The Russian Federation is a superpower, the largest state in the world by its territory. And the geography of the country, no matter how well we study it at school, still remains a gigantic hole, a fat gap in knowledge for the majority of citizens of our vast Motherland.
Our project was created for those who want to know as much as possible about their country, and today for the most inquisitive, another educational article.
Today we will talk about the country’s waterways - the largest rivers in Russia.
Russia is one of the most water-rich countries in the world. The country has almost the largest reserves of fresh water. Surface waters occupy 12.4% of the territory of Russia, while 84% surface waters concentrated east of the Urals.
By the way, did you know that 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 large rivers, they are truly huge and reach shocking sizes. So, let's figure it out together:
THE BIGGEST RIVERS OF RUSSIA
1 The Ob River is the largest river in Russia.
The Ob is a river in Western Siberia, the longest river in Russia (5410 km) and the second longest in Asia. The river is formed in Altai by the confluence of the Biya and Katun rivers, the length of the Ob from the confluence is 3650 km (from the source of the Irtysh 5410 km). In the north, the river flows into the Kara Sea, forming a bay (about 800 km long), which is called the Gulf of Ob.
The area of the Ob basin is 2990 thousand km. According to this indicator, the river ranks first in Russia. The Ob is also the third most water-bearing river in Russia (after the Yenisei and Lena).
2 The Yenisei River is the most abundant river in Russia.
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 through two countries (Russia and Mongolia), its area is 2,580,000 square kilometers, which allows it to occupy second place among the rivers of Russia. It carries 600 cubic kilometers of water per year into the Kara Sea. This is almost three times more than the flow of the Volga, and even more than all the rivers of European Russia.
3 hydroelectric power stations were built on the Yenisei - Sayano-Shushenskaya, Krasnoyarsk and Mainskaya.
Sayano-Shushenskaya hydroelectric power station The West Siberian plains end on the left bank of the Yenisei, and the mountain taiga begins on the right. Therefore, in its upper reaches you can meet camels, and going downstream - polar bears.
There are still legends about the origin of the word Yenisei: is it the Tungus word “enesi” converted into Russian? big water, or the Kyrgyz “enee-Sai” - mother river.
The Yenisei and other Siberian rivers bring Arctic Ocean as much heat as would be produced by burning 3 billion tons of fuel. If not for the rivers, the climate of the North would be more severe.
3 The Lena River is the great Siberian river. It is one of the longest rivers on the planet.
Its waterway begins near Lake Baikal, makes a huge bend towards Yakutsk, and then rushes north and flows into the Laptev Sea, forming a vast delta. The length of the mighty river is 4400 km. This is 11th place in the world.
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, when they sent a detachment of Cossacks to search for it.
4 The Amur River is the main symbol of the Far East in Transbaikalia.
Crossing mountain ranges and plains, the river flows into the Sea of Okhotsk. The Amur is a river flowing through the territory of three states (Russia, Mongolia and China). The area of the basin is 1,855,000 square kilometers, and the length of the river is 2,824 kilometers. There are many points of view about the origin of the name Amur, one of which is general basis Tungus-Manchu languages "amar" and "damur" (big river).
Bridge over the Amur River in Khabarovsk "Black Dragon River"- this is what Cupid is called in China. According to legend, in ancient times, a black dragon, who lived in the river and personified goodness, defeated the evil, white dragon, who sank boats on the river, prevented people from fishing and generally attacked anyone. Living being. The winner remained to live at the bottom of the river.
Along the entire border of the Amur Basin, one can observe a change of four physical - geographical zones: forest, forest-steppe, steppe and semi-desert. About thirty live here different nations and ethnic groups.
5 The Volga River is the main river of Russia.
Volga is one of the largest rivers globe and the largest in Europe.
The Volga basin occupies about 1/3 of the European part of Russia and flows through the territory of 11 regions and 4 republics. By the way, the length of the river is 3530 km. This is roughly the same as from Moscow to Berlin and back. The basin area is about 1,361,000 square kilometers, making it the largest river in Europe.
The river, first of all, has an important economic importance as a transport route. The Volga is used as a source of hydropower. Currently, about 45% of industrial and approximately 50% of agricultural production in Russia is concentrated in the Volga basin. The Volga accounts for more than 20% of all fish caught in the country's rivers. 9 reservoirs with hydroelectric power stations were built on the river.
The Volga is dedicated not only to a song known to all Russians, without exception, and a film with the title title. The action of A. Ostrovsky's plays usually takes place in cities on the Volga.
6 The Kolyma River is the largest river in the Magadan region.
This is a river in Yakutia, the length of which is 2,129 kilometers. The 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 accomplished by the valiant Cossacks.
7 The Don River is the most important witness of Russian history.
According to scientists, the river appeared on Earth about 23 million years ago. The Don River is one of the largest rivers in the south of the Russian Plain.
The Don is a river in Russia, originating in the Central Russian Upland (Tula region). Its area is 422,000 square kilometers and its length is about 1870 km.
The Don is one of the oldest rivers in Russia.
Ancient Greek authors give the name of the river - Tanais. Then the lower reaches of the Don were the habitat of the legendary Amazons. These female warriors also found their way into Russian epics, which often tell about the battles of Russian heroes with the daring “pole riders”.
