lena Solntsepadsky Pass, a trail descends. It was laid by tourists, geologists, as well as forest dwellers who come here to drink. the rivers here are still not big, only 5-7 m, depth 0.2-0.4 m, but the speed of the current is significant (up to 7-9 km / h). From here on the big Lena you can already sail in an inflatable boat ... Soon the first nominal talkative stream Zolotokan flows into Bolshaya Lena. Near its mouth, an amazingly beautiful view disappears into the Lena valley: ridges with rocky peaks turn blue all around, snowflakes can be seen here and there.
However, let us return once again to its sources, more precisely to one of them - to the Manzurka river, which flows into the river. Lena is just above Kachug. If you look closely at the relief map, you can find that the upper reaches of the Manzurka River have a continuation to the southeast in the form of endless gentle troughs, where small rivulets - Golousnaya and Buguldeyka - start flowing into Lake Baikal. The largest expert on the geology and nature of the river. Lena O. Borsuk saw a huge discrepancy between the insignificant speed and the flow rate of the current flow of the river. Manzurki with a very wide, as it were, spread-out valley and a powerful, up to 100 m thick, river (alluvial) deposits of sandy-pebble composition embedded in it. It is likely to assume that once one of these hollows connected the valley of the river. Manzurka with Lake Baikal, and then the unusual shape of the valley of the Manzurka river, and the powerful accumulations of river sediments in it, become explainable.
If this assumption is correct, the question is pertinent, when did the separation of the origins of the r. Lena from Baikal? The upper part of the alluvial deposits of the river valley. Manzurki are of mid-Quaternary age, although in reality they may be younger - they simply could have been washed twice by the water flow before taking their present position in the section. Meanwhile, taking into account the modern tectonic activity of the terrestrial firmament of the Baikal mountains, it can be assumed that this separation of the river. Lena from Lake Baikal happened in human memory. After all, it dropped in 1911 quite unexpectedly, north of the mouth of the river. Selenga, a block of the earth's crust, forming a sizable bay called "Proval". By the way, this sinkhole also engulfed a small village located there.
Separation of the upper reaches of the river. Lena from Lake Baikal could have occurred as a result of the rise of the mountain ranges framing Lake Baikal. The high seismic activity of this territory, manifested in rather frequent and strong earthquakes, as well as the appearance of the mountain slopes - their steepness, stepping and exposure does not contradict this assumption. But then another river should have formed, originating from the lake. There is indirect evidence that the separation of the sources of the Lena from Lake Baikal and the formation of a new water artery just happened in the memory of the people who once inhabited those lands, which was reflected in the old Buryat legend about this event.

Let us present it with some reduction according to N.I. Tolstikhin's record, made by him in 1919. From time immemorial, the hero Baikal lived between the mountain ranges of Southern Siberia and he had 360 rivers - daughters, among whom the most beloved was the beautiful Angara. The daughters loved their father, supplied him with the purest water and peace and tranquility reigned between them. But one day, Angara saw in the distance a young man Yenisei running past. At first glance, she fell in love with him and in the middle of the night ran after him. In the morning, the father did not find his beloved daughter and ,. seeing a fugitive woman in the distance, he tore off a huge black stone from the nearest rock and threw it after her. The stone fell just in the place where the Angara ran away from Baikal and for a long time a gloomy black rock rose in the sources of the Angara, until the Irkutsk hydroelectric power station raised the water in Lake Baikal. Now only a small stone island remains of this rock, slightly rising above the water level. Getting angry, Baikal tore off the second stone from the mountain and threw it after his daughter with even greater force. But again Angara managed to run through a dangerous place, and the stone fell into the formed valley and crumbled into pieces and the Bratsk rapids arose, where the Bratsk hydroelectric power station is now also built. And the third stone was thrown by Baikal after its daughter and that stone fell a little further than the mouth of the Ilim River and rapids formed on which the Ust-Ilimsk hydroelectric power station was built.
So it was in reality or not - we are not allowed to judge about that. Behind the fantastic plot of ancient legends, historical facts, often distorted during their transmission from generation to generation, are sometimes disguised in an unusual way, but this does not become less significant for understanding the events of bygone days. So the legend says, but how it was in reality - only God knows. Stretching to 74 ° N, the valley of the river. The Lena River crosses several latitudinal geographic belts and global geological structures, which predetermines the great diversity of its landscapes, and forces us to focus only on those most important features that, at least to a small extent, determine the hydrography and hydrology of the river. Lena, the outlines of the Lena valley and its sides, the work done by the mass of moving waters and ice. However, in order to understand all this, it is worth touching, at least in the most general terms, the Lena River basin - many of the features of its geological structure and history, and, moreover, permafrost or geocryological conditions, predetermine the unique features of the Lena valley, distinguishing it from other river valleys our planet.

