Map of underground rivers in the Altai region. Altai rivers
The distribution of rivers and lakes in these places is determined by the nature of the terrain and climate. So, water system For these reasons, the edge is divided into two parts:
Rivers mountain range, mainly belong to the Upper Ob basin. This is the Altai mountain range, its foothills, the entire Right Bank. Here river Ob collects the bulk of its waters. Its tributaries, both on the left and on the right, are about 2000 rivers, the length of each is up to 10 km, their density is 1.5 - 2 km;
Plain streams belong to the drainless Kulunda depression. These are calm rivers, in the beds of which many freshwater lakes are formed. The Kulunda depression is also distinguished by the presence of salty and bitter-salty lakes.
Nutrition of Altai rivers
The Ob River is considered the main water-bearing artery of this region. It is formed after the merger Biya and Katun . Flows first through mountainous area, where it is fed by numerous tributaries. In the valley, the nature of its flow changes and it resembles a deep, calm stream. Here its main tributaries are the Chumysh, Alei, Bolshaya Rechka, Barnaulka, which are characterized by wide valleys and sandy reaches.
The rivers of the mountainous part have glacial, snow and partly rain. Ground nutrition is poorly expressed. It is typical only for lowland rivers.
Since the Altai region differs in tectonic structure, the nature of the river flows here is also diverse. Mountain arteries are turbulent, rapid streams of water, with rapids and steep banks. The presence of tectonic ledges causes a large number of waterfalls (waterfalls on the slopes of the Belukha massif, on the northern slope along Tekel, on Tigirek). The most picturesque waterfall is considered to be Rossypnoy, 30 m high, which is located on the southern slope of Belukha, in the upper reaches of the Katun.
Plain rivers are characterized by wide valleys, calm flow, a large number of floodplains and above-floodplain terraces.
Regime of Altai rivers
The flow regime of Altai rivers largely depends on climatic conditions. Since their main diet is melt water, spring floods are typical for the Altai rivers. It lasts 10-12 days in the mountain range, and much longer on the plain. After it, the rivers become sharply shallow.
The freezing of rivers in the valley begins in October-November and lasts about 170 days. Ice drift begins in mid-April. Many rivers, especially shallow ones, freeze to the bottom. But on some (rivers Biya, Katun, Charysh, Peschanaya) the flow of water continues and in some places the water comes to the surface, forming glaciers. Rivers with fast current- Katun, Biya, Bashkaus, Chuya are partially frozen. On sharp turns and descents, cascading ice forms here, and hanging ice on the waterfalls, which are distinguished by their extraordinary beauty.
Rivers Altai Territory
Ob
The main river of the Altai Territory is Ob, formed from the confluence of two rivers - Biya and Katun. At a distance of 500 kilometers, the wide ribbon of the Ob crosses the Altai Territory, forming two giant bends. In terms of its length (3680 km), it is second in Russia only to the Lena (4264 km) and Amur (4354 km), and in terms of basin area, the Ob is the largest river in our country, second only to five rivers on the planet: the Amazon, Congo, Mississippi, Nile and La Plata.
Ob and its tributaries Chumysh, Anuy, Aley, Big river, Barnaulka and others have a calm flow, wide developed valleys, in which strongly winding channels with sandy reaches adjoin.
Barnaulka River - tributary of the Ob River
The bottom of the Ob is sandy over a large area. Sometimes you come across rocky rifts and shoals, there are especially many of them in the section of the river between Biysk and Barnaul. During floods, the water level in the Ob is high; water floods the right low bank for several kilometers.
Name great river The Ob owes its origin not to the peoples who have lived on its banks from time immemorial. The Nenets living in the lower reaches of the river called it “Sala-yam”, which means “Cape River”. The Khanty and Mansi gave it the name “As” - “ big river“, the Selkups called the river “Kvay”, “Eme”, “Kuay”. All these names meant “large river.” The Russians first saw the river in its lower reaches when, together with their Zyryan guides, they went beyond the Kamen (as they called it then Ural Mountains) hunters and merchants. Long before Ermak’s conquest of Siberia, the region around the Ob was called Obdorsky.
