The rivers of the Altai Territory mainly belong to the Ob system. In the west and northwest of the region, there is an area of ​​internal flow - the closed drainage basin of the Kulunda lowland.

The Altai Territory is crossed in its upper course by the Ob River. At a distance of 500 km, its wide ribbon forms two giant bends. Ob and its tributaries Chumysh, Alei, Bolshaya Rechka, Barnaulka and others have a calm current, wide developed valleys, in which there are highly winding river beds, with well-defined sandy stretches.

The river network in the Altai mountains, with the exception of the southeast, is well developed. The rivers start from glaciers and numerous lakes. On some flat watersheds there are swamps that give rise to rivers ( Bashkaus- tributary of the Chulyshman). Mountain rivers flow in narrow valleys, sometimes in dark, gloomy gorges. Along the rocky channel, strewn with boulders and pebbles, the water rushes down with a big fall, meets hard crystalline ledges, rapids on the way, breaks about them, turning into white bubbling foam. The noise of the rapids is replaced by the roar of waterfalls, of which there are many in the Altai highlands.

An amazing picture of rumbling water, falling in ledges from a height of tens of meters. The highest and most beautiful waterfalls are located on the slopes of the Belukha massif. On the northern slope along Tekelu(the right tributary of the Akkem) there is a waterfall 60 m high; on the Tigirek (left tributary of the Kucherla) - a 40 m waterfall.On the southern slope of the Belukha, in the upper reaches of the Katun, on its right tributary, there is Alluvial waterfall 30 m high. There are dozens of waterfalls on the rivers flowing into Lake Teletskoye. Well known Korbu waterfall, its powerful stream falls down from a 12-meter height.

The rivers of the Altai Territory are fed mixed: rain, snow, glacier and soil.

The rivers of the Kulunda lowland are dominated by snow supply. They are characterized by spring floods. In summer, there is very little atmospheric precipitation, the rivers become very shallow, and dry up in many places. By the end of summer, almost no water remains in the upper reaches of the Kuchuk River; the channel is represented by chains of small elongated lakes.

Ob- a flat river, but its sources and main tributaries are in the mountains, therefore, in the feeding and regime of the Ob, there are signs of flat and mountain rivers. The Ob has two maximum water rise - in spring and summer. The spring rise of water comes from the melting of snow, the summer - from the melting of glaciers. The lowest water level in the Ob in winter.

Low water in winter is typical for most rivers of the region. Rivers freeze for a long time. Freezing up on the Ob and plain rivers begins in the second half of November; by the end of April, they are free of ice.

Mountain rivers are of the Altai type, which has a special regime and nutrition. First of all, they are abundant in water, since they have power sources that continuously replenish water reserves from atmospheric precipitation, from the melting of glaciers and the influx of groundwater.

Snow melts in the mountains for several months, from April to June. The second feature of snow melting is that first the snow melts in the north of Gorny Altai in the low mountains, and then in the middle mountains and finally in the southern high mountain regions. Snowfields and glaciers begin to melt in June. Sunny clear days alternate with rainy ones. There are years with long summer rains. Often, precipitation falls in the form of rainstorms, and the water level in the rivers rises rapidly and strongly. The rivers of the highlands are fed by snow and glaciers, and therefore they are characterized by a summer, namely, June rise in water. Autumn floods occur. Most of the annual water requirement drains in four to five months.

Rivers of medium and low mountains have two high water levels: in spring and summer - high water in late May and early June; in summer and autumn - floods from melting glaciers and autumn rains. In autumn and winter there is a low water period. Mountain rivers freeze later than plain ones. On the rapids, the water does not freeze; ice forms through the open rapids. Rivers often freeze to the bottom, ice plugs appear, which water cannot break through, it comes to the surface, and ice floods the valleys. In some mountain rivers, the process of ice formation occurs simultaneously on the surface and along the bottom of the channel. Surface and bottom ice, when combined, create a barrier to water. It finds a way out through the surface ice and ice forms again. The ice cover lasts up to 7 months.

