Sakmara River: features, nature, tourism

The Sakmara River flows through the territory of two regions of the Urals: the Republic of Bashkortostan and the Orenburg region. It originates in the mountains, on the picturesque slopes of the Ural-Tau. The name of this river is well known to travelers, water tourists, photographers, naturalists.

Geographical features

The Sakmara River flows from north to south along a spacious mountain valley. She goes around the Zilair Plateau, and breaking through into a deep mountain canyon, picks up a course. Then the river turns to the west.

Sakmara is one of the most significant tributaries of the Urals and flows into it to the right near the city of Orenburg. The total length of the river is almost 800 km, and the area of its basin exceeds 30,000 km². The water level in the Sakmara River depends on the season. In spring, it reaches a maximum, although strong floods can occur in other seasons.

Name

Toponymists believe that the name comes from the words of Bashkir origin "sak" ("cautiously") and "bar" ("go," "move"). Literally this name, most likely, means "the river on which it is necessary to go cautiously". And this is due not only to geographical features, but also to the fact that in ancient times these places were borderlands - along Sakmara was the southern border of Bashkiria.

Inflows and food

In the river Sakmaru fall Zilair, Big Ik and Salmysh. The largest tributary is the Great Ik, its length is 341 km. But the main source of Sakmara food is the snow cover, its share is 77% of the annual runoff. Rains give 11%, and groundwater 12% of the runoff.

Nature of the water regime

Sakmara has an Eastern European type with a predominance of spring runoff. In summer and autumn, the level of the Sakmara River rises because of the rains. At the beginning of April, spring floods come into force. It gradually subsides to the middle of summer, alternating with one-time floods under the influence of precipitation. However, these drops rarely raise the level by more than 0.5 meters.

Autumn rises, caused by increased precipitation and reduced evaporation, often reach a rise of 0.9 m over the interstate. For winter are characterized by even more swings - up to 1 measure.

Settlements

There are several cities and small towns on Sakmara. The most significant of them are Kuvandyk, Nikolskoye, Saraktash, Sakmara, Black Otrog, Tatar Kargala. Most of the settlements are affected by annual floods, which causes an elevated water level in the Sakmara River. Orenburg, near which the river flows into the Urals, suffers from the riot of the elements to a lesser extent.

Difficult character

Experienced tourists say that Sakmara is still a stubborn. Its waters are cold, and the current is fast, especially near the drain. It is the coldest river in Bashkortostan. The riverbed is winding, the right bank is dotted with tributaries, and the left steep and steep.

But if someone can scare or alarm, then only not water tourists!

Nature

If you decided to go to these parts and personally see what it is, the Sakmara River in Orenburg, be sure to take care of photo equipment! Believe me, there are a lot of plots for filming here. The banks of the river are very picturesque, here and there abrupt cliffs appear above the water. Caves, grottoes, karst wells are not uncommon for them.

Sakmara rafting

These places are beckoned by canoeists and brave rafters. Although a small part of the river is suitable for rafts , near its mouth.

For kayakers, the upper regions are most attractive. Tourist rafting often starts in the village of Yuldybaevo, where near the bridge there are excellent places to collect water craft. Experienced tourists are advised to take with them everything they need, and not to hope to buy provisions in the place. These places - a real wilderness, rafting, here you can not find a single settlement for several days.

The best time to travel is May and June. The flow velocity in spring often exceeds 2 m / sec, in summer it drops to 0.5 m / sec. The width of the river in these places is small - 10-20 meters.

Experience requires an alloy. The river carries many dangers, it is characterized by a threshold, ruts, dams, clamps.

The most dangerous obstacle is the threshold Yamantash. From Yuldybaev to it about 15 km. The threshold stretches for a mile and a half and consists of three complex steps with rolls. Some people prefer to cross it overland, and the words that it is not worthwhile to climb into the water without reconnaissance are not worthwhile, in these places they are especially relevant. Some daredevils who tried to conquer Yamantash, paid for it with their lives.

Next, a complex shiver with protruding stones is also not simple. But kilometers through 10 the river will become calmer. The rocks on the banks are like fairy-tale castles.

Another complex threshold is located near the confluence of the tributary - the river Barakal. He appears suddenly right after the turn. The waterfall reaches about a meter in height, and in the middle of the river stands a huge rock. After the mouth of Zilair, Sakmara again calms down. After Yantyshevo or Kuvandyk station, where many finish the rafting, Sakmara acquires a calm character of a flat river.

Fishing in Sakmara

It attracts this river and lovers of fishing. The Sakmara River is rich in fish. There is a chub, a perch, a pest. Professionals are caught from its waters and huge soms. There is also a queen of rivers - pike.