The name was given by the Iranian peoples who once lived on the territory of the Northern Black Sea region, in whose language don means “river”.
“Father Don” has two younger namesakes in England - the Don River in the Scottish county of Aberdeen and the river of the same name in the English county of York.
8 Khatanga River
A river located in the Krasnoyarsk Territory. Its length is 1636 kilometers. Khatanga is formed at the confluence of two rivers (Kheta and Kotuy) and flows into the Khatanga Bay of the Laptev Sea. The basin area is about 364,000 square kilometers.
The very first information about the Khatanga River was received by the Russians from the Tungus around 1605.
9 Indigirka River
The Indigirka River flows through the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia). Belongs to the basin of the Eastern Siberian Sea. Flows from south to north. Indigirka begins at the junction of the Taryn-Yuryakh and Tuora-Yuryakh rivers, which flow from the Khalkan mountain range.
The area of the Indigirka is 360,000 square kilometers, the length of the river is 1,726 km.
The name of the river comes from the Even family name Indigir - "Indie people". Russian explorers of the 17th century. they pronounced this name as Indigirka - just like the names of other large Siberian rivers: Kureika, Tunguska, Kamchatka.
On Indigirka there is the northern pole of cold - the village of Oymyakon and the monument city of Zashiversk, which died out from smallpox in the 19th century.
10 Northern Dvina River
Northern Dvina– river basin White Sea . Flows in Vologda and Arkhangelsk regions Russia. The Northern Dvina River is formed by the confluence of two rivers – Sukhona and Yug. It flows in the direction from south to north and flows into the Dvina Bay of the White Sea, forming a wide delta. The basin area is 357,000 square kilometers. It was on this river that the history of Russian shipbuilding began. The length of the rivers of the S. Dvina basin is 7693 km.
A large number of settlements on the river itself indicates the presence of navigation on the river. From Veliky Ustyug to Severodvinsk - the Northern Dvina waterway.
Now you know what they are, the most big rivers Russia.
Russia occupies a huge area. Therefore, it is not at all surprising that on its territory there is great amount and rivulets. In total - at least three million watercourses! Some of these rivers played a significant role in the process of developing the vast Russian expanses. Which river is the largest in Russia? Volga, Ob, Yenisei or some other? You will find the answer to this question in our article.
Rivers of Russia
If you look at the physical map of the country, you can see that it is clearly divided into two parts - European and Asian. The demarcation line is the ridge Ural mountains, stretching for almost two thousand kilometers in the meridional direction.
Almost all rivers of the European part of Russia flow into the Black, Baltic, White and Caspian Sea. Watercourses flowing from the Asian part of the country feed numerous seas of the Pacific and Arctic oceans.
In general, a large number of rivers flow through the territory of Russia. mighty rivers. But the size of some of them is truly impressive. These are the Volga, Ob, Yenisei, Lena and Amur. But which river is the largest in Russia? You will learn about this further.
The largest river in Russia is...
If you ask this question, many will probably name the Volga. This river truly has enormous historical, symbolic, sacred significance for the Russian nation. But it would be a mistake to consider it the largest in Russia.
The largest river in Russia is the Ob. Moreover, in almost all parameters: length, maximum width, area drainage basin. Its total length is 3650 kilometers (or 5410 km, if you count from the source of the Irtysh). During the spring periods of the year, the riverbed of the Ob can spread up to 60 kilometers wide! No other watercourse in the country can boast of such indicators. If we talk about the Volga, then it is the largest river in the European part of Russia, and nothing more.
An interesting point: the basins of the river systems mentioned above (Ob and Volga), one way or another, extend beyond the borders of the Russian Federation (albeit slightly). And if we talk about “purely Russian” watercourses, then absolute record holder the length and catchment area will be the Lena River.
The Ob River: collector of records
In addition to its record length and width, the Ob also has the largest swimming pool in Russia. The river collects its waters from a vast area of almost 3 million square kilometers. This is larger than the size of Argentina and slightly smaller than the size of India.
However, in terms of water content, the Ob is inferior to two other Russian rivers - the Lena and the Yenisei. In one second, 12,700 pass through its mouth cubic meters water. What else interesting can you tell about the largest river in Russia?
The first written mention of the Ob dates back to the 15th century. The name of the river appears in an ancient Russian chronicle - the legend “About Unknown People in the Eastern Country.” But Europeans learned about it from the Austrian ambassador, in the same year when Christopher Columbus discovered America to the world.
Ob River: from source to mouth
The source of the Ob is considered to be the confluence of two rivers in Altai mountains(near the city of Biysk). This is Katun (see fragment of the map below). The color of the water in these two rivers is very different (in the Biya it is muddy greenish, and in the Katun it is dirty gray). Therefore in upper reaches the Ob bed often has an unusual striped appearance.
The Ob River crosses several natural and climatic zones (semi-desert, taiga, tundra). On its long journey it receives a huge number of tributaries. The largest of them are: Irtysh, Vasyugan, Tom, Chulym and Ket.
The Ob valley is asymmetrical: the right bank is steep and steep, and the left bank is low and flat. The river flows into the Kara Sea, forming the huge Ob Bay (estuary). Below, the Ob river system is shown schematically on a map of Russia.
