There are a huge number of rivers on the territory of our country (2.5 million). Most of them are small, their length usually does not exceed 100 kilometers. Then the question arises: what are the most big rivers Russia? We will try to answer it in this article.

To begin with, we will present you with a list of these rivers:

1. Yenisei.
2. Lena.
3. Amur.
4. Volga.
5. Kolyma.
6. Khatanga.
7. Indigirka.
8. Northern Dvina.

Now let's tell you more about them.

River Ob

The largest river in Russia, which is located in Western Siberia. It is formed by the merging rivers Biya and Katun. From the source of the Irtysh its length is 5410 kilometers. In the North it flows into the Ob Bay. The river's water basin occupies a huge area - 2,990 thousand square meters. km. According to this indicator, it rightfully occupies a leading position on our list. In terms of water content, the Ob is in third place, second only to the Lena and Yenisei.

The Ob feeds mainly melt water. During the spring and summer floods, the largest river in Russia receives most of its annual flow. The flood begins in April upper reaches, in the second half of April it begins in the middle reaches, and in early May this process occurs in the lower reaches. The water level rises even during freeze-up. When the river opens up, short-term minor rises in levels occur as a result of the resulting congestion.

The flood in the upper reaches ends in July. In September - October, a rain flood begins, which continues until freeze-up in the lower and middle reaches. Ice cover remains on the Ob for an average of 220 days a year.

The main tributary of the Ob is the Irtysh. The length of this river from its source, which is located on the border of China and Mongolia, to its confluence with the Ob is 4,248 km.

Fishing has long developed on this river. Even at the end of the 19th century, there were a lot of ruffe, perch, sculpin, pike, shokur, muksun, nelma and other species of fish in the river waters. Today there are fewer fish in the waters of the Ob, but nevertheless there are about 50 species.

Yenisei

Today we present to you the largest rivers in Russia. The list continues with the mighty Yenisei. This river is considered the natural border between the West and East of Siberia.

Its length is 4287 km. The Yenisei flows through the lands of two neighboring states - Mongolia and Russia. The total area of ​​the river is 2,580 thousand square kilometers. This indicator allows this huge river to take second place in Russia.

On the left bank of this Siberian river there are plains, and on the right there is endless mountain taiga. In this regard, there is a sharp asymmetry of the banks of the Yenisei. The right bank is more than 5 times higher in height than the left bank. On its way from source to mouth, the river crosses all climatic zones of Siberia. That is why camels are found in the upper reaches of the Yenisei, and polar bears are found in the lower reaches, closer to the ocean.

Lena river

It cannot be said that this is the largest river in Russia, although its size is impressive. The length of the river is 4480, and its total area is 2490 thousand square meters. km. The Lena River is rightfully in third place among the large rivers of our country.

The river is mainly fed by water from melting glaciers and snow - approximately 50% of the total. Precipitation gives the river about 38% of its water and about 13% is underground recharge, more typical of the upper reaches.

In mid-October, the Lena freezes in its upper reaches. It opens in mid-April. Ice cover remains on the river for about 270 days a year.

Amur

The topic of our article was the largest rivers in Russia. The names of many are known not only to Russians, but also to our neighbors from other countries. For example, Cupid. This is one of the longest rivers in our country and the largest in the Far East. It flows on the border of Russia and China and carries its waters through the territory of Mongolia. The Amur flows into the Sea of ​​Okhotsk.

The basin area of ​​this river is 1,855 thousand square kilometers, and its length is 2,824 km.

Volga

Glorified by poets and composers, which inspired artists to create immortal paintings, this is, of course, the Volga River. And although this is not the largest river in Russia, it is a symbol of our country.

The source of the Volga is located on the Valdai Plateau of the Tver Region. The Volga is considered one of the largest rivers on our planet. The length of the river is 3530 km. Total area - 1361 thousand square meters. km. The river flows through the lands of Russia and Kazakhstan.

Kolyma River

This river is located in Yakutia. Its length is 2,129 km. Water pool - 645 thousand square meters. km. Kolyma was formed as a result of the confluence of two small rivers, Kulu and Ayan-Yuryakh. The Kolyma flows into the bay of the same name.

Don

This river is considered the oldest in Russia. The Don originates in the Tula region on the Central Russian Upland. Its length is 1870 km, the water basin is 422 thousand sq. km.

The current is very slow, for which the Cossacks call this leisurely and majestic river"quiet Don" This is explained by the flat profile in which the channel runs. The slope towards it is quite insignificant, on average this value does not exceed 0.1 degrees. In some areas the width of the valley reaches 13 km. The right bank is steep and high, and the left bank is low.

