The left-bank branch of the Amur was given the name of the Evenks. They called it the river Zeya (in their language, the name sounds like "jee", and is translated as "blade"). This is the third largest tributary of the Amur. It flows through the territory of the Amur region, covering more than half of its expanses. The river flows into the Amur basin near Blagoveshchensk.
A hydroelectric power station was built on the coasts of the Amur tributary, three cities and a reserve were founded. Zeya, Blagoveshchensk and Svobodny rise above the banks of the river. The Zeya Reserve captured part of the territory in the upper reaches, spreading over an area of over 830 km². The construction of the Zeya hydroelectric power station solved the problem of catastrophic floods that occur during the summer floods.
Description
The length of the river is 1242 kilometers. The basin covers an area of 233,000 km². The source of the river is located in the Tokinsky Stanovik mountain range, stretching south of the Stanovoy Range. A short section in the upper reaches is mountainous, rapids and ragged. Zeya is strewn with sand and pebble rifts. The river valley here is clamped by steep mountain cliffs.
Where Zeya intersects withmountain range Tukuringra, its waters seethe through a bottomless rocky gorge. Its lower course runs along the plain, where the valley has expanded in breadth, and the channel has broken up into many tributaries. Zeya winds its way through vast meadows dotted with many lakes and overgrown with willow bushes.
She is navigable. Ships ply the waterway with a length of 650 kilometers. Starting at the mouth of the Zeya River, it stretches to the city of the same name. Before the advent of the hydroelectric power station, during the period of high water, ships rose to the village of Bomnak, which is higher than the city of Zeya.
Navigation complicates the many shallow rifts that dotted the riverbed. Navigation facilities are not built into the HPP dam. Vessels ply upstream and downstream.
Hydrology
Zeya is nourished by rains, snows and underground springs. The main source of food is rain. They make up 50-70% of the total annual runoff. The share of snow supply does not exceed 10-20%, and underground - 10-30%. The river is characterized by high water content. Its catchment is formed by almost 20,000 lakes. Their total area exceeds 1000 km2.
The river water regime is characterized by summer floods due to heavy rains, and a distinct spring flood. The pronounced flood lasts 3-4 weeks. Floods and high waters become the culprits of powerful floods, leading to natural disasters. In winter, the Zeya River, with a basin spread over lands covered with permafrost, is very shallow.
Until the Zeya hydroelectric power station was erected, the water level was in the amplitude of fluctuations9-10 meters. The maximum depth of the Zeya is noted in the area of the hydroelectric power station, it reaches 64 meters. Its greatest width is equated to four kilometers.
Flora
The upper reaches of the river, where all kinds of estuaries, rapids and waterfalls are found in abundance, is surrounded by the Zeya nature reserve. It settled about 637 plant species. The coasts here are covered with various representatives of the plant kingdom.
Here you can see thickets of Mongolian oak, Amur linden and berry apple. The Zeya River is surrounded by hazel and Japanese elm. The Amur region in its area has become a home for Siberian mountain ash, brown willow, dwarf pine and cloudberries.
The valleys in this area are adorned with birch groves. In the direction of the Tukuringra ridge, deciduous thickets, thinning, give way to dark conifers, which were formed by the Ayan spruce. In the floodplain, the Zeya River, whose photo is amazing, is buried in vast meadows with swamps.
Fauna
Animals inhabiting the river coasts belong to a cohort of typical taiga inhabitants. The river valleys sheltered red deer and Ussuri elks. They have become a wonderful home for roe deer and wild boars. Representatives of the marten family are common here. Sable and ermine are considered the brightest inhabitants of these predators in taiga forests.
Brown bears, wolves, wolverines, raccoon dogs, columns and otters are recognized as natives of the region. In these places, the fauna of birds is represented by a detachment of chickens. The picturesque Zeya River is densely populated with hazel grouses, partridges andstone capercaillie. Black grouse live in the upper reaches, unfortunately, their population is too small.
Ichthyofauna
Zeya is a paradise for avid fishermen. Local waters are inhabited by galyans, Amur minnows, graylings, pikes, whitefishes, taimen, baleen chars, sculpins, Vladislavs and other river dwellers. Fishermen are not surprised by the catching of huge taimen - real giants. It is common for them to fish out a fish weighing 30-50 kilograms. Fans of fishing river waters are presented with graylings weighing one and a half, and laziness - three to four kilograms.
The construction of a hydroelectric power station has led to a sharp decline in the stocks of several species of fish in the Zeya River. The population of whitefish, taimen and asp has declined. On the other hand, the number of gallyans, chebak, rotan and minnows has significantly increased.
Rest
Travelers are drawn in an endless succession to a picturesque corner where the full-flowing Zeya River flows, which is distinguished by a special color. Fabulous landscapes, rich fauna, excellent fishing are the magnet of this wonderful region. Adherents of ecological tourism and outdoor activities like it here.
Lovers of fishing, extreme and exotic flock to a marvelous place with a contrasting climate and virgin wildlife. There are cozy places on the coasts of Zeya for fans of beach holidays. At multiple tourist bases, single travelers, friendly companies and families spend their time with pleasure.