Etymology of the name
The peoples who lived on the banks of this river called it differently. Nenets - Salya-Yam, Mansi and Khanty - As, Tatars - Umor. All these names have a similar translation: “big river”.
The origin of the now generally accepted name is not known for certain to scientists. According to one version, the word “ob” comes from the Komi language and is translated as “snowdrift”. Another hypothesis says that the name of the river was given by the steppe peoples Central Asia(for example, the word “ob” in Tajik is water).
Nutrition and regimen
The largest river in Russia is fed mainly by melted snow waters. That is why the bulk of the Ob’s annual flow occurs in late spring and early summer. The flood phase lasts from late April to mid-July. As a result of intense and short-term rises in the water level in the Ob, some of its tributaries may experience a reverse flow direction. In autumn, small rain floods are also observed on the river.
According to the nature of the flow, the Ob is divided into three sections:
- From to the mouth of the Tom.
- From the mouth of the Tom to the mouth of the Irtysh.
- From the mouth of the Irtysh to the Ob Bay.
The average speed of water flow in the Ob channel is 6 km/h in the spring-summer period and 2-3 km/h during the low-water period (winter).
Ichthyofauna and economic use
Since ancient times, the Ob River was famous for its fish. Back in the 19th century, pike, perch, salmon, roach, and sterlet were actively caught here. Currently, there are up to 50 species in the river waters bony fish. About half of them have industrial value. The main fisheries today are pike perch, ide, burbot, bream, roach and pike. Narrow-clawed crayfish also live in the Ob. Toads, frogs and newts are common on the banks of the river. Mammals include otters and beavers.
In the upper reaches of the river, in the middle of the last century, the Novosibirsk reservoir was formed (as a result of the construction of a hydroelectric power station of the same name), which local residents also called the "Ob Sea". A huge number of sanatoriums, campsites and recreation centers are concentrated on the coast of the reservoir. The Ob Sea is ideal for summer holiday, swimming and fishing.
The Ob River is navigable along its entire length. Maritime navigation is possible in the Gulf of Ob. On the banks of the river there is a row major cities. The largest of them (listed from source to mouth):
- Biysk
- Barnaul.
- Novosibirsk
- Nizhnevartovsk
- Surgut.
- Nefteyugansk
- Salekhard.
In total, 14 bridges were built on the Ob (including the metro bridge in Novosibirsk). The largest of them is Yugorsky, located in Surgut. This is a cable-stayed road bridge 2.1 kilometers long. It was opened in September 2000.
And finally 7 interesting facts about Ob:
- Already with mid-19th centuries, steamboats sailed along the river and its main tributaries.
- On average, the Ob channel is hidden under ice for about six months a year (180-220 days depending on the severity of a particular winter).
- The largest bridge in Siberia was built on this river (Yugorsky Bridge in Tyumen region).
- The Ob flows from south to north, which is atypical for most parts Russian rivers.
- In summer, in the upper reaches of the Ob, the water warms up to +25...27 degrees.
- In total, about 30 million people live on the banks of the Ob. But in the river basin there are many “white spots” - those places where, probably, no human has ever set foot before.
- At the end of the 19th century, on the border of the Tomsk region and the Krasnoyarsk Territory, the Ob-Yenisei canal was built, connecting two neighboring river systems. The canal is currently abandoned and not in use.
Finally…
Many people mistakenly believe that the largest river in Russia is the Volga. Of course, if we talk about the European part of the country, then this is true. But beyond the Urals, the undisputed leader in both length and drainage basin area is the Ob. This river flows from the slopes of the beautiful Altai and carries its mighty waters far to the north, receiving hundreds of large tributaries on its way. Dozens of large cities grew on the banks of the Ob - Nefteyugansk, Salekhard, and others.
We can say with great confidence that Russia is the most prosperous fresh water a country. There are more than 2.5 million rivers (both small and large) on the territory of the Russian Federation. All of them belong to the three oceans. Let's talk to you about what are the most important rivers in Russia. The names of most of them were formed historically, so we will touch on the past a little. In the territory Russian Federation there are a lot amazing rivers and lakes.
Some general information
Approximately 70% of the rivers that are located in Russia belong to the Arctic Ocean. The longest and deepest rivers, such as the Yenisei, Oba, Lena, etc., flow into the basin. The Amur and Anadyr belong to the Pacific Ocean basin. The features of the last two are their relatively short length and rapid flow. The Don belongs to the Atlantic Ocean basin. Don't miss one important point, which lies in the fact that many rivers are located in several border states at once, for example, in Mongolia, Ukraine or Belarus.
As already noted a little above, there are more than 2.5 million rivers on the territory of Russia. This fact indicates a huge supply of fresh water. For Agriculture This is also very important for industry. For example, there is no such problem as drought in farmland, which is due to sufficient water resources. It should also be said that the total length of all rivers in Russia is approximately 10 million km. You might think that our country ranks first in the world in terms of water resources? No, unfortunately, it’s the second one. The first is Brazil, where the volume of fresh water river water somewhat more.