Khatanga River

This river is located in the Krasnoyarsk Territory. Its length is 1636 km. Water pool with an area of ​​364 thousand square meters. km. It is formed by two rivers Kotui and Kheta.

This river flows through a wide valley in the North Siberian Lowland. There are more than 112 thousand lakes in the Khatanga basin. Their total area is 11.6 thousand sq. km.

Indigirka

In Yakutia, on the slopes of the Khalkan Range, there is the source of the Indigirka River. Its length is 1,726 km, its water basin covers an area of ​​360 thousand square meters. km. Its source is made up of two medium-sized rivers - Omyokon and Kuidusun.

Indigirka is the coldest river in Russia. IN winter time in the lower reaches it freezes through. In summer, it becomes covered with ice and turns into a sparkling icy stream flowing picturesquely among the mountains. Since the end of September, the river has been frozen in ice, which does not go away until June.

Northern Dvina

Our list of the 10 largest rivers in Russia has come to an end. It is completed by the Northern Dvina, which flows through two large regions - Arkhangelsk and Vologda.

Its length is 744 km, area - 360 thousand square meters. km. At its source the small rivers Sukhona and Yug connect. This northern river famous for the fact that the history of Russian shipbuilding began on it.

In the territory Russian Federation there are more than two million large and small rivers. Many of them have small sizes, but the first ten, which includes the largest rivers in Russia, occupies leading positions on a global scale. In the European and Asian parts of the country there are huge water arteries, the size of which amazes the imagination.

The largest rivers in Russia: Western and Eastern Siberia

The Ob, Yenisei and Lena flow through the territory of Siberia. Their length is 5410, 4287 and 4480 km, respectively, and the areas of the basins are 2.99, 2.58 and 2.49 million square meters. km.

The Ob is formed by the combination of two water streams, the Biya and the Katun. Its tributary, the Irtysh, is also significant. Usually its length is considered together with the Irtysh, so it takes first place in this indicator and rightfully tops the list "the largest rivers in Russia". Its waters are rich commercial fish, about 50 species are found here. The Ob flows into the Ob Bay, a bay of the Kara Sea.

Ob is the largest river in Russia

The source of the Yenisei is located in Mongolia. The main part of its basin lies in our state, and in terms of its area the Yenisei ranks second. It flows into the Kara Sea. It is formed by the confluence of the Big and Small Yenisei and is the border between Eastern and Western Siberia.

Lena originates in the Baikal region. Its origin is considered small lake near Baikal. It flows into the Laptev Sea. It was discovered and put on the map of the Russian state in the 17th century.

Yenisei River

The Yenisei River is the fifth longest river in the world

Far East

On far east The country has a large waterway - the Amur. In addition to the Russian state, it flows through the territories of Mongolia and China. Its length is 2824 km, and the area of ​​the river basin is 1.855 million square meters. km. It is formed by the merger of Shilka and Arguni. The mouth is located on the shore of the Sea of ​​Okhotsk. Amur is rich in fish. 139 species live here, of which about 40 are of commercial importance. Nine species of salmon live in its waters, some of them endemic.

Amur river

Fishing on the Amur River

The Volga is one of the largest rivers in Russia

This huge waterway is the largest in Europe and one of the largest on the planet. The location of its source is the Valdai Plateau. Flows into the Caspian Sea. Its length is about 3530 km, and its basin area is 1.361 million square meters. km. The Volga flows through the Russian Federation, only part of its delta lies on the territory of Kazakhstan.

Volga river

The Volga River is not only one of the greatest rivers in our country, but also the longest and deepest in all of Europe.

European part of the country

Here, in addition to the Volga, the Don and Northern Dvina flow. Their lengths are 1870 and 744 km, and the areas of the basins are 422,000 and 357,000 sq. km. The Don begins in the Tula region on the territory of the Central Russian Upland and ends its journey in the Taganrog Bay. The Northern Dvina is formed by the confluence of the Sukhona and the South. It starts in Vologda region. Flows into the White Sea. It was here that Russian shipbuilding began.

Fishing on the Don River

North of the Russian Federation

The mostmajor rivers of Russia, flowing in the north in the zone permafrost– these are Indigirka, Kolyma and Khatanga. Their lengths are 1726, 2129 and 1636 km.

