The largest river in Russia. 10 largest rivers in Russia: list with names

19.02.2024

There are a huge number of rivers on the territory of our country (2.5 million). Most of them are small, their length usually does not exceed 100 kilometers. Then the question arises: what are the largest rivers in Russia? We will try to answer it in this article.

To begin with, we will present you with a list of these rivers:

Yenisei.
Lena.
Amur.
Volga.
Kolyma.
Khatanga.
Indigirka.
Northern Dvina.

Now let's tell you more about them.

River Ob

The largest river in Russia, which is located in Western Siberia. It is formed by the merging rivers Biya and Katun. From the source of the Irtysh its length is 5410 kilometers. In the North it flows into the Ob Bay. The river's water basin occupies a huge area - 2,990 thousand square meters. km. According to this indicator, it rightfully occupies a leading position on our list. In terms of water content, the Ob is in third place, second only to the Lena and Yenisei.

The Ob feeds mainly on melt waters. During the spring and summer floods, the largest river in Russia receives most of its annual flow. In April the flood begins in the upper reaches, in the second half of April it begins in the middle reaches, and in early May this process occurs in the lower reaches. The water level rises even during freeze-up. When the river opens up, short-term minor rises in levels occur as a result of the resulting congestion.

The flood in the upper reaches ends in July. In September - October, a rain flood begins, which continues until freeze-up in the lower and middle reaches. Ice cover remains on the Ob River for an average of 220 days a year.

The main tributary of the Ob is the Irtysh. The length of this river from its source, which is located on the border of China and Mongolia, to its confluence with the Ob is 4,248 km.

Fishing has long developed on this river. Even at the end of the 19th century, there were a lot of ruffe, perch, sculpin, pike, shokur, muksun, nelma and other species of fish in the river waters. Today there are fewer fish in the waters of the Ob, but nevertheless there are about 50 species.

Yenisei

Today we present to you the largest rivers in Russia. The list continues with the mighty Yenisei. This river is considered the natural border between the West and East of Siberia.

Its length is 4287 km. The Yenisei flows through the lands of two neighboring states - Mongolia and Russia. The total area of the river is 2,580 thousand square kilometers. This indicator allows this huge river to take second place in Russia.

On the left bank of this Siberian river there are plains, and on the right there is endless mountain taiga. In this regard, there is a sharp asymmetry of the banks of the Yenisei. The right bank is more than 5 times higher in height than the left. On its way from source to mouth, the river crosses all climatic zones of Siberia. That is why camels are found in the upper reaches of the Yenisei, and polar bears are found in the lower reaches, closer to the ocean.

Lena river

It cannot be said that this is the largest river in Russia, although its size is impressive. The length of the river is 4480, and its total area is 2490 thousand square meters. km. The Lena River is rightfully in third place among the large rivers of our country.

The river is mainly fed by water from melting glaciers and snow - approximately 50% of the total. Precipitation gives the river about 38% of its water and about 13% is underground recharge, more typical of the upper reaches.

In mid-October, the Lena freezes in its upper reaches. It opens in mid-April. Ice cover remains on the river for about 270 days a year.

Amur

The topic of our article was the largest rivers in Russia. The names of many are known not only to Russians, but also to our neighbors from other countries. For example, Cupid. This is one of the longest rivers in our country and the largest in the Far East. It flows on the border of Russia and China and carries its waters through the territory of Mongolia. The Amur flows into the Sea of Okhotsk.

The basin area of this river is 1,855 thousand square kilometers, and its length is 2,824 km.

Volga

Glorified by poets and composers, which inspired artists to create immortal paintings, this is, of course, the Volga River. And although this is not the largest river in Russia, it is a symbol of our country.

The source of the Volga is located on the Valdai Plateau of the Tver Region. The Volga is considered one of the largest rivers on our planet. The length of the river is 3530 km. Total area - 1361 thousand square meters. km. The river flows through the lands of Russia and Kazakhstan.

Kolyma River

This river is located in Yakutia. Its length is 2,129 km. Water pool - 645 thousand square meters. km. Kolyma was formed as a result of the confluence of two small rivers, Kulu and Ayan-Yuryakh. The Kolyma flows into the bay of the same name.

Don

This river is considered the oldest in Russia. The Don originates in the Tula region on the Central Russian Upland. Its length is 1870 km, the water basin is 422 thousand sq. km.

The current is very slow, for which the Cossacks call this leisurely and majestic river the “quiet Don”. This is explained by the flat profile in which the channel runs. The slope towards it is quite insignificant, on average this value does not exceed 0.1 degrees. In some areas the width of the valley reaches 13 km. The right bank is steep and high, and the left bank is low.

Khatanga River

This river is located in the Krasnoyarsk Territory. Its length is 1636 km. Water pool with an area of 364 thousand square meters. km. It is formed by two rivers Kotui and Kheta.

This river flows through a wide valley in the North Siberian Lowland. There are more than 112 thousand lakes in the Khatanga basin. Their total area is 11.6 thousand sq. km.

Indigirka

In Yakutia, on the slopes of the Khalkan Range, there is the source of the Indigirka River. Its length is 1,726 km, its water basin covers an area of 360 thousand square meters. km. Its source is made up of two medium-sized rivers - Omyokon and Kuidusun.

Indigirka is the coldest river in Russia. In winter, in the lower reaches it freezes through. In summer, it becomes covered with ice and turns into a sparkling icy stream flowing picturesquely among the mountains. Since the end of September, the river has been frozen in ice, which does not go away until June.

Northern Dvina

Our list of the 10 largest rivers in Russia has come to an end. It is completed by the Northern Dvina, which flows through two large regions - Arkhangelsk and Vologda.

Its length is 744 km, area - 360 thousand square meters. km. At its source the small rivers Sukhona and Yug connect. This northern river is famous for the fact that the history of Russian shipbuilding began on it.