The average long-term flow is 4290 cubic meters per year. This is quite a lot, but given the uneven distribution of rivers in the country and various kinds of difficulties in organizing rational use water resource, the stable annual flow is only 1400 cubic meters. As for the amount of water per person, in the Russian Federation it is approximately 18 thousand m 3 per year, while in the USA - 8 thousand m 3, in Finland - 23.9 thousand m 3 for the same period.
Let's take a closer look at the main rivers of Russia. There are a variety of names - invented both by other peoples and by indigenous residents. Let's start with the most interesting.
The main river of Russia is the Volga
Surface waters occupy 12.4% of common territory countries. Moreover, 84% is concentrated in the east of the Urals. On the territory of Russia there is one of the largest rivers in the whole world, and this is the Volga. Its basin occupies more than 30% of the European part of the Russian Federation. It flows through four regions and eleven republics.
If we list the rivers of Russia whose names are most often mentioned in history, the Volga will be in first place. Its length is more than 3,500 kilometers. This is the distance between Berlin and Moscow multiplied by two.
Of course, the Volga is simply of enormous economic importance, and has been used for hundreds of years as a transport route, as well as one of the main sources of hydropower.
If speak about industrial production In Russia as a whole, approximately 45% of enterprises use the resource of the river in question. All this suggests that the Volga has great importance. If it weren’t for this body of water, life would be much more difficult for you and me.
The names of large rivers in Russia, such as the Volga and others, must be remembered, if only because we get more than 80% of all fish from them.
The Volga begins on the Valdai Hills. Every year people come there to take a sip of Volga water. In the indicated place, this river is a small spring, which becomes wider and deeper with every meter. Lotuses grow here - beautiful flowers that we all associate with the East. This great and ancient river Many songs and plays are dedicated to it. You can talk endlessly about the beauty and grandeur of this river, but all this is little impressive if you don’t see the reservoir with your own eyes. You already know how many rivers there are in Russia, so let's talk about those that are of great importance for the development of the country.
Cupid, or "Black Dragon"
This giant is located in Transbaikalia. Crossing mountain ranges and plains, the Amur flows into the river spreads across three states: Russia, Mongolia and China. Approximately three thousand kilometers of the border between Russia and China runs along the Amur. In China it is a dragon. According to legend, a very, very long time ago, two dragons lived here: white - evil, and black - good. When the black dragon defeated evil, he remained to live at the bottom. This name stuck with the Chinese.
It is noteworthy that on the border of the Amur Basin one can observe an amazing sight - the change of four physical-geographical zones. There are steppe and semi-desert zones, as well as forest and forest-steppe zones. During the entire existence of the Amur, more than thirty peoples of the world and different ethnic groups settled in these places. If you remember the names of large rivers in Russia, the Amur immediately comes to mind.
It is safe to say that the wetlands of the Far Eastern giant are considered very valuable natural complex. The point is that they reproduce here fish resources, and the river is of great importance for the migration of hundreds of thousands of birds. It is on the Amur that almost 95% of Far Eastern and 50% of white-naped and red-crowned cranes nest. There are more than 5,000 species here various plants and approximately 400 species of birds, as well as 70 species of mammals. One of the rarest is the Amur tiger.
IN last years The situation on the Amur has worsened significantly. This is due to active human intervention in the river ecosystem. The fact is that more than one hundred million people live in the Amur basin, and this is only about China. If we still know exactly how many rivers there are in Russia, then in a few years the Amur may not exist, and man will be to blame for everything.
Don - witness of Russian history
According to the research, scientists were able to name the approximate time of the origin of this river. According to most scientists, the Don appeared approximately 23 million years ago. This is the largest river in the south. In Greek literature, the name Tanais appears. A long time ago, the legendary Amazons lived here - warriors who had practically no equal. There are also mentions of these female warriors in Russian stories, according to which they often fought with the heroes of Rus'.
If we list the rivers of Russia, the names of which were given by other peoples, then the Don is one of them. Iranian peoples lived for some time in the Northern Black Sea region, and then these tribes gave the name to the river, which is still used today. Don in Russian means “river”.
The southern economy largely depends on river transport. Most of them are carried out along the Don. It is safe to say that approximately 85% of the main industry is located on the banks of the river. There are engineering factories, food and chemical, and tobacco industries. There was also energy. The Rostov Nuclear Power Plant is located on the Don, as well as the Novovoronezh Nuclear Power Plant.
It is worth drawing your attention to the fact that there are three Dons all over the world. The most important one is located on the territory of Russia, it is also the largest. The younger namesake flows in the Scottish county of Aberdeen. Another Don is located in York County, England.
As you can see, the rivers located in Russia are very popular, and some are known even in foreign countries. We continue our story further, because there is still a lot of interesting things.
What is the longest river in Russia?
The answer to this question is probably of interest to many people. The Lena River is the longest in the Russian Federation. In the world, it ranks tenth in length and eighth in depth. It originates in the mountains in southern Siberia and flows into the Laptev Sea. The length of the river is 4,400 kilometers.
The Lena River originates on the slopes of the Baikal ridge. In those places it is a very small lake, which does not even have its own name. It is located at an altitude of approximately 930 meters above sea level, ten kilometers from Lake Baikal. Among the mountains, the Lena has no tributaries and flows along the bottom of a small valley. IN winter time It freezes almost completely, and in summer it dries out almost completely.
