Siberian rivers can be conditionally divided into two categories. These are large arteries and ducts flowing into them. One of the largest Siberian rivers is the Vitim. This is the right tributary of the river. Lena, which, in turn, connects with the Laptev Sea.
History of the river
The Buryat rivers China and Vitimkan in the mountains of Western Transbaikalia merge together. And as a result, a river is formed below. Vitim. The river was mastered for the first time by the Cossack ataman Maxim Perfilyev. In 1639, he sailed along the river. Vitim. And at the mouth of the river Kugomary founded a winter hut.
Location
The Vitim River flows through the territory of Buryatia, the Trans-Baikal Territory, Yakutia and the Irkutsk Region. The reservoir originates on the Irkutsk ridge. Then it surrounds the Vitim Plateau. Cuts through the North and South Muya ranges. Where does the Vitim river then flow? In r. Lena, which is connected with the Laptev Sea.
First, Vitim flows through the territory of Buryatia, then along its border with the Trans-Baikal Territory and in the lower reaches of the Irkutsk Region. The last 50 kilometers of the river stretch along Sakha-Yakutia.
Description
The source of the river is considered the beginning of the river. Vitimkan. With this in mind, the length of Vitim is 1978 km. Squarebasin - 225 thousand square kilometers. After the rivers Aldan and Vilyui, Vitim is the third longest tributary of the river. Lena.
The upper and middle reaches are located on the Vitim Plateau and Stanovoy Upland. The lower one frames Patomskoye from the western side. From the source to the village of Romanovka, Vitim is considered a mountain river. Forms bends near the nearest islands. Many banks there are steep with oval-scree processes. Vitim is a river with a strong current in some places.
After crossing the South Muya Range, the water falls into the basin. And there the river has a branched wide floodplain channel with small rifts. Vitim is divided into two parts by the Parama threshold. Down the slope the channel is a rapid-waterfall. There are many rock ledges under water up to the Delyun-Oron threshold.
Before the city of Bodaibo, the river flows in a narrow valley. In these places, the floodplain and terraces are underdeveloped. In the lower reaches of the Vitim River flows through the Baikal-Patom Highlands. Gradually, the reservoir expands and becomes a flat type.
Fast flood comes due to melting snow and the slope of the territory. Rain floods are not so severe. During them, the river consumes a lot of water, more than spring floods. Autumn ice drift lasts from two to three weeks. During this period, congestion occurs on the riffles. The thickness of the ice reaches almost two meters.
Flora and fauna
Vegetation on the Vitim banks mainly consists of coniferous forests. Larch trees delight the eye on the plateau. In the area of some tributaries - deaf thicketsmixed forest (fir, aspen, cedar, etc.). Dwarf trees, reindeer moss and mosses grow on the mountain shores. Almost forty species of mammals live in the Vitim basin. There are many fur-bearing animals (sable, ermine, etc.), and fish in the water.
Hydrology
By the nature of the flow, the Vitim River is intermediate between the plain and the mountain. The reservoir is fed mainly by rain. The average water consumption per year is 1530 square meters per second near the city of Bodaibo. Another two thousand square meters per second is consumed at the mouth of the river. At r. Vitim extended flood. It starts in May and continues until October. The busiest month is June. A sharp decrease in water is observed from March to April. Vitim begins to freeze in early November. And ice breakup occurs in the second half of May, when relatively warm weather sets in.
Fishing
Siberian rivers are famous for their fishing. And one of these reservoirs is Vitim. The river has a wide variety of fish:
- bream;
- ide;
- sock salmon;
- pike;
- nelma;
- roach;
- burbot;
- perch;
- taimen;
- tugun;
- grayling.
Therefore, it is fishing that attracts many to the river. Vitim is famous for its large pikes (you can also catch a ten-kilogram specimen). And also five-kilogram taimen are often caught here. For lovers of fishing, there are even special tours (up to ten days) on the river.
Vitim's values
One of the largest gold mining centers is located on the Vitim River. This is the city of Bodaibo. Mica and jade deposits have been found in the basin. And in the Vitimsky reserve there is a unique lake Oron. Vitim is the main transport waterway, through which goods are delivered to the mining regions. Navigation is possible only to the village of Luzhki. It is planned to build a cascade of hydroelectric power stations on the banks of the river.