There is a version that the name of the great Siberian river comes from the Komi language, which meant “snow”, “snowdrift”, “place near the snow”.
There is also an assumption that the name is related to the Iranian word “ob” - “water”. And such a name deep river could well have been given by the peoples of the Iranian-speaking group living in the south Western Siberia during the period from the Early Bronze Age to the Middle Ages.
Biya
The Biya is the second largest river in Altai. It originates in Lake Teletskoye. Its length is 280 kilometers. In the upper part of the river there are rapids, waterfalls, and riffles. Merging with Katun, Biya gives rise to the Ob.
The name Biya is associated with the Altai words “biy”, “beg”, “bii” - “lord”.
Katun
The Katun flows from the Gebler glacier at an altitude of about 2000 meters on the southern slope of the high mountain Altai - Belukha. In the upper and middle reaches the river has a mountainous character, especially in summer time when snow and glaciers are rapidly melting. IN downstream it acquires a flat character, spreading below the village. The Maima has channels and channels, and flows along an inclined plain to the north until it merges with the Biya.
The water in the Katun is cold, its temperature in summer rarely rises above 15 C. The river is fed mainly by the melting of snow and ice from glaciers. The length of the river is 665 kilometers, and there are about 7,000 waterfalls and rapids in its basin.
Aley
Alei is the most major influx Ob on the flat part of the region. In length (755 km) it exceeds Katun and Biya, but is inferior to them in terms of water content. Alei originates in low mountains northwestern Altai. This is a river with mixed type power supply (snow and rain), spring flood reaches its maximum in April. Alei is characterized by large loop-shaped bends; in the lower reaches the river has broad clay soil.
Chumysh
Chumysh is the right tributary of the Ob. The river originates in Salair, from the confluence of two rivers: Tom-Chumysh and Kara-Chumysh. Although the river is twice as long as the Biya (644 km), the Chumysh is a relatively low-water river. In many places its valley is swampy and covered mixed forest. The share of snow supply makes up more than half of the runoff for the year, and the maximum flood in Chumysh is in April.
Lakes of Altai
Picturesque Altai lakes. There are thousands of them in the region, and they are located throughout the territory.
Most of The lakes are located in the Kulunda Lowland and on the Priob Plateau. It’s not for nothing that Altai is called the land of blue lakes. Small mountain and steppe lakes give natural landscapes unique charm and uniqueness.
The most big lake bitter-salty lake in the Altai region Kulundinskoe(area 600 sq. km, length - 35 and width 25 km). It is shallow (maximum depth - 4 m), fed by the waters of the Kulunda River and groundwater. South of Kulundinsky there is the second largest lake - Kuchukskoe(area 180 sq. km). It is completely similar in regime and nutrition to Kulundinsky and was previously connected to it by a channel.
Kulunda the lakes are all remnants ancient sea, which existed many millions of years ago on the site of the present plains. Many of these lakes have long been famous for their mineral waters, having healing properties, as well as healing clays and mud. Gorkoe-Isthmus, Malinovoe- are places of pilgrimage for residents of the region and numerous guests. On the salty Bolshoi Yarov There has been a medical and health complex on the lake for many years. Salty water, abundance of steppe sun, picturesque Pinery The shores of such lakes create unique conditions for recreation.
There is a lot of fish in the fresh flowing lakes, and waterfowl in the reed thickets along the banks.
The lakes of the mountainous part of the Altai Territory are very picturesque. They are located in the hollows of ancient drainage, on the site of old channels of long-vanished mountain rivers that arose when an ancient glacier melted.
Between the Biya and Chumysh rivers there are small and shallow freshwater lakes. There are lakes on the floodplains of lowland rivers, and in ancient and modern river valleys there are small elongated lakes - oxbow lakes.
The Altai region is also rich mineral springs. What makes it particularly famous for this are radon sources, which have been used since time immemorial. local population V medicinal purposes. Both in our country and abroad, the famous radon waters of Belokurikha are famous, where numerous resorts and health resorts have been built. The presence of radon waters was noted in the valleys of the Kalmanka and Berezovaya rivers.