Lena is one of the few largest rivers in Eurasia, not yet "saddled" by dams of hydroelectric power plants or other hydraulic structures. In its basin, untouched or little disturbed landscapes have indeed survived. There is still something to defend and protect from the unwise itch of nature's transformers. The vast expanses of the Lena basin form the habitat of many Siberian peoples, primarily the Yakuts, Evens and Evenks. They are inextricably linked with the natural environment that provides them with food and exchange.
Finally, the landscapes of the Lena valley are unique. Their moral and aesthetic significance will increase with the expansion of cultural exchanges, the need to learn natural laws. These are the internal grounds for the protection of the Lena basin. Meanwhile, gold and diamonds, iron and coal, oil and gas, ornamental and facing stones, mica and apatite - this is not a complete list of what is contained in the bowels of the Lena land, was mined, is being mined or is waiting in the wings. Taiga and tundra attract loggers and hunters. The fertile lands of river terraces and reindeer moss are used for field cultivation, vegetable growing and animal husbandry in the south, and reindeer herding and horse breeding in the north. The Lena arms, its numerous tributaries, and countless lakes are reliable sources of fish. The river itself and its main tributaries have been transport routes since ancient times. The territory of the Lena basin has not been spared by urban trends - industrial production and population are concentrated in cities and urban-type settlements. These are the prerequisites for further impact on the Lena ecosystems.

According to various estimates, the annual flow of the river is from 489 to 542 km³, which corresponds to the average annual discharge at the mouth of 15,500 to 17,175 m³ / sec. The main food, as well as almost all tributaries, is melted snow and rainwater. The widespread occurrence of permafrost within the catchment area interferes with the supply of groundwater to rivers, with the exception of geothermal sources.
In connection with the general precipitation regime, the Lena is characterized by spring floods, several rather high floods in summer and a low autumn-winter low-water period of up to 366 m³ / sec at the mouth. The spring flood in June accounts for 40% of the runoff, and for the period from June to October - 91%. The highest average monthly water discharge at the mouth was observed in June 1989 and amounted to 104,000 m³ / s, the maximum water discharge at the mouth during a flood may exceed 200,000 m³ / s.
Average monthly water discharges in m³ / sec, averaged over 1976-1994, were measured in the river delta at the Stolb station.
During the winter period, 10-20 km³ of ice forms on the river, or 3% of its annual runoff. In summer, its inflow, together with large volumes of flood water into the shallow southern part of the Laptev Sea, leads - as in the case of other large Siberian rivers - to the phenomenon of inversion, that is, to local desalination of the sea and to a later release from ice of its nearby water area.
The minimum annual flow recorded in 1986 was 402 km³, changes over 65 years were 326 km³ or an average of 516 km³ changed by 63%. Like most large rivers in the world with a large basin area, the Lena is characterized by periodic changes in annual runoff, which follow eleven-year cycles of solar activity. The first type of maximum occurs approximately the next year after the beginning of a new solar cycle and can be explained by the intense thawing of ice and permafrost formed over the past 2-3 years, as well as the development of the Arctic Oscillation and an increase in precipitation within the basin in winter. In this case, the most noticeable increase in runoff occurs - for example, in 1989 the average annual water consumption was 23,054 m³ / sec, which corresponds to 728 km³ / year. The second type of maximum is less pronounced and takes place in the middle of the eleven-year cycle, is characterized by a smaller spring flood and is achieved due to a greater amount of precipitation in the summer-autumn period.
Lena differs from other rivers in Russia for its ice regime and powerful ice jams. Strong and thick ice on the river forms during extremely cold, long and little snowy winters. Spring ice drift is very powerful, often accompanied by ice jams and flooding of large areas. First of all, at the end of April, the spring flood begins in the Kirensk region - on the upper Lena - and, gradually moving north, stepping on the still ice-bound river, reaches the lower reaches in mid-June. During a spill, the water rises 6-8 m above the low-water level. In the lower reaches, the water rise reaches 18 m.
Paleozoic section on the banks of the Lena, Arctic part of the river

