The Kuban River: description. The source, estuary, plants and animals

I would like to talk about such a beautiful natural water flow, like the Kuban River. Description, photos and detailed characteristics - this is exactly the information that you will find in the article.

The beauty of this region is known far beyond Russia. Here in Soviet times, a huge number of world-famous films were shot. The blame for all the scenic landscapes, which are located along the entire coastline. Being in these places, people experience spiritual pacification and are charged with positive energy.

Geographical position

In the south of Russia, one of the largest water flows of the country, the Kuban River, is spreading violently. On the map it can be found without much difficulty. Geographically, it is located in the northern part of the Caucasus Mountains. Starting its movement from Karachay-Cherkessia, the river flows through the territory of three regions: Stavropol, Adygea and Krasnodar.

The total area of the watercourse basin is almost 58,000 km². When the Kuban River (see the description below) reaches the shores of Azov, it creates the largest delta of Russia. Its area is more than four thousand square meters.

Kuban takes its origin at the foot of Mount Elbrus. Further it flows down the mountains and plains. And after 870 km it flows into the waters of the Azov Sea.

The Kuban River: a description of the delta

The Kuban delta is wide, often with waterlogged places. But meanwhile it is unique in its kind. The fact is that in the south the delta comes out not only to the Sea of Azov, but also to the Black Sea. Numerous estuaries and lakes, islands, plavni, channels with overgrown reeds, reeds are located in the delta. Local residents know that wherever the Kuban River, you can always meet unique representatives of flora and fauna, which amaze with their diversity.

Where the modern delta is located a few thousand years ago was the largest Azov Bay. However, as a result of the activities of the waters of Azov and the Kuban, a recess was gradually formed at this place. The bay, as such, dried up, forming a shallow lagoon. And the Kuban River (on the map of that time it can be seen clearly) had previously flowed into the water stream, which was called the Old Kuban. It was he who carried water to the Black Sea basin. However, as a result of the landslides (to protect nearby territories from floods), the flow was blocked. And now most of the water falls only in the Sea of Azov.

The source of the Kuban river: features

Kuban begins its "life" in the place where the two mountain rivers - Uchkulan and Ullukai - converge. The latter is often considered a continuation of the Kuban. Glaciers on the top of Elbrus, feed on their meltwater flow. In this place it is distinguished by a strong and rapid current. The source of the Kuban River is located at an altitude of almost 1400 m above sea level.

It is worth paying attention to one feature. Many people think that the name of the stream came from it. The modern sound is rooted in Karachai language and in literal translation means "bubbling flow".

Hydronym

The name of the Kuban is not the only one near the river. They have about 300! Other local names of the river are Cioban, Guban, Cobhan and others. In the ancient Greek chronicles the name was listed as Gipanis.

Features of water flow

Very interesting in terms of zoning the Kuban River. The description of its nature is quite diverse. For its length, the river is considered navigable, so it is advantageously used for agricultural purposes. A high drop in the flow, more than 1,000 meters, allows it to be divided into 4 zones: mountain, mountain, foothill and flat. Reaching the Krasnodar Territory, near the city of Ust-Labinsk, Kuban has a navigable path. The main riverbed, the Verbenskoe Girlo, flows into the Temryuk Bay. One more thing - Cossack Yerik has access to the Akhtanizovsky estuary of the Azov Sea. From this it can be concluded that the Kuban River belongs to the basin of the Atlantic Ocean.

In high mountain areas, the stream has a deep bottom and steep, steep slopes. The latter are represented by sandstones, slate, limestone clusters. Lowering to the lower reaches, the banks become low and more shallow. Sometimes there are low hills. The riverbed increasingly winds, closer to the delta, forming a kind of "horseshoe" - the old people.

Tributaries

Kuban is quite abundant, the total number of tributaries (small and large) reaches 14 thousand. The largest rivers flow into it mainly from the left bank.

The largest of them are:

• Mountain r. Urup.
• R. Laba - the most full-flow inflow.
• R. White - a watercourse with the most powerful stream, has on its way several waterfalls.
• R. Пшиш and Псекупс - differ fast current.
• Caversee and Afipse.

The right banks of the Kuban adjoin the rivers: Mara, Gorkaya, Dzheguta. The total length of the Kuban with its tributaries is 9,500 km.

Water consumption and type of food

The average annual runoff of the Kuban's waters to the Sea of Azov is 14 cubic meters. Km. In addition, the flow carries more than 4 million tons of salt in the sea. The food in the Kuban is mixed - the most part, about 65%, is snow and rain, about 20% falls on glaciers and 15% is groundwater.

The stock is uneven. Seasonality affects. In different seasons throughout the territory, the discharge indicators may differ greatly from each other. Also, the Kuban has some kind of "anomaly". At different time intervals the river can carry water 1.5 times more than the average annual rate.

In the cold season, the Kuban freezes, but the ice cover of the river is unstable. They keep it from December to March, after which the icebreaker begins.

Kuban Reservoir

The largest reservoir of the North Caucasus is located on the river Kuban and is called, respectively, the Kuban. Previously, near it there was a Tshik, but it was flooded several years ago. Now the pond is remarkable only as a place for fishing.

The Kuban flow is also used to generate electricity. It was built 4 hydroelectric power stations - Kurshavskaya, Barsuchkovskaya, Sengileevskaya and Zelenchukskaya. Together they form the so-called "Kuban cascade". The plans were to build the Adygeya HPP, but in recent years, the work has been suspended.

Flora and fauna

Flora and fauna of the river are quite diverse. More than 100 species of fish live in the waters. This is a pike-perch, carp, ram, carp, bream, catfish, goby, perch, rudd and others. In the lowlands of the river, sea fish swim. Some of the species are characteristic only for these areas. Plankton is represented by molluscs, worms, crustaceans and other species.

There are many waterfowl on the waters of the stream , such as wild geese and ducks, pelicans, herons, swans, and small birds. Rare predatory animals of the Kuban River live in the coastal zone. Their bright representative is the gray peregrine falcon. Fins inhabit foxes, wild cats, wild boars, muskrats.

The river delta is now slightly drained by man for the needs of agriculture. It also provides the opportunity to fish. In one of these branches the farm for the breeding of mullet is quite successfully developed.

For tourism, the river is practically not used. Unless in the mountainous areas often carry out alloys on ships or rifts. But fishing is common on both banks in virtually all areas.

Plants of the Kuban River are represented by the following species: reed, head, sedge, etc. They are distributed mainly in the coastal area. The water surface of the stream in some places is strewn with water-lilies, at the bottom you can find different kinds of algae. Such thickets have grown on 40-50 thousand hectares.