Waterfalls are also common in Altai, like a waterfall on a river Shinok, not far from Denisova Cave, about 70 meters high, until recently it was known only local residents. Now many people dream of visiting here. Currently, there are eight waterfalls and one waterfall on the Shinok River. In 2000, the Cascade of Waterfalls on the Shinok River reserve acquired the status of a natural monument.
The Biya is one of the deepest rivers in the Altai Territory (Russia), which is the right tributary of the Ob. Total length The Biya is about 300 km long, it flows out of Lake Teletskoye, forming a confluence with the Katun along the way, turning into the huge Ob. The Biya has four large tributaries: Sarykoksha, Nenya, Pyzha and Lebed (this is one of the most abundant tributaries). The river is fed and replenished by rain and melt water.
The name of the river is most often associated with the Altai word “biy” - i.e. "Mr." There is an ancient Altai legend, according to which Biy and Katun (“master” and “mistress”) decided to run a race. Katun wanted to run across Biy, but nothing worked out for her, since the Biy man crossed her path first.
Biya is a fairly visited place for modern tourists; here they raft along the river rapids on catamarans (the river has level 2 difficulty). The water in the river is very cold, almost icy (and no wonder - the river is mountainous), very clean and transparent, especially at the source of the river. The water in the Biya River is clear all year round, which cannot be said about the Katun, the water in which is cloudy, especially in summer.
The Biya River is restless and stormy: it has numerous whirlpools, sharp turns, rifts and rapids. In some areas the Biya is navigable (lower reaches of the river). On its coast you can comfortably settle down for relaxation or fishing. found here great amount fish among which are caught: lenok, taimen, grayling, pike perch, sterlet, perch, pike, burbot, bream, ide, roach, chebak and many other species.
In the upper reaches, the river is not very wide, but is quite deep - in some places its depth is almost 7 m. Biya has 3 large rapids: Yurtok, Kabyrovsky and Pyzhinsky and three smaller rapids: Sarykokshinsky, Kipyatok (so called because the water , breaking against rocks, resembles boiling water) and Kuzensky (Kuzensky rapid is the longest). The Kobyrovsky rapids is the largest rapids of the river, it is located 12 km from the source of the river and has a height of about 700 - 800 meters. In this section of the river there are huge boulders, between which high gray waves foam.
Not far from the village of Turochak, the Biya flows near the mountain slope. This is a very picturesque, but dangerous place for swimming: from the mountain, mountain slopes go almost vertically down into the river, which form rocky obstacles under the water. Near the same village there is a large river whirlpool called Kruzhilo. Once you get into this whirlpool, it is very difficult to get out; you will have to spin in one place for a very long time.
The river is covered with ice only in the upper reaches and then only in the second half of November; in early April the ice cracks and ice drift begins. On the river bank there are many villages: Klyuchi, Stan-Bekhtemir, Sosnovka, Usyatskoye, Saidyp, Kebezen, etc. and one city - Biysk.
The left bank of the river is especially steep and rocky. There are areas where the river depth reaches 70 m. The left bank of the river is covered with taiga, and the valleys are filled with numerous boulders of different sizes and fragments rocks, which is a consequence of the powerful Altai glaciation that was once here.
Rivers of the Altai Territory
Ob
The main river of the Altai region is the Ob, formed from the confluence of two rivers - the Biya and the Katun. At a distance of 500 kilometers, the wide ribbon of the Ob crosses the Altai Territory, forming two giant bends. In terms of its length (3680 km), it is second in Russia only to the Lena (4264 km) and the Amur (4354 km), and in terms of the area of its basin, the Ob is the largest river in our country, second only to five rivers on the planet: the Amazon, Congo, Mississippi, Nile and La Plata.
The Ob and its tributaries Chumysh, Anui, Alei, Bolshaya Rechka, Barnaulka and others have a calm flow, wide developed valleys, in which strongly winding channels with sandy reaches adjoin.
Barnaulka River- tributary of the Ob River
The bottom of the Ob is sandy over a large area. Sometimes you come across rocky rifts and shoals, there are especially many of them in the section of the river between Biysk and Barnaul. During floods, the water level in the Ob is high; water floods the right low bank for several kilometers.