Infrastructure and settlements
Shipping
The Lena River is an important transport artery.
Lena to this day remains the main transport artery of Yakutia, connecting its districts with the federal transport infrastructure. The main part of the "northern delivery" is produced along the Lena. The beginning of navigation is considered to be the Kachug pier, however, upstream of the Osetrovo port, only small vessels pass through it. Below the city of Ust-Kut, up to the confluence of the Vitim tributary on the Lena, there are still many difficult sections for navigation and relatively small places, forcing annual work to deepen the bottom.
The navigation period lasts from 125 to 170 days. The main ports on the Lena (from source to mouth):
Osetrovo (3500 km from the mouth of the Lena; 3620 km from Cape Bykov, Ust-Kut) is the largest river port in Russia and the only one in the Lena basin communicating with the railway, for which it is called the “gateway to the north”;
Kirensk (3319 km from Cape Bykov);
Lensk (2648 km; 2665 km from Cape Bykov) - serves the diamond mining industry of Mirny;
Olekminsk (2258 km from Cape Bykov);
Pokrovsk (1729 km from Cape Bykov);
Yakutsk (1530 km; 1638 km from Cape Bykov)) - plays the main role in the transshipment of goods coming from the port of Osetrovo (Ust-Kut, Lena railway station);
Sangar (1314 km from Cape Bykov)
Tiksi (0 km; seaport of the Laptev Sea).
Note: In order to ensure river navigation on the river. Lena, the mileage of settlements and other objects is conducted from Cape Bykov (72 ° 0 "0" N 129 ° 7 "1" E).
The largest ports of the Lena's tributaries are: Bodaibo, 292 km from the mouth (Vitim River), Khandyga, 456 km, Dzhebariki-Khaya, 511 km from the mouth (Aldan River).

Bridges on the Lena River
From source to mouth:
In 2009, the construction of a bridge across the Lena River was completed on the Kuragino - Zhigalovo highway near the village of Ponomareva (Irkutsk Oblast) to replace the outdated pontoon bridge.
In the vicinity of the village of Zhigalovo, on the Zhigalovo - Magistralny highway, there is a pontoon automobile bridge.
The railway bridge in Ust-Kut (Irkutsk region, on the western section of the Baikal-Amur Mainline) was commissioned in 1975
The road bridge in Ust-Kut was commissioned in 1989.
Downstream, as of 2014, there are no bridges. In populated areas, ferries (in summer) or winter roads (in winter) are used to cross the river. In Yakutia, it is planned to build a combined rail-road bridge across the Lena with a length of 3.2 km as part of the construction of the Amur-Yakutsk railway line.

