Aldan River, Yakutia: description, description and location

A large part of the territory of Yakutia, also occupying the north of the Khabarovsk Territory, flows one of the largest tributaries of the Lena - the Aldan River. According to one version in translation from Tunguska, its name means "fish", on the other - it is Evenk word and is translated as "side", that is lateral inflow.

Geography

The river takes its beginning from the northern side of the Stanovoi Ridge. It is near the border of Yakutia and the Amur Region. Flowing along the Aldan uplands in a narrow stony channel, forms a large number of rapids and rapids. From the place where the tributaries of Timpton and Uchur flow into the Aldan, the river bursts out into the valley, then flows through the intermontane plain. The lower course of the Aldan branches into several branches, forming long channels and many islands. Within the catchment area there is a large number of lakes (more than 50 thousand), the largest of which is the Great Toko.

That part of the territory of our country, where the river Aldan is located, differs with rather severe climatic conditions. In October, the reservoirs are covered with ice. No exception is Aldan - the ice keeps on the river for at least seven months, only in May the ice starts.

The length of the entire length of the river is 2,273 kilometers. By the volume of runoff, this is one of the largest rivers in Russia. For the Lena River, this is almost a third. The area of the Aldan River is about 730 thousand square kilometers.

Hydrology

The flood period lasts from May to July. At this time, the water level rises to 10 meters, its consumption is up to 48 thousand cubic meters. M / s. Floods still occur between August and September. Winter consumption is small - no more than 4% per annum. The food of the river is mostly rain and snow. According to its chemical composition water is hydrocarbonate-calcium, the presence of dissolved salts in it does not exceed 0.3 g / l.

Tributaries of the Aldan River

Throughout the length of the river there are 275 large and small tributaries, the total length of which is at least 10 kilometers. The largest is Uchur, its water discharge in the estuary is 1350 cubic meters. M / s. This is the right tributary of Aldan, 812 km long. In translation from the Evenki Uchur means "whirlwind", "loach". Almost on its entire path, the river is practically clamped by mountains, so its course is too tortuous.

May is known as another large river in Yakutia, the tributary of Aldan with a catchment area of more than 170 square kilometers. M. In length, Amga stands out among all, flowing practically parallel to Aldan from the upper reaches. The bottom is strewn with pebbles, and on the upper sections you can see beautiful waterfalls and stone canyons, which is very attractive for tourists and those who like active leisure.

Among the other tributaries that feed the river Aldan, the most famous are Timpton, Notor, Tumara, Barayy, Tompo.

Flora

The river basin is in the taiga zone. The soil cover is not the same. On the right and left sides of the pool it has significant differences. Thus, on the right side, on the slopes of the watershed, mountain-goltz and permafrost-podzolic soils prevail at the tops of the ridges. On the above-floodplain terraces the most common are cryogenic-taiga soils.

In those places where the Aldan River flows, the vegetation cover has some differences in comparison with the rest of the Central Yakut plain. Instead of meadow, steppe and marsh landscapes, coniferous-deciduous forests predominate. Forest-forming species - pine, spruce, birch, larch and cedar shal. Spruce prevails only in the southern part of the basin. Pine trees occupy small areas on the sloping peaks of the ridges. Also, many rare and endangered plants grow in the Aldan River basin.

In August - September, local residents collect a good harvest of mushrooms in this area. Among them are predominant mushrooms, russula, and boletus.

Fauna

Amphibians are mostly represented by a Siberian frog and a viviparous lizard. Of the birds, dappled, a black crane, a black mallard inhabit these lands. And also dikusha, kingfisher, jay, and bluebird are birds that practically do not occur in other regions of Yakutia.

In the southern basin of the river there is a wild reindeer, musk deer, voles, pika. In cedar pine there is a high number of brown bear, and where the river occupies mountain areas that do not freeze in winter, otters are very common.

A fairly large variety of fish is famous for the river Aldan. Yakutia is not for nothing is a popular destination for anglers. The river is very rich in fish - perch, taimen, grayling, Siberian roach, pike, sturgeon.

Economic use

In the basin of this river there are large deposits of minerals, such as coal, gold, mica. Aldan is the most important water artery that provides the export of mining products, as well as the import of various goods for residents of settlements and enterprises along the river. The main piers are Khandyga, Ust-May, Eldikan and Tommot. Aldan is navigable for 1600 km.

Once upon a time these regions occupied the labor camps of Dalstroi. Today, considerable fish stocks and natural attractions, which the Aldan River is famous for, attract the attention of tourists and fishermen. The edge attracts its amazing untouched beauty and grandeur. Lakes and gorges, streams falling from the cliffs, stony banks of a huge river simply fascinate the view.

History

It is established that for the first time the human foot set foot on this land in about 40 millennium BC. The first people who lived here, engaged in hunting for bison, mammoths, who at that time inhabited the river basin. Then they disappeared for unknown reasons, and after 30 thousand years there appeared in these places another population, which already hunted the reindeer and elk. At present, along the banks of the Aldan River, there are about a hundred parking places belonging to the Bronze and Iron Ages.

Crossings

The existing bridges in the narrow part of the river are wooden decks. In shallow water, the transition from one shore to the other is often waded. In winter, the crossing takes place on the ice, and in the summer ferries. And he does not have a strict timetable. The ferry operates only during daylight hours and at full load. In the off-season, there is absolutely no crossing. Today, the construction of a new bridge along the federal highway across the Aldan River is completed, its total length is 970 meters.