The source of the Indigirka is located on the Khalkan ridge, where it is formed at the junction of Tuora-Yuryakh and Taryn-Yuryakh. It flows through Yakutia, its delta is located on the shores of the East Siberian Sea. The Kolyma also flows through Yakutia. It is formed by the confluence of Ayan-Yuryakh and Kulu, and carries its waters to the Arctic Ocean. Khatanga is located in the Krasnoyarsk Territory. Its source is located at the junction of Kotui and Kheta. It flows through the North Siberian Lowland and ends in the Arctic Ocean. Along its shores there are many large and small lakes, of which there are more than 110,000.

Indigirka River

Russia occupies a vast geographical area, and it is not surprising that numerous rivers stretch across its expanses, which played an important historical role in the settlement and development of new lands. Almost all the largest cities in the country are located on rivers.

In total, there are about 3 million rivers on the territory of the Russian Federation, and all of them are an important component of the life of many people, animals and plants. Rivers provide us with food, water, electricity, places for recreation, and also serve as transport routes connecting different settlements. It is an indispensable source of water for Agriculture and industry.

In this article you can get acquainted with the largest rivers of Russia, get them brief description and to look geographical location on the map of the country.

Rivers of the Russian Federation

Map of the largest rivers in Russia

The country's territory is divided into European and Asian parts. The dividing line is usually considered to be the Ural Mountains and the Caspian Sea. The rivers of the European part flow into the Arctic Ocean, the Baltic Sea, the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea. The rivers of the Asian part flow into the Arctic and Pacific oceans.

The largest rivers in European Russia are the Volga, Don, Kama, Oka and Northern Dvina, while some rivers originate in Russia but flow into other countries, such as the Dnieper and Western Dvina. The following large rivers flow through the Asian expanses of the country: Ob, Irtysh, Yenisei, Angara, Lena, Yana, Indigirka and Kolyma.

Of the five main drainage basins: Arctic, Pacific, Baltic, Black Sea and Caspian, the first, located in Siberia and including the northern part of the Russian Plain, is the most extensive. To a large extent, this basin is filled by the three largest rivers in Russia: the Ob (3650 km), which, together with its main tributary, the Irtysh River, forms a river system 5410 km long, the Yenisei (3487 km), and the Lena (4400 km). The sum of their drainage areas exceeds 8 million km², and the total water flow is about 50,000 m³/s.

Large rivers of Siberia provide transport arteries with inside to the Arctic Sea Route, although they are blocked by ice for long periods each year. The slight slope of the Ob River causes it to slowly meander through a huge floodplain. Due to the flow to the north, from the upper reaches to the lower boundaries of the thaw, extensive flooding occurs quite often, which leads to the development of huge swamps. Vasyugan swamps on the Ob-Irtysh interfluve, cover an area of ​​more than 50,000 km².

The rivers of the rest of Siberia (about 4.7 million km²) flow into the Pacific Ocean. In the north, where the watershed is close to the coast, numerous small, fast-flowing streams flow from the mountains, but most of southeastern Siberia is drained by the Amur River. For most of its length, the Amur forms the border separating Russia and China. The Ussuri, one of the tributaries of the Amur, forms another significant border line between the countries.

Three large drainage basins are located in European Russia south of the Arctic Basin. The Dnieper, only the upper reaches of which are in Russia, as well as the Don and Volga are the longest European river, originating in the north-west of the Valdai Hills and flowing into the Caspian Sea. Second only to the Siberian rivers, the Volga basin covers an area of ​​1,380,000 km². The rivers of the East European Plain have long served as important transport arteries; in fact, the Volga river system provides two-thirds of the entire Russian inland waterway traffic.

10 largest and longest rivers in Russia

Many mighty rivers flow through the territory of the Russian Federation, but the size of some of them is truly impressive. Below is a list and maps of the country's largest rivers, both by length and by drainage basin area.

Lena

The Lena River is one of the most long rivers planets. It originates near Lake Baikal in southern Russia and flows west, and then above Yakutsk it smoothly turns north, where it flows into the Laptev Sea (a basin of the Arctic Ocean). Near its mouth, the river forms a huge delta with an area of ​​32,000 km, which is the largest in the Arctic and the largest protected area wildlife in Russia.

The Lena Delta, which floods every spring, serves as an important area for nesting and migration of birds, and also supports rich fish populations. The river is home to 92 planktonic species, 57 benthos species and 38 fish species. Sturgeon, burbot, chum salmon, whitefish, nelma and albula are the most commercially important fish species.

Swans, dippers, geese, ducks, plovers, waders, snipe, phalaropes, terns, skuas, birds of prey, sparrows and gulls are just some of the migratory birds that nest in the Lena's productive wetlands.