Settlements
The banks of the Lena are very poorly populated. With the exception of the approaches to Yakutsk, where the population density is relatively high, the distances between neighboring settlements can reach hundreds of kilometers, occupied by the dense taiga. There are often abandoned villages, sometimes temporary shift settlements.
There are 6 cities on the Lena (from source to mouth):
Ust-Kut;
Kirensk - the oldest city on the Lena, founded in 1630;
Lensk;
Olekminsk;
Pokrovsk;
Yakutsk is the largest settlement on the Lena River, founded in 1632. With a population of 303 thousand people. is also the largest city in the north-east of Russia;
Two historical settlements:
Sottintsy - Lensky Historical and Architectural Museum-Reserve "Druzhba"; place of the original foundation of the city of Yakutsk.
Zhigansk - founded in 1632. In 1783-1805. - a county town.

Length: 4400 km.
Drainage area: 2,490,000 km².
Pool: Laptev Sea, Arctic Ocean
Source: area of Lake Baikal, slopes of the Baikal ridge.
Location: 145 km from the Kachug village of the Kachugsky district of the Irkutsk region.
Coordinates: 54 ° 0'51.12 ″ s. lat., 108 ° 4'16.76 ″ in. etc.
Mouth: the Laptev Sea.
Location: Bulunsky district of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia).
Coordinates: 72 ° 36'15.1 ″ s. lat., 128 ° 23'32.79 ″ in. d

The history of the development of the Lena River

Russian pioneers appeared on the Lena after the founding of the Yenisei prison. Already in 1619, the search for the "Big River" began. And almost simultaneously, several Cossack detachments came to the great river from different sides. Already in 1632 the Lensky prison was founded. Further, the development of the Lena basin proceeded at a rapid pace. And during the 1630s, several Cossack stockades were founded on the Lena and its tributaries.

The emergence of the name of the river

The name of the river has nothing to do with the popular female name. In Soviet times, there was a legend that the river was named in honor of the leader of the world proletariat V.I. Lenin. In fact, the origin of the pseudonym Lenin has nothing to do with the great Russian river. The river got its name thanks to the Russian distortion of the Evenk term "Ele-Nu", or "Ele-Nei", which in translation from the Evenk means a large river.

The source of the river - where the Lena river begins

The source of the Lena River is considered to be a wetland on the slopes of the Baikal Range. From here it is only 10 kilometers to Lake Baikal. The absolute height of the source of the Lena is considered to be 1470 meters above sea level. In this way. The height difference that Lena overcomes in its course is 1470 meters. The swamp from which the Lena flows is located on one of the peaks of the Baikal ridge. A chapel was built near the source of the river and a commemorative plaque was erected.

The upper course of the Lena

The upper reaches of the Lena include the section from the source to the confluence of the Vitim River into the Lena. After the source, in its upper course, the Lena flows through the mountains of the Baikal region. In terms of distance, the upper reaches account for about a third of the river. The speed of the Lena in the upper reaches 3-5m / s

The middle course of the Lena

The section of the river from the confluence with the Lena Vitim to the confluence of the Lena with the Aldan is called the middle course of the river. After meeting with Vitim, Lena flows only through the territory of Yakutia. After the mouth of the Vitim, Lena changes dramatically. It becomes considerably full of water, the depth of the river in some places can reach up to 20 meters. After the town of Pokrovsk, Lena turns into a typical flat river with a slow flow. The banks of the Lena in the middle reaches are mostly taiga, occasionally flat meadows are found. The speed of the Lena in the middle reaches: to the city of Pokrovsk - 1-3 m / s, after Pokrovsk - 0.5-1.3 m / s.

Lower course of the Lena

The Lena section from the place of its confluence with the Aldan to the mouth belongs to the lower course of the river. After meeting with Aldan, the width of the river becomes more than 3 km, and in high water the river can overflow for 30 km. The depth of the river becomes stable and is 15-21 meters. In the lower reaches, the river basin becomes narrow, it is compressed by the mountain massifs approaching from both sides. From the east, the Lena is supported by the Verkhoyansk ridge, and then the Kharaulakh ridge. From the western bank of the river, the Central Siberian plateau rises above the Lena basin, and then the Chekanovsky ridge.