Having received the first tributaries, the river becomes deeper and wider. Mountain currents are very fast and tortuous. If you ask which long river in Russia is of great importance for the country, then it is, without a doubt, the Lena. The fact is that this reservoir is the main transport route of Yakutia. Almost everything that is brought here from the north comes by river. This is due to the poor condition of the roads.
It is impossible not to consider the issue of occupancy. Studies have shown that few people live on the banks of the Lena. The main part of the settlements is located in Yakutsk, the rest we're talking about only about
Today it is almost impossible to establish where the name came from. Scientists make assumptions that the origin of the name refers to the Tungus-Manchu “Yelyu-Ene”, which means “Big River”.
The Russians discovered the reservoir in 1621. First, the explorer Pyanda did this, and then the centurion Pyotr Beketov.
"Borisfen", or Dnieper
This river flows through the territory of three countries: Russia, Belarus and Ukraine. Although most of located precisely in the Russian Federation, for all of the listed states the Dnieper is of great importance. It is difficult to say exactly when this source of food and water appeared for ancient peoples. However, even Herodotus in his treatises mentioned a river called “Borysthenes” and its great importance for the population. Then he said that this is one of the most profitable rivers in the whole world. Much has been said about high quality water. It was transparent and pleasant to the taste. The large number of fish living in the Dnieper contributed to the development of fishing villages.
Today the river is approximately 2,201 kilometers long, making it the third longest in Europe. The Dnieper is characterized by a slow and calm current. In fact, this is a typical lowland river.
The Dnieper originates on the Valdai Hills, in the Smolensk region. It flows into the Black Sea, or more precisely, into the Dnieper-Bug estuary.
If we list all the rivers flowing through Russia, then the Dnieper is one of the most fertile, as it has more than 400 tributaries and a lot of fish. Catfish, pike perch, carp, perch, and about a hundred species live here various birds, including plover, grasshopper, swan, duck and many others.
We can talk endlessly about how beautiful the Dnieper is during sunset or dawn, but it’s better to see it all once, and it doesn’t matter where you are - in Russia, Ukraine or Belarus.
Yenisei is the real pride of the country
There are whole legends about the origin of this river. But all stories are not confirmed by facts. It is unknown where the name came from. Some say that it comes from the Tungus peoples, from the word “Enesi”, which means “big water”. Another part of researchers and scientists is inclined to the Kyrgyz origin of the word “enee-sai” - “mother river”. But one thing is for sure: this unique river. The fact is that in the upper reaches of the Yenisei there are camels, and if you go downstream, you are likely to meet entire families of polar bears hunting on the banks. It is noteworthy that on the left bank of the river there are the Siberian plains, and on the right the taiga begins. The Yenisei also has a certain influence on the Arctic Ocean. The fact is that Siberian rivers carry out a huge amount of heat, making the climate of the North less harsh.
If we describe the large rivers of Russia, which carry significant volumes of water from their beds, then the Yenisei is in first place. Approximately 600 km 3 of water per year flows into this river, several times more than the flow of the Volga. The length of the reservoir is 3,487 km, so it rightfully ranks fifth in length in the Russian Federation. The Yenisei is very beautiful, especially in summer and winter, when it is covered with greenery or snow. Of course, there are other long rivers in Russia, which we will talk about now.
Oka and Ural
As you have probably already noticed, the names of the largest rivers in Russia are sometimes not at all connected with the activities of Russian people in their native territory. Oka, for example, originates from the Finno-Ugric word “ioku”, which means “river”. Since ancient times, the Oka has been an important trade artery. Afterwards it became a defensive line in the south of Russia. For our country, the river is of very great importance, since the whole central Russia lies on the banks of the Oka. The area of its basin is slightly more than 240,000 km 2. In fact, this is the same amount as the whole of Great Britain. The length of the river is 1,500 kilometers.
Despite the fact that it is not the largest in Russia, it is more important than the Nile for the Egyptians. There are several important nature reserves on the Oka River. One of them is located in the central current - Prioksko-terrasny, the second - Oka State biosphere reserve- located in the Ryazan region.
The Volga and Danube are the longest rivers in Europe. In third place is the Urals, which stretches for 2,428 kilometers. In ancient times, the river was called “Yaik”, which translated from Turkic means “flooding, spilling”. During the reign of Catherine II in 1775, the river was renamed the Ural, however, despite this, most people in Kazakhstan use the former name.
As you can see, the names of large rivers in Russia quite often have foreign origins. The peoples living on the territory of the country gave the reservoirs their names.
The most surprising thing is that one bank of the Urals is in Europe, and the other in Asia. Today, along the river you can see many tourists and fishermen, but shipping interest has practically disappeared, so it is difficult to call the Urals an important trade and transport artery of Russia.
Everyone should know
It is safe to say that it is necessary to remember the great rivers of Russia, because this is our history. For example, the Volga - one of the largest rivers in the world - enchants with its grandeur. Here you can meet amazing representatives of flora and fauna. If you love nature, then be sure to visit the Urals. To be more precise, visit its part located slightly below Orsk.
The gorge of the Guberlinsky Mountains, as well as the Orsky Gate, have beautiful views. There are many geological and landscape monuments here, which, although they do not have important for the infrastructure of Russia, but are of interest to travelers. It is in the Urals that many active fishing enthusiasts gather. You can also see many tourists traveling along the current.