Ob

The Ob is the seventh longest river in the world, stretching over a distance of 3,650 kilometers in the Western Siberian region of the Russian Federation. This river playing big economic importance for Russia, it occurs at the confluence of the Biya and Katun rivers in Altai. It mainly passes through the country, although many of its tributaries originate in China, Mongolia and Kazakhstan. Ob connects with its largest influx Irtysh River, about 69° east longitude. It flows into the Kara Sea of ​​the Arctic Ocean, forming the Ob Bay. The river has a huge drainage area, which is about 2.99 million km².

The habitat surrounding the Ob consists of vast expanses of steppe and taiga flora in the upper and middle reaches of the river. Birches, pines, firs and cedars are some of the famous trees growing in these areas. Thickets of willow, rose hips and bird cherry also grow along the watercourse. The river basin is replete with aquatic flora and fauna, including more than 50 species of fish (sturgeon, carp, perch, nelma and peled, etc.) and about 150 species of birds. Minks, wolves, Siberian moles, otters, beavers, stoats and other local mammal species. In the lower reaches of the Ob, arctic tundra, is characterized by snow-covered landscapes for most of the year. Polar bears, arctic foxes, polar owls and arctic hares represent this region.

Volga

The longest river in Europe, the Volga, which is often considered national river Russia, has large swimming pool, covering almost two-thirds of the European part of Russia. The Volga originates in the north-west of the Valdai Hills, and flows south over 3530 km, where it flows into the Caspian Sea. About 200 tributaries join the river along the entire route. Eleven of the country's major cities, including Moscow, are located along the Volga basin, which covers an area of ​​1.36 million km².

The climate in the river basin varies along its course from north to south. In the northern regions it predominates temperate climate with cold snowy winter and warm humid summers. The southern regions are characterized by cool winters and hot, dry summers. The Volga Delta is one of the richest habitats, which is home to 430 plant species, 127 fish species, 260 bird species and 850 aquatic species.

Yenisei

The mouth of the Yenisei River is located near the city of Kazyl, where it merges with the Little Yenisei River, which originates in Mongolia and flows north, where it drains a vast area of ​​Siberia before emptying into the Kara Sea (Arctic Ocean), a journey of 3,487 km. The Angara River, which flows from Lake Baikal, is one of the main tributaries of the upper Yenisei.

The waters of the Yenisei are home to about 55 species of local fish, including Siberian sturgeon, flounder, roach, northern pike, Siberian gudgeon, tench and sterlet. Most The river basin surrounds, mainly consisting of the following rocks coniferous trees: fir, cedar, pine and larch. In some areas of the upper Yenisei there are also steppe pastures. In the north, boreal forests are replaced by the Arctic. Musk deer, elk, roe deer and Japanese mouse- some species of mammals living in taiga forests along the river. Also found are birds such as the Siberian blue robin, Siberian lentil, capercaillie and wood snipe. Ducks, geese and swans are found in the lower reaches of summer time of the year.

Lower Tunguska

Lower Tunguska is a right tributary of the Yenisei, flowing through the Irkutsk region and Krasnoyarsk region of Russia. Its length is 2989 km, and the basin area is 473 thousand km². The river extends near the watershed between the Yenisei and Lena river basins and flows north and then west across the Central Siberian Plateau.

In the upper reaches the river forms a wide valley with numerous shallows, but after turning to the west the valley narrows and numerous gorges and rapids appear. In the river basin lies the vast Tunguska coal basin.

Amur

The Amur is the tenth longest river in the world, located in East Asia and forms the border between the Far Eastern District of the Russian Federation and Northeast China. The river originates at the confluence of the Shilka and Argun rivers. The Amur flows for 2825 km to the northwestern part Pacific Ocean and flows into the Sea of ​​Okhotsk.

The river has many vegetation zones in various parts of its basin, including taiga forests and swamps, Manchurian mixed forests, Amur meadow steppes, forest-steppes, steppes and tundra. The wetlands along the Amur basin are some of the most valuable ecosystems, home to a huge variety of flora and fauna. These are important refuges for millions of migratory birds, including white storks and red-crowned cranes. The river basin is home to more than 5,000 species of vascular plants, 70 species of mammals and 400 species of birds. Rare and endangered species are found here, such as Amur tiger And amur leopard- the most iconic mammal species in the region. The waters of the Amur are home to a wide variety of fish species: about 100 species in the lower reaches and 60 in the upper reaches. Chum salmon, burbot and whitefish are among the most commercially important northern fish species.

