Many rivers are called great. But few of them can compare with the Lena - a mighty, full-flowing, harsh Siberian river. It flows down from the spurs of the Baikal ridge and rolls its waters to the Arctic Ocean. Rather, to the Laptev Sea, part of the ocean. The river is covered with legends and myths of the peoples inhabiting its banks. And the facts about this river match it - unusual, arousing respect.
The river basin can accommodate 19 Greece
Or 7 Germany or 85 Armenia. The area of the water basin with tributaries is about 2.5 million square kilometers. The entire drainage basin of the Lena lies within Russia. Lena is the largest among the East Siberian rivers. Most of its shores are impenetrable taiga. Almost the entire route of the river runs in regions of permafrost, harsh and sparsely populated.
During floods, the water in the Lena rises 10-15 meters from the level. Because of this, its shores are poorly populated by people.
The development of Lena began at the beginning of the 17th century
We are trying to find the courage to go on a cruise to the Lena Pillars in the warm cabins of a comfortable motor ship. And the Russian pioneers from among the Tobolsk Cossacks already in 1632 founded the Lensky ostrog - for the development of new lands.
Even earlier, in 1628, the Cossacks went along the Kut River to the Lena. After 3 years, the centurion Peter Beketov founded the city of Ust-Kut on this place. In the chronicles, the Cossack Demid Pyanda, from the Pomors, is named as the discoverer of the river and the shortest path from it to the tributary of the Yenisei, the Lower Tunguska. Over the next 10 years, several more fortifications built by the Cossacks appeared on the river.
Most most
Lena is the deepest of the Russian rivers. It has 4 large tributaries, 12 medium and over 100 small ones. Together with them, Lena collects her waters from the territories of 7 regions of Russia.
The longest in Siberia, and the third longest in the country - 4400 km. Moreover, from beginning to end, like most Siberian rivers, it flows only through Russian territory. Lena is one of the ten longest rivers on the planet.
This is the most important route in Yakutia. It connects the regions of the Republic of Sakha with the country's transport network. In a short navigation period, about 4 months in the lower reaches, the river is very busy. The main part of cargo for the regions of the Far North is transported along it. The so-called "northern delivery".
Due to the fact that the Lena is sparsely populated, it remains one of the cleanest among the largest rivers on the planet. There are no dams, hydroelectric power stations and other structures along it. In places where there are no settlements, water can be drunk directly from the river.
River: name and monument
There are different explanations for the name of the river - from the Yakut “ilin” (east) or the Evenk “elyuene” (big river). In any case, it transformed into Lena.
In the last century, it was believed that the pseudonym of the leader of the revolution came from the name of the Siberian river. His family also supported this version.
In the Yakut epics, Lena appears as a wise old woman. And the only monument to the river depicts her as a young girl. It was installed on the Olekminsk embankment in 2015. For the anniversary of the city, many contests were held, including children's drawings. The sculptor liked the drawing of Vali Fyodorova for the future monument. The fifth grader portrayed Lena as a beautiful girl with curly hair. Now the snow-white statue, 3 meters high, has become the main attraction of the small town.
6 cities
Although Lena directly cuts the country's territory, passing from the south to the northern border, there are only 6 cities on its banks:
- Ust-Kut
- Kirensk
- Lensk
- Olekminsk
- Pokrovsk
- Yakutsk
Moreover, Yakutsk is considered the largest - over 300 thousand population.
Natural wonders
Not far from Pokrovsk, along one of the banks of the Lena, a mountain range stretches, incredible in scale. The height of the rocks reaches 200 m, and the length of the ridge is over 500 km. The basis of the rocks of these vertical cliffs is Cambrian limestone, known for its varied color palette. This is Lena Pillars, a national park included in the UNESCO list and in the top 10 wonders of Russia.
The second, less famous, but no less striking miracle is the desert on the banks of the Siberian river. Sand dunes look alien in the frame of green taiga. These are Tukulans, an amazing natural phenomenon. Scientists find it difficult to explain their origin. But the sight is impressive.
Few residents of Russia will get to Lena for tourist purposes. A minimum of civilization and a long journey will stop many. But those who see these beauties will be rewarded with memories of a lifetime.