Delta of the Lena River

The Lena delta begins 150 kilometers from the confluence of the Lena into the Laptev Sea. The Lena delta is vast, here the river splits into many small and large branches. The huge mass of fresh water that the Lena carries to the Laptev Sea contributes to the early freezing of the mouth and the late melting of the ice cover.

The Lena estuary is an important transport hub throughout Siberia. Below the mouth of the Lena is the port of Tiksi.

Lena river basin

The Lena River basin occupies a vast territory of Eastern Siberia. The main part of the basin is located on the Prilenskoye plateau. The basin area is 2490 thousand km². Of the Russian rivers, the catchment area is larger only at the Ob and Yenisei. Among all the world's rivers, the Lena occupies the 7th place in terms of basin area. The Lena River collects its waters from the territory of 7 regions of the Russian Federation:

Yakutia, Khabarovsk Territory, Amur Region, Trans-Baikal Territory, Buryatia, Irkutsk Region, and Krasnoyarsk Territory.

The watersheds of the Lena River

The watersheds of the Lena River basin are:

From the east - Verkhoyansk ridge and Dzhugdzhur ridge

From the south - Stanovoy ridge and Baikal ridge, Stanovoe Upland

From the west - the Angarsk ridge and the Central Siberian plateau

Power and hydrographic regime of the Lena River

The Lena River is fed mainly by snow melt water. Therefore, the hydrological regime of the Lena is unstable. The maximum runoff is observed in June, the minimum before the opening of the river in April.

Floods on the Lena

The largest flood on the Lena River occurred in 2001. This year, in May, as a result of strong ice jams, the city of Lensk was heavily flooded. It was the largest and most destructive flood on the Lena River in the entire history of monitoring the river.

Lena River tributaries

Large tributaries of the Lena River

The largest and main tributary of the Lena is the Aldan River. The largest tributaries of the Lena River include 4 rivers in total:

These 4 rivers are significantly different in size from other tributaries of the Lena. The rest of the tributaries are much smaller.

Other tributaries of the Lena:

Big Pathom

Horuongha

Small tributaries of the Lena

Left tributaries

On the left Anai, Chanchur, Ilikta, Inda, Kulenga, Yamny, Rudovskaya rechka, Meneevsky, Ilga, Trofimovka, Fedorovka, Maly, Bots, Deceased, Nizhnyaya, Elovy, Nemtanka, Nizhnyaya Golovskaya, Ilinga, Bear, Nizhnyaya Sarafanikha, Atalan Upper Katyma, Lower Katyma, Selenga, Nora, Kokara, Shulaga, Mokchenikha, Turuka, Rassokha, Half, Goose, Elovka, Dry, Murdered, Upper Bochakta, Melnichnaya, Ram, Kazimirka, Potapovka, Semiga, Chembalovka Plyuda, Iakharovka, Ilya , Stepanikha, Bobrovka, Peleduy, Tabalak, Horse, Djerba, Namana, Markha, Blue, Tyugene, Lunakha, Tympylykan, Horuonka, Moloda, Eekit, Olenekskaya.
Right tributaries

Anga, Bolshaya river, Tutura, Ziminskaya, Malaya Balakhnya, Zharkov, Distillery, Berezovka, Kovtorov, Elovenky, Bicha, Botovka, Kuzmin, Vyatkin, Zybunya, Balaganny, Talovy, Larch, Efremkov, Chichapta, Dyadin, Verkhnyaya Sarafanikha, Verkhnyaya Sarafanikha river, Orlinga, Iga, Shapkin, Tayura, Ulkan, Chechui, Parshinka, Yukte, Tuolba, Buotama, Belyanga, Dyanshka, Undyulyung, Sobolokh-Mayan, Menkere, Dzharjan, Besyuke.

Cities and towns on the Lena river

The banks of the Lena River are poorly populated due to the harsh climate. In some sections of the river, the distance between settlements can reach several hundred kilometers. On the banks you can often find abandoned settlements. And only in the area of the capital of Yakutia on the river is the high density of settlements. There are 6 cities in total on the Lena River.