Vilyui

The Vilyui is a river in Central and Eastern Siberia, flowing primarily through the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) in eastern Russia. This is the largest tributary of the Lena, with a length of 2650 km and a basin area of ​​​​about 454 thousand km².

The Vilyui originates on the Central Siberian Plateau and first flows east, then south and southeast, and again east to its confluence with the Lena (about 300 km northwest of the city of Yakutsk). The river and adjacent reservoirs are rich in commercial species fish

Kolyma

With a length of more than 2,100 kilometers and a basin area of ​​643 thousand km², Kolyma is the most big river Eastern Siberia, flowing into the Arctic Ocean. The upper reaches of this river system began to develop back in Cretaceous period, when the main watershed between the Sea of ​​Okhotsk and the Arctic Ocean was formed.

At the beginning of its journey, Kolyma makes its way through narrow gorges with numerous rapids. Gradually, its valley expands, and below the confluence with the Zyryanka River, it flows through the wide swampy Kolyma Lowland, and then flows into the East Siberian Sea.

Ural

The Ural is a large river flowing in Russia and Kazakhstan, 2428 km long (1550 km in the Russian Federation), and a basin area of ​​about 231 thousand km². The river originates in the Ural Mountains on the slopes of Kruglaya Sopka and flows in a southerly direction. In the city of Orsk, it turns sharply west through the southern outskirts of the Urals, past Orenburg, and turns south again, heading towards the Caspian Sea. Its flow has a large spring maximum, and freeze-up lasts from late November to April. Navigation on the river is carried out to the city of Oral in Kazakhstan. The dam and hydroelectric power station were built on the Iriklinskoye reservoir, south of the city of Magnitogorsk.

The Ural Delta wetlands are particularly important for migratory birds as a primary refuge along the Asian Flyway. The river is also important for many fish species of the Caspian Sea, which visit its deltas and migrate upstream to spawn. In the lower reaches of the river there are 47 species from 13 families. The carp family accounts for 40% of the species diversity of fish, sturgeon and herring - 11%, perch - 9% and salmon - 4.4%. The main commercial species are sturgeon, roach, bream, pike perch, carp, asp and catfish. TO rare species include Caspian salmon, sterlet, nelma and kutum. The Ural delta and surrounding areas are home to about 48 species of animals, of which 21 species belong to the order of rodents.

Don

The Don is one of the largest rivers in the Russian Federation and the 5th longest river in Europe. Its basin is located between the Dnieper-Donets depression in the west, the Volga basin in the east, and the Oka River basin (a tributary of the Volga) in the north.

The Don originates in the city of Novomoskovsk 60 km southeast of Tula (120 km south of Moscow), and flows for a distance of about 1870 km to Sea of ​​Azov. From its source, the river heads southeast to Voronezh, and then southwest to its mouth. The main tributary of the Don is the Seversky Donets.

Table of the largest rivers of the Russian Federation

River name	Length in Russia, km	Total length, km	Basin, km²	Water consumption, m³/s	Place of confluence (Mouth)
R. Lena	4400	4400	2.49 million	16350	Laptev sea
R. Ob	3650	3650	2.99 million	12492	Kara Sea
R. Volga	3530	3530	1.36 million	8060	Caspian Sea
R. Yenisei	3487	3487	2.58 million	19800	Kara Sea
R. Lower Tunguska	2989	2989	473 thousand	3680	R. Yenisei
R. Amur	2824	2824	1.86 million	12800	Sea of ​​Okhotsk
R. Vilyui	2650	2650	454 thousand	1468	R. Lena
R. Kolyma	2129	2129	643 thousand	3800	East-Siberian Sea
R. Ural	1550	2428	231 thousand	400	Caspian Sea
R. Don	1870	1870	422 thousand	900	Sea of ​​Azov

There is a lot of water in Russia - across its vast territory, which occupies one seventh of the land, flow more than two and a half million rivers. Most of them are known and loved only by those who live (or vacation) on their shores. However, rivers of a completely different order are more interesting and important - giant water arteries that can be seen from space. For centuries, these giants served our ancestors as sources of water, food, as transport routes and continue to serve people to this day.

Determining which is the longest river in Russia is not so easy. Historically, the lands east of the Urals were settled unevenly in different periods of time. And therefore, along its course, the river could change its name several times. Sometimes it happened that the supposed tributary of the “main” river turned out to be longer and fuller than the river itself. Therefore, in order to avoid confusion, for the ranking of the longest rivers in Russia, we chose only those that flow under the same name from source to mouth.