The largest river in all respects is in Siberia, and this is the Ob. It is formed by the merger of two currents, such as the Katun and Biya. The length is often calculated from the very source of the Irtysh, in this case the river stretches 5,410 kilometers. There are a large number of industrial bases. This is due to the fact that this reservoir is home to more than fifty species of different aquatic life. Approximately 25 species of fish are of industrial importance, so shipping is very well developed here.
However, not everything is as rosy as it seems at first glance. Ecology is a significant problem. The names of Russian rivers (we reviewed the list above) have long become something familiar to us, so it is important to consider that some reservoirs are in danger of extinction.
Conclusion
So we looked at the names of the rivers of Russia. The list turned out to be impressive, but, in fact, it is only a few percent of the state’s total water resource.
Very important issue, which rises more and more every year, is ecological situation. A large number of dams and chemical plants on the banks of large rivers significantly worsen the living conditions of their inhabitants. As a result, fish production decreases and water quality suffers.
I would like to note that for Russia small rivers are no less important than such giants as the Lena, Volga, etc. The fact is that tributaries of many large rivers are formed from them. But, as practice shows, uncontrolled withdrawal of water from small sources leads to their narrowing, shallowness and even drying out. Today, irreversible consumption is approximately 4% per year, and this is quite a lot. At this rate, in 12 years approximately 50% of small rivers will be lost.
The situation can only be slightly improved in the following way: by reducing the amount Wastewater. But hardly anyone is going to solve this issue. All that ordinary residents can do is not engage in illegal fishing and not pollute the water.
Small businesses also cause great damage to the rivers of the Russian Federation, but this is incomparable to the harm caused by the activities of hydroelectric and nuclear power plants. We must not forget that many rivers are located on the territory of several states. But if the population of, for example, Belarus is not so numerous, especially on the banks of rivers, then in China hundreds of millions of people live in the coastal zone, depleting natural resources.
In any case, take care of nature, do not throw garbage into rivers, as this negatively affects the quality of the water we drink. In the end, all this affects our health.
Rivers entangle all of Russia like a web. If you count them all down to the smallest one, you get over 2.5 million! But the vast majority of them don’t even have names, so it’s better to pay attention to the largest rivers in the country, not forgetting what you can catch in them, because there are a lot of fishermen in Russia.
1. Lena (4400 km)
The longest river in Russia, and at the same time in Siberia, is the Lena. It is also solid by world standards, since it closes the top ten longest water arteries peace. Lena takes its beginning from a small lake near Baikal, winds a lot through the mountainous Baikal region until it turns north and rushes to the Laptev Sea, where it forms an extended delta. Together with the latter, it has a length of 4,400 km with a basin area of 2.5 million square meters. km, the water flow in the lower reaches is 16,350 cubic meters. m/s. This is the longest Russian river, flowing entirely through the territory of the country, and the largest in the world, completely passing through the territory permafrost. The Lena still remains one of the cleanest rivers in the world. Man has not yet been able to change its course; he has not built a single dam, hydroelectric power station or other energy structures. In areas remote from human activity, you can still drink water directly from the river.
2. Irtysh (4248 km)
Like most of the large rivers of Siberia, the mighty Irtysh from the depths of the Asian continent heads north until it flows into the Ob, being its main tributary. Their joint water system stretches for 5,410 km, which makes it the seventh longest on Earth. But this is not even the main attraction of the Irtysh, but the fact that it has become the longest tributary in the world, since its own length is 4248 kilometers. In this category, it is significantly inferior to second-place Missouri, which has a length of “only” 3,767 kilometers.
Translated from the Turkic language, Irtysh means “digger,” and this reflects the nature of the river, which very often changes its course, undermining the banks. The Irtysh is fueled by melt water and tributaries. But now floods rarely occur here, since several hydroelectric power stations have been built here, the dams of which regulate the release of water.
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3. Ob (3650 km)
In the northeast of Asia, in the Altai Territory, near the administrative border with the Altai Republic, two mountain rivers Biya and Katun, as a result of which the powerful full-flowing Ob River is formed, the name of which has still not been revealed. The Ob crosses Western Siberia from south to north and after 3,650 kilometers flows into the Kara Sea, more precisely, into a long (800 km) gulf called the Gulf of Ob. The Ob has the largest basin in Russia, occupying almost 3 million square kilometers, and in terms of fullness it is second only to the Yenisei and Lena, bringing 12,300 cubic meters of water to the mouth every second.
4. Volga (3531 km)
The great Russian river Volga has over 150 tributaries; few other rivers on the planet have as many. Taking into account average speed With a current of 4 km/h, it is calculated that the water in it reaches the mouth in 37 days. This river even has its own holiday - Volga Day is celebrated on May 20. The entire Volga basin is located on the territory of Russia, it crosses the territories of four republics and 11 regions of the country, and only one small branch of it, Kigach, turns into the territory of Kazakhstan.
And the source of the Volga is located on the Valdai Hills, in the Tver region near the village of Volgoverkhovye. Although not the largest in Russia, the Volga is nevertheless the largest river in Europe. Her pool spans a third European territory Russia, occupying 1,855 million sq. km, and water consumption is 8060 cubic meters. m/s. 9 hydroelectric power stations with reservoirs were built on the Volga; half of the country’s agriculture and industry are served with its water.