The name of the great river “Ob” owes its origin not to the peoples who have lived on its banks from time immemorial. The Nenets living in the lower reaches of the river called it “Sala-yam”, which means “Cape River”. The Khanty and Mansi gave it the name “As” - “big river”, the Selkups called the river “Kvay”, “Eme”, “Kuay”. All these names meant “large river.” The Russians first saw the river in its lower reaches when hunters and merchants, together with Zyryan guides, went beyond the Stone (as the Ural Mountains were then called). Long before Ermak’s conquest of Siberia, the region around the Ob was called Obdorsky.
There is a version that the name of the great Siberian river comes from the Komi language, which meant “snow”, “snowdrift”, “place near the snow”.
There is also an assumption that the name is related to the Iranian word “ob” - “water”. And this name could well have been given to the deep river by the peoples of the Iranian-speaking group who lived in the south of Western Siberia during the period from the Early Bronze Age to the Middle Ages.
Biya
Biya is the second largest river in Altai. It originates in Lake Teletskoye. Its length is 280 kilometers. In the upper part of the river there are rapids, waterfalls, and rifts. Merging with Katun, Biya gives rise to the Ob.
The name Biya is associated with the Altai words “biy”, “beg”, “bii” - “lord”.
Katun
The Katun flows from the Gebler glacier at an altitude of about 2000 meters on the southern slope of the highest mountain in Altai - Belukha. In the upper and middle reaches, the river has a mountainous character, especially in the summer, when snow and glaciers melt intensively. In the lower reaches it acquires a flat character, spreading below the village. The Maima has channels and channels, and flows along an inclined plain to the north until it merges with the Biya.
The water in the Katun is cold, its temperature in summer rarely rises above 15 C. The river is fed mainly by the melting of snow and ice from glaciers. The length of the river is 665 kilometers, and there are about 7,000 waterfalls and rapids in its basin.
Aley
Alei is the largest tributary of the Ob on the flat part of the region. In length (755 km) it exceeds Katun and Biya, but is inferior to them in terms of water content. Alei originates in the low mountains of northwestern Altai. This is a river with a mixed type of feeding (snow and rain), the spring flood reaches its maximum in April. Alei is characterized by large loop-shaped bends; in the lower reaches the river has broad clay soil.
Chumysh
Chumysh is the right tributary of the Ob. The river originates in Salair, from the confluence of two rivers: Tom-Chumysh and Kara-Chumysh. Although the river is twice as long as the Biya (644 km), the Chumysh is a relatively low-water river. In many places its valley is swampy and covered with mixed forest. The share of snow supply makes up more than half of the runoff for the year, and the maximum flood in Chumysh is in April.
Lakes of Altai
The Altai lakes are picturesque. There are thousands of them in the region, and they are located throughout the territory.
Most of the lakes are located in the Kulunda Lowland and on the Priob Plateau. It’s not for nothing that Altai is called the land of blue lakes. Small mountain and steppe lakes give natural landscapes a unique charm and uniqueness.
The largest lake in the Altai Territory is the bitter-salty lake Kulundinskoye (area 600 sq. km, length - 35 and width 25 km). It is shallow (maximum depth - 4 m), fed by the waters of the Kulunda River and groundwater. To the south of Kulundinsky there is the second largest lake - Kuchukskoye (area 180 sq. km). It is completely similar in regime and nutrition to Kulundinsky and was previously connected to it by a channel.
The Kulunda lakes are all remnants of an ancient sea that existed many millions of years ago on the site of the present plains. Many of these lakes have long been famous for their mineral waters, which have healing properties, as well as healing clays and mud. Gorkoe-Peresheichnoye and Malinovoye are places of pilgrimage for residents of the region and numerous guests. There has been a medical and health complex on the salty Bolshoi Yarovoe Lake for many years. Salt water, an abundance of steppe sun, and a picturesque pine forest along the shores of such lakes create unique conditions for relaxation.
There is a lot of fish in the fresh flowing lakes, and waterfowl in the reed thickets along the banks.