10. Ural – length 2428 km

The ranking of the longest rivers in Russia without tributaries opens with the majestic Siberian Ural. Although it occupies a modest tenth place, if you look only at Europe, in length it is second only to the Volga and Danube. Once upon a time, the Cossacks, who began to explore the vastness of the Trans-Urals, called it Yaik. And still under the old name it appears in numerous Cossack songs.

The Ural is a capricious river; over the centuries, it has repeatedly changed its course, leaving in its basin an abundance of scattered oxbow lakes, lakes and a dense network of channels. The Urals, like the Volga, flow into the Caspian Sea.

9. Ishim – 2450 km

For neighbors, Ishim is of greater importance. In Russia, on the banks of this river there is only one city, Ishim. While in neighboring Kazakhstan there are several of them, including even the capital of this country. True, you have to pay for popularity - according to the latest data from environmentalists, it is better not to swim in Ishim. The waters of the river carry, in addition to the usual household waste, also industrial waste - petroleum products, compounds of iron, oil and manganese. And all this wealth is also seasoned with pesticides washed into the river every year during a spill. The Ishim flows into the Irtysh.

8. Vilyui – 2650 km

The Vilyui is the longest tributary of the Lena, which itself is not a small river. It flows through the territory of Yakutia and Krasnoyarsk Territory. There are two hydroelectric power stations on the river, launched back in Soviet time. They provide light, heat and energy to nearby mining sites.

Near one of the tributaries of the Vilyui there is a place of pilgrimage for ufologists, lovingly nicknamed by old-timers the “Valley of Death”. According to rumors, there are huge mysterious objects there, similar to cauldrons, measuring from six to nine meters in diameter, and made of an unknown metal.

7. Amur – 2824 km

“The clouds are gloomy over the Amur,” says an old Soviet song. It is on this river, separating the lands of the then USSR, and present-day Russia, from China that three tank crews, the heroes of the song, serve.

The very name of the river speaks about its size - “Amur” comes from the word “damur”, which means in the language local residents, Manchu, literally "big river". It begins in the steppes of Mongolia and flows into the Sea of ​​Okhotsk. The Amur is exceptionally rich in fish - it is home to up to 139 different species of fish. But only one quarter of this abundance is of commercial value.

6. Lower Tunguska – 2989 km

The Lower Tunguska is almost as long as the river into which it flows - the Yenisei. Although in summer months the river is full (water flow reaches 31 thousand m3/s), but in winter it barely gains a quarter of this amount. The reason is permafrost; frozen underground springs barely support the life of the river. But when the snow melts, Tunguska crushes rocks and uproots trees.

5. Yenisei – 3487 km

From the tributary of the Yenisei we move to the Yenisei itself. The river separates Eastern Siberia from Western. The beginning of the Yenisei, the confluence of two tributaries, is located near the city of Kyzyl, the capital of Tuva. And it flows several thousand kilometers to the north, into the Kara Sea, forming an entire bay named after it.

Throughout the Yenisei there are many cities, several hydroelectric power stations and a number of reservoirs. Also on the banks of the Yenisei there are several of the most beautiful nature reserves in Russia - such as the Krasnoyarsk “Pillars” and the Sayano-Shushensky nature reserve.

4. Volga – 3531 km

The longest river in Europe is without a doubt worthy of the title “mother”. Since ancient times, Slavs and peoples who would later become part of Russia settled on its banks. The Volga was first mentioned in his Notes by the ancient geographer Herodotus. In the Middle Ages and Modern times she served trade route, connecting the north of the country with the south, and during the years of industrialization after the establishment of Soviet power, hydroelectric power stations on the Volga provided the industrial enterprises of the young state with electricity.

The Volga begins with a modest, unremarkable spring, flowing on the Valdai Hills, and ends with a delta more than 170 km wide.

3. Ob – 3650 km

The third longest river in Russia is the Ob. It would be the first, if we count it together with the longest tributary, the Irtysh. Then its length would be an impressive 5410 km. The Ob basin is the largest in Russia - its total area is 2990 thousand km2.

Despite its size and full flow (during high water the Ob can overflow up to 30 km wide), the Ob spends most of the time of the year under ice. Along the entire length of the river there are many cities, including such large ones as Novosibirsk. The Ob flows into the gulf named after itself in the Kara Sea.

2. Irtysh – 4248 km

If the development of Siberia had gone a different way, the Irtysh would have been in first place in the ranking. But it happened as it happened, and the much longer Irtysh is considered only a tributary of the Ob, and together they occupy 6th place in the list of the longest rivers in the world.