5. Yenisei (3487 km)
The Yenisei River appears after the confluence of the Big Yenisei (Biy-Khem) and the Small Yenisei (Kaa-Khem). The Yenisei flows for almost 3.5 thousand kilometers only through the territory of Russia, and before that it winds through Mongolia for another 600 kilometers. At the end of the path it flows into the Kara Sea Yenisei Bay. The source of the Yenisei is located near the geographical center of Asia near the city of Kyzyl, in which there is even an obelisk reminiscent of this.
In terms of basin area (2.58 million sq. km), the Yenisei is second only to the Lena; its water consumption is also large - 19,800 cubic meters. m/s. In three places it is blocked by powerful hydroelectric power stations: Sayano-Shushenskaya, Krasnoyarsk and Mainskaya. As for the name of the river, it is associated either with the Tungus word “enesi”, which means “big water”, or with the Kyrgyz “enee-say”, that is, mother river.
The mighty, stormy Yenisei is especially notable for its ice drifts. During the winter, a powerful ice shell grows on the river, from which the river is freed for at least a month. Thousands of tons of ice rush along the river, forming jams here and there that block the flow. As a result, the river overflows its banks and floods the surrounding area. At one time, different cities had to feel the power of this water element - Yeniseisk, Krasnoyarsk, Igarka and Minusinsk.
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6. Lower Tunguska (2989 km)
This is another Siberian river, which is the right tributary of the Yenisei. Lower Tunguska flows through the Irkutsk region and Krasnoyarsk region. It winds for a long time along the middle part of the Siberian Plateau until it comes to the Putorana Plateau. Because of large quantity rapids and whirlpools, navigation along the Lower Tunguska is severely limited. Back in 1911, plans were made to connect the Lena and Lower Tunguska near the city of Kirensk, since here they come together to a distance of 15 kilometers, however, the Lower Tunguska flows almost 85 meters above the Lena, and is also not navigable in this place. Therefore, the construction of a connecting canal between them was abandoned due to the high cost and inexpediency of the project.
7. Amur (2824 km)
The Amur River is international - it flows through the lands of Russia, China and Mongolia, and flows into the Sea of Okhotsk in the area of the Amur Estuary. The length of the Amur is 2824 kilometers, and the basin area is 1.855 million square meters. km with a water consumption of 10900 cubic meters. m/s. The Amur flows through 4 different climatic zones: semi-desert, steppe, forest-steppe and forest; 30 different nationalities live on its banks. There is no clarity regarding the origin of the name of the river, but the most common version is from the Tungus-Manchu words “damar” or “amar”. The Chinese call it the Black Dragon River, but in our country the Amur symbolizes the Far East and Transbaikalia.
8. Vilyui (2650 km)
The longest and largest left tributary of the Lena, flowing through the Krasnoyarsk Territory and Yakutia, is called Vilyuy. It has served man since ancient times, giving him water and food. A couple of hydroelectric power stations were built on it. When intensive industrial development of Siberia began, the environmental situation in the Vilyuy basin worsened, causing concern to the indigenous residents.
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9. Ishim (2450 km)
Ishim is the left and longest tributary of the Irtysh; it passes through the territory of Kazakhstan and Russia. According to popular legend, the name “Ishim” comes from the name of the son of the Tatar Khan, Ishim, who drowned in a previously nameless river. But there is also Tatar word“ishimak” meaning “destroying”. There are two reservoirs on Ishim that are of great economic importance: the local population uses water from them and irrigates fields and gardens.
10. Ural (2428 km)
In the European part of Russia, the Ural River is one of the largest. It descends along the southeastern Black Sea-Caspian slope, running 2,428 kilometers from its very source to its confluence with the Caspian Sea. The area of the river basin is 220 thousand square meters. km. Ural - very winding river, it is usually divided into three segments: from the source to Orsk, the middle from Orsk to Uralsk and the lower from Uralsk to the very mouth. A whole network of reservoirs has been built on this river, which provide much-needed water for industry and agriculture.
Russia has the richest fresh water reserves in the world. On its territory there are about 2 million rivers with a total length of more than 6.5 million km. The length of many does not exceed 100 km. But among them there are those that are rightfully considered the country’s major waterways. The largest rivers in Russia They are famous not only for their length, but also for their drainage basin area.
A list of the largest water arteries of the Russian Federation is presented to the attention of readers.
The pool area is 231 thousand square meters. km
Opens the top ten largest Russian rivers. Its length is 2422 km, and the basin area is 231 thousand square meters. km. The Urals flows into the Caspian Sea. In terms of its length in Europe, the river is second only to the Volga and Danube. Until 1775, one of the largest water arteries in the country was called Yaik, which means “wide”. By decree of Catherine II, the river was renamed and received the name Ural. Now it serves as a natural water border between Europe and Asia.