The lakes of the mountainous part of the Altai Territory are very picturesque. They are located in the hollows of ancient drainage, on the site of old channels of long-vanished mountain rivers that arose when an ancient glacier melted.
Lake Aya
The unique beauty of Lake Kolyvan, along the shores of which quaint castles of granite rocks are piled. You can admire the stone sculptures of fantastic animals while lying on the sandy beach.
Kolyvan Lake
Many of these lakes form a long chain, connected by channels and small rivers. Some of these lakes give rise to the left tributaries of the Ob (the Barnaulka River, flowing through the territory of the regional center, originates from such lakes located in the forest near the villages of Peschanoye and Voronikha).
Between the Biya and Chumysh rivers there are small and shallow freshwater lakes. There are lakes on the floodplains of lowland rivers, and in ancient and modern river valleys there are small elongated lakes - oxbow lakes.
The Altai region is also rich in mineral springs. What makes it especially famous is its radon springs, which have been used by the local population for medicinal purposes since time immemorial. Both in our country and abroad, the famous radon waters of Belokurikha are famous, where numerous resorts and health resorts have been built. The presence of radon waters was noted in the valleys of the Kalmanka and Berezovaya rivers.
Waterfalls are also common in Altai, like the waterfall on the Shinok River, not far from Denisova Cave, about 70 meters high, which until recently was known only to local residents. Now many people dream of visiting here. Currently, there are eight waterfalls and one waterfall on the Shinok River. In 2000, the Cascade of Waterfalls on the Shinok River reserve acquired the status of a natural monument.
Famous rivers and
lakes of the Altai region
Completed by: Ekaterina Ostretsova
10th grade student
MBOU "Secondary School No. 8" of the city of Biysk
Supervisor:
biology teacher MBOU "Secondary School No.
8"
Titova Elena Vasilievna
If you connect all the rivers of Altai into one, then they can
encircle our planet along the equator for almost one and a half
times. There are more than 20 thousand rivers in Altai! Altai rivers
very many-sided. In the mountains they are characterized by stormy
disposition, and in flat places they flow slowly and
calmly
River valleys are most often narrow,
deep corridors with steep, often vertical
slopes. Valley bottoms and riverbeds are filled
pebbles and boulders.
Many rivers boast their own waterfalls.
They are especially numerous and varied in
Central Altai.
Ob
Ob river in Western Siberia, the longest
river in Russia and the second longest in Asia.
The river is formed in Altai by the confluence of the Biya and Katun,
the length of the Ob from its confluence is 3650 km (from the source of the Irtysh
5410 km). The area of the Ob basin is 2990
thousand km According to this indicator, the river ranks first
place in Russia. Ob is also the third largest
water content of the Russian river. One of the 10 largest
rivers of the world.
The confluence of the Biya and the Katun is very beautiful.
Two rivers, equally powerful, carry their waters,
converging into an even more powerful stream - the Ob River. Ob
already from its birth represents
powerful and impressive flow. The place where he takes
the beginning of the Ob, surrounded by legends. Exists
assumption that the name of the river is related to Iranian
the word "about" "water". This is the name of the full-flowing
the river could well have been given by Iranian-speaking peoples
groups that lived in the south of Western Siberia during the period from
Early Bronze Age to Middle Ages. There are also
version that the word “Ob” comes from
Russian “both”, that is, “both rivers” “Ob”, having in
view of the Katun and Biya, merging into the Ob.
Biya
The second largest river in Altai originates in
Lake Teletskoye. Its length is 280 km, area
basin – 37,000 km. Considered navigable
throughout its entire length big water. At the top
parts of the river - rapids, waterfalls, rifts. Merging
with Katun, Biya gives rise to the Ob.
Biya from the rock of lovers (10 km from the source)
Name "Biya"
associated with Altai
the word “beat”, “bag”,
"bii" "Mr." By
one of the Altai
legends, words
"Mr" and "Madam"
sound like names
"Biya" and "Katun".
Katun
Katun is main river in Altai and one of
largest rivers. Katun flows out of the glacier
Gebler at an altitude of about 2000 meters in the southern
the slope of the highest mountain in Altai - Belukha. IN
the upper and middle reaches of the river have mountainous
character, especially in the summer when
Snow and glaciers are melting rapidly. Downstream
it acquires a flat character, spreading
below the village of Maima into channels and channels, and flows along
sloping plain to the north to the confluence with the Biya.