The Irtysh originates in China, where the Chinese take almost a third of the flow for their own needs, then flows through the territory of Kazakhstan, where the river is already so large that ships can navigate it.

The Irtysh feeds both industrial and agricultural enterprises of Kazakhstan and provides water to the country's capital, Astana. On the territory of Russia, the river also does not have to rest - there are many cities and several power plants on it.

1. The longest river in Russia is Lena (4400 km)

In the Yakut language, the name of Lena sounds like “ big river" The longest river in Russia stretches 4,400 km from the Baikal ridges to the Arctic Ocean and flows into the Laptev Sea. It flows in harsh conditions - the surrounding lands are bound by permafrost. Therefore, there are few cities on the Lena, and the largest of them is Yakutsk.

For many hundreds of kilometers the river flows through virtually deserted areas. Like other rivers in permafrost conditions, the Lena is “fed” almost entirely by melted snow and rain, so in winter its water level is low. Lena spends most of the year under a thick layer of ice, freeing herself from it only for a short 4-5 days. warm months. Although the navigation period is short, cargo is rafted along the Lena, cruises take place, people go boating, go on river trips and visit attractions. One of the most famous is the Shishkin Rocks, where the work of ancient people has survived to this day.

List of largest rivers in Russia

The table shows 75 rivers with a length of at least 1000 km.

№	Name	Length, km	In Russia, km	Flows into
1	Yenisei – Angara – Baikal – Selenga – Ider	5550	4460
2	Ob – Irtysh	5410	3050	Ob Bay, Kara Sea
3	Amur – Argun – Kerulen	5052	4133
4	Lena – Vitim – Vitimkan	4692	4692	Laptev sea
5	Ob – Chulym – Bely Iyus	4565	4565	Ob Bay, Kara Sea
6	Amur – Argun – Hailar	4444	4133	Amur Estuary, Sea of ​​Okhotsk
7	Lena	4400	4400	Laptev sea
8	Ob – Katun	4338	4338	Ob Bay, Kara Sea
9	Yenisei – Small Yenisei (Kaa-Khem)	4287	3930	Yenisei Bay, Kara Sea
10	Cupid – Shilka – Onon	4279	3981	Amur Estuary, Sea of ​​Okhotsk
11		4248	1900
12	Yenisei – Big Yenisei (Biy-Khem)	4123	4123	Yenisei Bay, Kara Sea
13	Volga – Oka	3731	3731	Caspian Sea
14	Ob itself	3650	3650	Ob Bay, Kara Sea
15	Volga – Kama	3560	3560	Caspian Sea
16	Volga	3531	3531	Caspian Sea
17	Yenisei itself	3487	3487	Yenisei Bay, Kara Sea
18		2989	2989
19	Cupid actually	2824	2824	Amur Estuary, Sea of ​​Okhotsk
20		2650	2650	R. Lena
21	Kolyma – Kullu	2513	2513	East-Siberian Sea
22		2450	800
23	Ural	2422	1550	Caspian Sea
24	Olenyok	2292	2292	Olenyok Bay, Laptev Sea
25	Aldan	2273	2273	R. Lena
26	Dnieper	2201	485	Black Sea
27	Kolyma	2129	2129	East-Siberian Sea
28	Vitim – Vitimkan	1978	1978	R. Lena
29	Indigirka – Khastakh	1977	1977	East-Siberian Sea
30	Don - Voronezh - Polnoy Voronezh	1923	1923
31	Don	1870	1870	Taganrog Bay, Sea of ​​Azov
32	Podkamennaya Tunguska	1865	1865
33	Vitim	1837	1837	R. Lena
34	Pechora	1809	1809	Pechora Bay, Pechora Sea, Barents Sea
35	Kama	1805	1805	Volga river
36	Northern Dvina – Vychegda	1803	1803	Dvina Bay, White Sea
37	Chulym	1799	1799
38	Angara	1779	1779
39	Indigirka	1726	1726	East-Siberian Sea
40	Northern Dvina – Sukhona – Kubenskoye Lake – Kubena	1683	1683	Dvina Bay, White Sea
41	Khatanga – Kotui	1636	1636	Khatanga Bay, Laptev Sea
42	Ket	1621	1621
43	Argun – Hailar	1620	1487
44	Tobol	1591	1090
45	Alazeya	1590	1590	East-Siberian Sea
46	Oka	1500	1500	R. Volga
47	Yana – Sartang	1492	1492	Laptev sea
48	Amga	1462	1462	R. Lena
49	Olekma	1436	1436	R. Lena
50	Selenga – Ider	1433	409	Lake Baikal
51	White	1430	1430	Nizhnekamsk reservoir, Kama
52	Pelvis	1401	1401	Tazovskaya Bay, Kara Sea
53	Tavda – Lozva	1356	1356	R. Tobol
54	Northern Dvina – South	1318	1318	Dvina Bay, White Sea
55	Vyatka	1314	1314	R. Kama
56	Zeya	1242	1242
57	Taseeva – Uda (Chuna)	1240	1240	R. Angara
58	Uda (Chuna)	1203	1203	R. Taseeva
59	Markha	1181	1181
60	Demyanka	1160	1160
61	Omolon	1150	1150	R. Kolyma
62	Anadyr	1150	1150	Anadyr Bay, Bering Sea
63	Vychegda	1130	1130	R. Northern Dvina
64	Gum	1130	555	R. Dnieper
65	Conda	1097	1097
66	Om	1091	1091
67	Vasyugan	1082	1082
68	May	1053	1053	R. Aldan
69	Seversky Donets	1053	335	R. Don
70	Onon	1032	734	R. Shilka
71	Tura	1030	1030	R. Tobol
72	Pur – Pyakupur	1024	1024	Tazovskaya Bay, Kara Sea
73	Western Dvina (Daugava)	1020	325	Gulf of Riga, Baltic Sea
74	Biryusa (She)	1012	1012	R. Taseeva
75	Khoper	1010	1010	R. Don

