Lena is the largest river system in Siberia. Where is the source of the river? Lena and its features

Where does the Lena River flow? What are the characteristics of its hydrological regime? Where is the source of the river? Lena - one of the largest river systems of the planet, the eighth in the fullness and length of all existing. About it and we will talk in our article.

Unique features of the river

Lena is one of the largest river systems in Asia and the world. The total area of its basin occupies about 20% of the territory of Russia. The width of the river bed reaches colossal dimensions - about 15 km in the middle course and up to 20-25 km in the lower one. The largest tributaries of the Lena are Aldan, Vilyui, Olekma and Vitim. By the way, the length of the latter is quite comparable with the extent of such large European rivers as the Dnieper or the Danube.

Where is the source of the river? Lena is an amazing geographical formation. The watercourse can boast of several records and surprise with many interesting facts. So, very few people know that only twenty kilometers from Lake Baikal is the beginning of the river. Lena carries her water in the northern direction, to the coldest ocean in the world. The river delta is so great that it is included in the Guinness Book of Records!

Among other things, Lena is one of the purest watercourses in the world. There is not a single dam or power station on the river. On many sections of its channel, you can, like two thousand years ago, drink water by simply scooping the palm from the river. Lena is one of the largest and most important sources of fresh water on our Earth.

Coordinates and height of the source of the river

Lena begins on the western slope of the Baikal ridge. By the way, at about the same latitude, but only on the other side of Baikal, Vitim originates - one of the largest tributaries of this river system. What are the exact coordinates of this place? Where is the source of the river?

Lena is born in the mountains. Approximately 20 km from the western coast of Lake Baikal is a tiny mountain lake. Its exact geographical coordinates are 53 ° 59 '33' 'North Latitude and 107 ° 53' 01 '' East Longitude. It is from this lake, as is commonly believed, and Lena follows. Near the source of the river there is a small chapel with an appropriate information plate.

1470 meters above sea level - this is the height of the source of the river. Lena, the largest river in Siberia, begins here. It is curious that this outstanding lake, which has given such an important river to the world, does not even have its own name. I would like to hope that in the near future he will still have his own name.

Hydrological regime and nature of the river

Lena, like all its tributaries, feeds on rain and snow melt. The river is characterized by a spring high water and a number of powerful floods in the summer and spring season. Lena has one very interesting feature. Due to the great length of the river from north to south, its channel starts to freeze from the mouth to the source. Lena opens in the opposite direction - from the upper reaches to the delta.

Geographers conditionally divide the river into three parts:

• The upper current (before the confluence with Vitim);
• The middle course (before the confluence of Lena Aldan);
• Bottom flow.

In its upper reaches, Lena has the character of a mountain river: a meandering channel, a rapid current, an abundance of rocks and rapids. The banks here are high and steep, they are occupied by pine, fir and spruce forests.

Taking the waters of Vitim, the river becomes much more full of water. Here Lena is directed to the east, and only in the area of the city of Yakutsk it changes its azimuth strictly to the north. The depth of the river in the middle reaches 10-12 meters. The riverbed here extends considerably, and small islands, occupied by coniferous species, appear in it. In this part, the river is surely cut by the limestone Prilenskoe Plateau, after which it emerges into vast plain plains.

Lena in its lower reaches is already a powerful watercourse, the width of which exceeds 10 km, and the depth reaches 20-30 meters. River banks here are cold and deserted, there are practically no settlements. Approximately 150 kilometers from the Laptev Sea begins the extensive Lena delta. The area of this unique natural education is 45,000 square meters. Km.

Attractions and tourist potential

Do not fall in love with a beautiful Lena tourist is very difficult. This amazing river conquers everyone with its fantastic landscapes, the purest water and the richest fish world. Here you can often see pleasure boats with numerous tourists and excursionists.

Of course, the main and most famous landmark of the river is the geological monument of nature - the Lena Pillars. This incredibly beautiful education is on the right bank of the Lena in Yakutia. The nearest town is Pokrovsk.

Huge rocky pillars up to 220 meters high hang over the water surface of the river. Millions of years over these blocks of sand worked two tireless masters - wind and water. In 2012, the Lena Pillars were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Conclusion

Where does it flow, what features are typical for Lena? Where is the source of the river? Lena is a great river of Siberia, flowing from a small lake of the Baikal mountain range. Further, it overcomes the distance of 4400 kilometers and flows into the Arctic Ocean, forming a huge delta area.