Cities on the Lena:

Yakutsk

The capital of Yakutia, the largest city on the river. Population 300 thousand people

Ust-Kut

The oldest settlement in Eastern Siberia. Initially, like many Siberian cities, it was a prison. The largest transport hub in Eastern Siberia. Population - 42 thousand people.

Kirensk

The oldest settlement on the Lena. There is a large repair station for the river fleet in the city. Population 11 thousand people.

Lensk

Large port on the Lena. Located 840 kilometers from Yakutsk. The city has enterprises of the diamond mining and oil industries. Population 23 thousand people.

Olekminsk

The regional center of one of the regions of Yakutia. The city has a well-developed logging and gold mining industry. Population 9 thousand people.

Pokrovsk.

One of the regional centers of Yakutia. Located near Yakutsk. Several small industrial enterprises operate in the city. Population 9 thousand people.

Large villages and settlements on the Lena River

Verkholensk

Zhigalovo

Ust-Ilga

Kachikattsy

Jarjan

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Ports on the Lena

Port of Osetrovo.

One of the largest river ports in Russia. Located in the city of Ust-Kut. Lena's only port connecting the river with the main railway. This port is the starting point of northern delivery. Sometimes this port is called the "gateway to the north of Eastern Siberia"

Port of Kirensk.

Port of Lensk

Provides delivery of goods to the diamondiferous regions of Yakutia.

Olekminsk port

Port Pokrovsk

Sangar port

Navigation on the Lena

The navigation period on the Lena lasts from 120 days along the entire length of the river and from 180 days in the upper reaches of the river, since the freeze-up occurs there later. Usually, the shipping season, depending on weather conditions, starts in May-June and ends in September. Sometimes, due to the shallowing of the river in August, the shipping season may be suspended.

Navigation on the Lena

Regular navigation in the Lena River basin is the most important part of the transport and logistics system in the north of the Irkutsk region and the Republic of Yakutia. The waterway makes it possible to receive and deliver to the points of destination goods arriving by rail and delivered by the Northern Sea Route.

Features of shipping conditions.

The total area of the Lena basin exceeds 2 million km2. Of the 18 thousand km of waterways, 8.5 thousand km are considered navigable.
The conditions for the movement of ships along the entire length of the Lena, which stretches for 4400 km from the mouth near Lake Baikal to the port of Tiksi in the Laptev Sea, are not uniform.

The section from the source of the river to Ust-Kut is characterized by shallow depths, the presence of shallow rifts. This distance of 3.5 thousand km is available only during periods of rising water levels for vessels with low draft.

Lena is suitable for regular navigation from the port of Osetrovo, located in Ust-Kut, to the mouth. However, part of the waterway to Vitim has many places dangerous for navigation. There are sections with one-way traffic, due to the narrowing of the river bed due to the high rocky banks, called "cheeks".

The peculiarities of the navigable conditions on the Lena include frequent channel changes, floods, fluctuations in the average depth level.
The river delta has a length of about 150 km and is characterized by an abundance of islands, channels, lakes, the boundaries of which are constantly changing. From the navigable channels reaching the sea, water transport uses Bykovskaya. It leads to the sea gate of Yakutia, which is considered to be the port of Tiksi.

The tributaries of the Lena Vitim, Aldan, Olekma and Vilyui are navigable.

Navigation on the Lena begins in mid-May and ends in October.

Regular navigation on the Lena.

The basis of river navigation in the Lena basin is the functioning of ports and marinas capable of ensuring the transportation of goods and the transportation of passengers along the river and its tributaries.

The port of Osetrovo is the only one on the Lena River, where freight flows arrive by rail. Here, more than 80% of cargo is transshipped, following further by waterway to Yakutia and to the northern regions of the Irkutsk region.

The port of Yakutsk performs the tasks of a transport hub, receiving cargo ships from Osetrovo, as well as from the river mouth.