The water in Katun is cold, its temperature in summer is rare
rises above 15 degrees, because the river is fed in
mainly due to the melting of snow and ice on glaciers.
The length of the river is 665 km, in its basin there are about
7000 waterfalls and rapids of all types of difficulty. ABOUT
there is no consensus on the origin of the name “Katun”
exists. According to one version, the term “Katun” has
based on the ancient Turkic “kadyn”, or “khatun”,
"madam", "mistress".
The main attraction of Katun is
that it has been a Mecca for many years
for water tourism and rafting. Katun impossible
skip if you are going to Altai, all points
any trip in the mountains are located along
Katuni.
Aley
Longest water artery Altai is a river
Alei, 866 kilometers long. On high
a thousand meters, in the foothills of Altai takes its toll
this mighty beginning, with picturesque shores river.
Flowing into the Ob, Alei has a very extensive
pool, its area is equal to the territory of Israel,
waters cover 21,000 square kilometers,
which is two million hectares.
According to the nature of the channel and river valley Alei is divided into three
parts. The first part includes the section from the origins to
the village of StaroAleyskoe is the upper reaches. Towards the average
The current includes the section from the village of StaroAleyskoye to
confluence of the Pospelikha River into Alei, this territory
refers to the second part water flow. To the third
parts refer to the area originating from the confluence
the left bank tributary of the Alei - the Pospelikha River to
mouth, this section is called the downstream.
Charysh
This is one of the largest rivers of the Altai Mountains: its
length – 547 km. The Charysh River flows from
northern slopes of the Korgon ridge; in the upper
the current rushes between steep slopes as usual
mountain river, on average gradually calms down, and in
The lower wide channel opens onto the plain.
Everywhere, except the very lower reaches, there are
rapids and rifts
LAKES
There are many lakes in the Altai river basins. AND
most are very picturesque. In their region
there are thousands. Most of the lakes
is located in the Kulundinskaya lowland and on
Priob plateau. No wonder Altai is called the region
blue lakes. Small in size mountain and
steppe lakes add natural landscapes
unique charm and uniqueness.
bittersalt lake
Kulundinskoe
The largest lake in the Altai Territory is bitterly salted.
Lake Kulundinskoye (area 600 sq. km, length 35 km
and width – 25 km). It is shallow (maximum
depth – 4 m). fed by the waters of the Kulunda River and
underground waters. South of Kulundinsky
there is the second largest lake - Kuchukskoye
(area 180 sq. km). It is completely similar in mode
and nutrition with Kulundinsky and previously connected with him
duct. All Kulunda lakes are the remains of an ancient
sea that existed many millions of years ago
back on the site of the present plains.
The water in Lake Kulunda is quite salty.
The nature of these places amazes with its beauty - all around
the lakes are located steppes, along the shores you will find many
sandy beaches, very clean and comfortable.
Kuchukskoe
South of Kulundinsky there is the second largest
The largest lake is Kuchukskoye (area 180 sq. km).
It is completely similar in regimen and nutrition to
Kulundinsky and previously connected with him
duct. Located at an altitude of 98.4 m above
sea level, area 181 km², length 19 km,
width 12 km, greatest depth 3.3 m. Power
snowy; does not freeze in winter. Flows from the east
Kuchuk River
The basin of Lake Kuchuk is well defined,
rounded, eastern and southeastern shores of the lake
steep up to 1012 m high, northeastern and
the northwestern shores of the lake are sloping, low-lying and
muddy in places.
Lake Teletskoye
Lake Teletskoye is rightfully considered one of the main
sights of Gorny Altai. It is one
of the largest bodies of water Southern Siberia –
fourth deepest lake in the former territory
USSR, and in Russia Teletskoye Lake is inferior in
depth only to Baikal and one of the little-known
Khantai lakes in Taimyr. Maximum
depth – 325 m, area 22,300 hectares, height above
sea level - 436 m. More than
seventy large and small rivers.