The pool area is 645 thousand square meters. km
With a length of 2129 km, it is one of the largest Russian rivers and the largest in the Magadan region. The area of its basin is 645 thousand square meters. km. Kolyma is formed from the confluence of the Ayan-Yuryakh and Kulu, which originate in the Okhotsk-Kolyma Plateau. The main nutrition of the Kolyma is snow water; the river receives about 40% from rain water. The Kolyma hydroelectric power station, built on its expanses of water, provides electricity to almost the entire Magadan region. The Kolyma is a navigable river. Its basin contains gold deposits.
The pool area is 454 thousand square meters. km
It ranks eighth among the largest rivers in Russia and is the largest left tributary of the Elena. The total length of the river is 2650 km, and the basin area is 454 thousand square meters. km. The Vilyuy basin has about 70 thousand lakes, the largest of which are Nidzhili (119 sq. km.), Baratalah (110 sq. km.), Mastakh (80 sq. km.) and others. The waters of Vilyuy are home to a huge variety of different types fish: sturgeon, taimen, lenok, nelma, ide, perch, burbot, dace, tugunok, sorog, etc. The main tributary of the river is considered to be the river. Markha. 2 hydroelectric power stations were built on Vilyui. The river basin is rich in diamond deposits, iron ore, gas, etc. It is considered a navigable river.
The pool area is 473 thousand square meters. km
One of the largest rivers in Russia. It is a right tributary of the Yenisei. Its length is 2989 km, and the basin area is 473 thousand square meters. km. Lower Tunguska is a navigable river. It feeds on melted snow water and rain. The main tributary of the Tunguska is the Kochechum River with a length of 733 km and a basin area of about 100 thousand square meters. km. At the beginning of the 20th century, a project was developed, according to the results of which Lower Tunguska was supposed to connect with the Lena in the area of the city of Kirensk. But soon the construction of the canal was considered inappropriate due to the complexity of the work and high cost. In the near future, it is planned to build a hydroelectric power station here, which will become the most largest hydroelectric power station on the territory of the Russian Federation.
The pool area is 1 million 361 thousand square meters. km
It is one of the largest rivers in Russia and the world. Its length is 3531 km, and the basin area is 1 million 361 thousand square meters. km. One of the main Russian water arteries flows through 11 regions and 4 republics. The navigable river is of great agricultural and industrial importance for the country. About 20% of all fish caught in Russia comes from the Volga. The river is also used as a source of hydroelectric power: there are about 10 reservoirs with hydroelectric power stations concentrated here. The largest tributary of the Volga is the Kama.
The pool area is 1 million 643 thousand square meters. km
One of the largest rivers in Russia and the most major influx Obi. Its length is 4248 km, which exceeds the length of the large river. Together they form a length of 5410 km. The area of the Irtysh basin is 1 million 643 thousand square meters. km. The water artery flows through the territory of three states: Russia, Mongolia and China. The Irtysh is a mixed-fed river. Undersea world the influx is rich enough various types fish: representatives of sturgeon, carp, whitefish, pike, etc. live here. The river waters are used for irrigation and water supply.
The pool area is 1 million 855 thousand square meters. km
The fourth largest river in Russia by area is located in the Far East and East Asia. Its length is 2824 km. The river flows through three countries: Russia, Mongolia and China. The area of its basin is 1 million 855 thousand square meters. km. The Amur flows into the waters of the Sea of Okhotsk. There is a version that the name of the water artery comes from the stem “amar”, “damur”, common to the Tungus-Manchu languages, which means “big river”. In China, the Amur is called the “Black Dragon River”. One of the legends says that previously a black dragon lived here, which was the personification of good. He defeated the white dragon, which sank human boats in the water and ate all living things. After this, the hero remained to live in these expanses of water.
The pool area is 2 million 490 thousand square meters. km
considered the most long river in Russia and one of the largest in the world with a length of 4400 km. It is located on the lands of Yakutia and Irkutsk region. Its source begins not far from the deepest Russian one, and then its waters rush into the Laptev Sea. The area of the Lena basin is 2 million 490 thousand square meters. km. There is a version that the name of the river came from the Evene language. The Evenks called Lena “Yelyu-Ene”, which translated means “big river”. The Russians who first discovered the river in the 17th century recorded its name as Elyuene. Then the name Lena stuck among the people. Its largest tributaries are the Aldan and Vilyui. Lena is the main transport artery of Yakutia.
The pool area is 2 million 580 thousand square meters. km
One of the greatest and largest rivers in Russia, the length of which is 3487 km. One of the main waterways flows through the territory of the Russian and Mongolian states. It is considered the most abundant river, its basin area is 2 million 580 thousand square meters. km. About 600 cubic km. The Yenisei carries into the Kara Sea. The name comes from the Evenk “Ionessi”, which means “big water”. The Yenisei is fed by snow and rainwater. More than 500 rivers flow into it, the largest of which are the Angara and Lower Tunguska. There are three hydroelectric power stations concentrated on the Yenisei.
The pool area is 2 million 990 thousand square meters. km
The largest river in Russia with a length of 3650 km. total area its basin is 2 million 990 thousand square meters. km. The largest freshwater artery flows into the Kara Sea. The main food for the Ob is melted snow. In terms of water content, the river ranks third, after the Lena and Yenisei. The main and largest tributary of the river is the Irtysh. There are about 50 species of fish in the Ob, so fishing is developed here. The valuable species that live here include the following river representatives: sturgeon, sterlet, tugun, nelma, etc.
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