Lensk is one of the major cargo ports, which is involved in the transportations that support the operation of diamond mining enterprises.

The port of Tiksi opens a gate to Yakutia for cargo delivered by sea.

The ports of Kirensk, Olekminsk, Pokrovsk, Sangar play an active role in the transport system.

Cargo transportation is carried out by river-sea class vessels, bulk carriers, tankers, tugs, barges. In a short navigation period, they must manage to fulfill the program of "northern delivery" and the requests of industrial enterprises.
Passenger shipping connects Ust-Kut, Kirensk, Vitim, Lensk, Yakutsk, Olekminsk, as well as the largest ports on the Lena's tributaries - Aldan, Bodaibo, Khandyga.

The most popular tourist cruises in the river basin are the routes associated with visiting the Lena Pillars, Lena Sheeks and the port of Tiksi.

The growth of the scale of tasks for the socio-economic development of the northeastern regions of Russia causes an increase in the national economic importance of shipping in the Lena River basin.

Bridges and ferry crossings across the Lena

Automobile bridge in the village of Kachug

Automobile bridge across the Lena in the Irkutsk region near the village of Kachug

Automobile bridge in Ust-Kut

Automobile pontoon bridge in Zhigalovsky district

Railway bridge in Ust-Kut. The only railway bridge across the Lena.

There are no more bridges across the Lena. In summer, ferries are used to cross the settlements. In winter, winter roads are laid across the Lena. Where there are no capital bridges, the period of freeze-up and floods, the crossings across the Lena do not work.

Tourism on the Lena

Severe climatic conditions are not favorable for the development of tourism in the Lena River basin. However, fishing and river cruises are popular with leisure enthusiasts. Until 2004, a paddle steamer was operated on the Lena River. Now on the Lena there are several cruise ships that make river cruises in the summer months. Cruise prices are very high and start at 60 thousand rubles. Popular tourist routes on motor ships:

Ust-Kut - Yakutsk

Yakutsk-Tiksi

Yakutsk - Lensk

Sightseeing on the Lena River.

Lena Pillars

Location: Yakutia (Republic of Sakha), Khangalassky ulus. 104 km from the city of Pokrovsk, 200 km from the city of Yakutsk. The nearest settlement is the village of Elanka.

Lena Pillars are steep rocks of a peculiar shape, which are located along the banks of the Lena River. An unusual natural formation has become one of the most famous sights of Yakutia, which can be visited at any time of the year.

The majestic beauty of the rocks up to hundreds of meters high, the harsh northern nature, breathtaking views amaze visitors who come here. The mountain range can appear completely different to guests during four seasons, so it can be rediscovered with each visit.

Lena Pillars are located on the territory of the national nature reserve of the same name, which is famous not only for these rocks, but also for the peculiarities of flora and fauna. Many species of plants and animals that live here are listed in the Red Book.

The territory of the reserve is divided into two parts:

Directly Lena Pillars,

The Tukulan site, which includes a forest.

For tourists, there are several options for routes, which may include rafting on the Lena River, visiting viewing platforms, climbing rocks and getting to know the unique flora and fauna of this corner of the planet.

On the territory of the national park there are also lagerstett - places in which various types of organisms have been very well preserved. In addition, similar sites are found only in Canada and China.

Shishkinsky rocks

Location: Russia, Irkutsk region, Kachug settlement.
Shishkinsky rocks (Shishkinsky pisanitsy) is a unique archaeological site, which consists of rock paintings, the most ancient of which date back to the 4th millennium BC. Located in the upper reaches of the Lena River, it covers approximately 3.5 kilometers and contains more than three thousand images left by residents of different eras.
The rocks have preserved petroglyphs (drawings applied with paint on a stone or carved in its thickness), illustrating different subjects. Ancient masters depicted hunting, large figures of various animals and people. Very few of the earliest drawings left by the late Neolithic artists remain.

Much more interesting are images from the Bronze Age. In the petroglyphs of the III-beginning of the 1st millennium BC, not only animals are captured, but also mysterious mythical creatures.