There are about 2.5 million rivers in Russia. Most of these rivers are relatively small and their length is usually no more than 100 kilometers. But as for large rivers, they are truly huge and reach shocking sizes.

1

the largest river in Russia

The Ob is a river in Siberia, formed by the confluence of the Katun and Biya rivers. If we count from the source of the Irtysh, then it has a length of 5410 kilometers, which makes it the largest river in Russia in terms of length. In the North, the river flows into the Ob Bay, a bay in the Kara Sea. The area of ​​the Ob basin is 2,990,000 square kilometers (which is why the river takes first place in our ranking). The waters of this river are home to more than 50 species of fish, half of which are of industrial importance.

2

The Yenisei is a river in Siberia that flows into the Kara Sea. The length of the river from the sources of the Small Yenisei is 4287 kilometers. The Yenisei flows through two countries (Russia and Mongolia), its area is 2,580,000 square kilometers, which allows it to take second place among the rivers of Russia.

3

The Lena River originates in the mountains of Siberia and flows into the Laptev Sea. Lena, one of the largest Russian rivers, having a length of 4,480 kilometers. Its area is 2,490,000 square kilometers, which rightfully makes it the third largest river in Russia. It is believed that the Russians first learned about this river in the 17th century, when they sent a detachment of Cossacks to search for it.

4

The Amur is a river flowing through the territory of three states (Russia, Mongolia and China). The area of ​​the basin is 1,855,000 square kilometers, and the length of the river is 2,824 kilometers. There are many points of view about the origin of the name Amur, one of which is the common basis of the Tungus-Manchu languages ​​“Amar” and “Damur” (big river).

5

This river originates from the Valdai Plateau in the Tver region. The Volga is one of the largest rivers on Earth, its length is 3530 kilometers, and it is located on the territory of two states (Russia and Kazakhstan). The basin area is about 1,361,000 square kilometers, making it largest river Europe.

6

This is a river in Yakutia, the length of which is 2,129 kilometers. The Kolyma is formed by the confluence of two rivers (Ayan-Yuryakh and Kulu) and flows into the Kolyma Bay. The basin area is approximately 645,000 square kilometers. The discovery of Kolyma by the Russians was also accomplished by the valiant Cossacks.

7

The Don is a river in Russia, originating in the Central Russian Upland (Tula region). Its area is 422,000 square kilometers and its length is about 1,870 km. Don is one of ancient rivers Russia.

8

A river located in the Krasnoyarsk Territory. Its length is 1636 kilometers. Khatanga is formed at the confluence of two rivers (Kheta and Kotuy) and flows into the Khatanga Bay. The basin area is about 364,000 square kilometers.

9

It originates on the slopes of the Halkan ridge, and its source consists of two rivers - Kuidusun and Omyokon. The area of ​​Indigirka is 360,000 square kilometers.

10

It originates in the Vologda region, at the confluence of two rivers (Sukhona and Yug). The basin area is 357,000 square kilometers. It was on this river that the history of Russian shipbuilding began.

That's basically it! Now you know what they are, the largest rivers in Russia.