Currently, the Shishkinsky writings are under threat of destruction, despite the state control and protection of this object. The greatest damage to the archaeological site is caused by irresponsible tourists. Therefore, from the several thousand images on the rocks, not so many remain.

Despite this, Shishkinsky rocks still remain one of the most mysterious places on the planet, where you can get in touch with the ancient history of mankind.

Lensky Historical and Architectural Reserve "Druzhba"

Location: Republic of Sakha (Yakutia), Ust-Aldansky ulus, Ogorodtakh village, st. S.G. Okhlopkova 11/1. 70 km from the city of Yakutsk.
The Druzhba Museum-Reserve is one of the most interesting historical expositions introducing the visitor to the life of the indigenous inhabitants of Yakutia. Architectural monuments have been recreated on its territory, the oldest of which date back to the 17th century - the very beginning of the development of these places.

The Lena River spills two kilometers from the open-air museum. Many unusual Yakut buildings, reconstruction of ancient burials, household items of both the Yakuts themselves and Russian pioneers will not leave indifferent any of their guests.

"Druzhba" offers visitors various excursions with immersion in the atmosphere of the life of indigenous peoples, demonstration of some customs and rituals. You can visit the reserve at any time, but in the spring season the range of entertainment expands and includes:

Roller coaster rides;

Skating;

Horse rides;

In general, the Druzhba Museum-Reserve is an excellent place for acquaintance with the history of the indigenous inhabitants of the Ust-Aldan ulus, acquaintance with their customs and way of life. Part of the exposition is also dedicated to Russian pioneers, with whom the written history of the Yakuts began.

Monument to the Lena River in Yakutsk

Location: Yakutia (Republic of Sakha), Olekminsk, embankment.

The Lena River is one of the largest rivers in Russia. "Eluene" ("big river") was reflected in the folklore of Yakutia, embodied in the image of a middle-aged woman.
The sculptor Nikolai Chochchasov, who was inspired by the drawing of the Olyokma schoolgirl, created Lena as the locals imagine her to be. The mighty river is presented to him in the form of a beautiful young girl in light flowing clothes.

The sculpture is made of extra strong concrete, which is able to withstand temperature drops from -60 to +60, which is especially important in the local climate. Its height with a pedestal is almost 3 meters.

Lena's figure quickly gained popularity and became the subject of heated debate. Many were embarrassed by the girl's transparent clothes, which practically did not hide her nakedness, some were not happy that the image of a young girl did not correspond to a folk grandmother. The humanized embodiment of the Siberian river did not leave anyone indifferent.

Some tourists consider this girl to be the image not only of Lena, but also of Siberia itself. A young beauty with a clear look, long flowing hair, so similar to the flow of river waters, delights with grace and grandeur.

Lena cheeks

Location: Russia, Irkutsk region, Kirensk district.
Lena Cheeks are a narrow winding canyon, one of the deepest in Siberia. On both sides of the bank of the Lena River, steep cliffs rise, around which the river channel makes sharp turns. These are the "cheeks".
Despite the fact that the rocks are located on the territory of the Irkutsk region, getting to them from the land side is rather problematic. Therefore, tourists are recommended to take a tour on the cruise ship "Mikhail Svetlov", departing from Yakutsk.

The Lena River, making its way through the rock, makes sharp turns and narrows to 200 meters in the "cheeks" area. Its rapid flow changes with every change of direction, making this section very difficult to navigate.
The first cheek is found on the right bank of the river. Tall, monumental, with an absolutely vertical wall, it makes an unforgettable impression. Having made a turn, the river leads to the Second Cheek, located on the opposite side. The last bend in the river channel leads to the Third Cheek, even more grandiose than the First. Lena ends its turbulent course at the Drunken Byk rock.

The harsh, dangerous beauty of the canyon delights many tourists.

Lena River on the map

Lena river. Source and estuary on the map.

Lena river on the map.

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