Belukha is not only a glacial junction, but also the most important feeding center for large and small rivers spreading from Belukha in different directions. The Belukha glaciers are very active in this respect, for they end low, which means they melt strongly and at the same time receive a lot of precipitation. According to the available hydrometric data, the first place in terms of water content belongs to the Iedygem River, the second and third to Katun and Berel, then to Ak-kemu and Myushtu-Aires. The total runoff of glacial waters provided by Belukha is estimated at about 400 million cubic meters. m per year. All this mass of water is taken at an altitude of about 2000 m and, therefore, has an enormous potential power reserve.

The Ak-Kem River flows out of the Ak-Kemsky glacier and is a turbulent foamy stream. There are two lakes on the Ak-Kem river: Upper and Lower, which are of glacial origin. The largest of them is the Lower Ak-Kemskoe Lake, 1350 m long and 610 m wide, has a mirror area of ​​1 sq. km and a depth of 15 m. It lies at an altitude of 2050 m and is formed by one of the young moraines. The upper Ak-Kemsky lake, which is small in size, is located near the tongue of the Ak-Kemsky glacier and was formed by the youngest Late Holocene ...

The Alambay River is a right tributary of the Chumysh, flows into it at the town of Zarinsk. It starts 2.5 km southeast of the railway station Alambay (Zarinsky district of Altai Territory). Length 140 km, basin area 1960 sq. km. The main tributaries are: Ingara (right, 28 km long), Lesnoy Alambay (right, 68 km long), Khmelevka (right, 28 km long), Borovlyanka (left, 21 km long). The upper part of the basin is located on the dissected low mountains of the Salair Ridge, the lower part - on the gently sloping Predsalair ...

The Alei River is a left tributary of the river. Obi. It flows into it near the village of Ust-Aleika, Kalmansky District, Altai Territory. The source of the Vostochny Alei river is taken as the beginning of the river. The length of the Aley is 866 km, the area of ​​the drainage basin is 21,100 sq. km. The main tributaries are: Goltsovka, Kamenka, Zolotukha, Kizikha, Poperechnaya, Klepechikha, Yazevka, Gorevka, Chistyunka. In the middle reaches, the floodplain is crossed by large longitudinal channels: Sklyuha (length 62 km), Bashmachikha (15 km), Babylon (40 km). On the left bank there are cities ...

The Barnaulka River is a left tributary of the river. Ob and flows into it near the city of Barnaul. It flows out of Lake Zerkalnoye in the Shipunovsky District of the Altai Territory. Length 207 km, catchment area 5720 sq. km. Basically, all tributaries flow into it from the left: Voronikha, Rozhnya, Kolyvan, Panshiha, Shtabka, Vlasikha. The catchment area is completely located on the Priobskoye plateau. It stretches out in a narrow strip (20-27 km) from southwest to northeast for 240 km. The modern valley is located in the hollow of an ancient flow. IN...

Biya Biys (river), Biysk (city) - "Biys - lord". Biya is the second largest river (after Katun) in the Altai Republic. It receives the bulk of its water from Lake Teletskoye; the average annual water consumption at the outlet is 221 cubic meters. m per second. For the first 100 km, the average drop is about 1.6 m per kilometer. The speed of the current is 7-9 km per hour, depending on the water level in Lake Teletskoye. In the upper reaches, the Biya passes through the territory of the Altai Republic in a northerly direction among low ridges. For s. Lake-Kureyevo ...

Bolshaya Rechka, river, right tributary of the Ob. It originates 12 km from the village of Gornovoe, Troitsky District, Altai Territory. The length is 258 km, the area of ​​the drainage basin is 4000 sq. Km. There are 294 lakes in the catchment area with a total surface area of ​​28.9 sq. Km. The main tributaries: Yeltsovka (left, 23 km long), Belaya (left, 61 km long), Borovlyanka (left, 45 km long), Listvyanka (right, 25 km long), Kamyshenka (left, 76 km long). The upper and middle parts of the basin are located on the rugged Biysko-Chumysh upland with a dense ...

The Burla River is located in the closed area of ​​the Ob-Irtysh interfluve. The river originates 8 km north-east of the village of Dolganki, Krutikhinsky district. In high-water years, it flows into the drainless bitter-salty lake Bolshoy Adzhbulat on the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan, in middle and low-water years - into the Bolshoye Topolnoye lake of the Burlinsky district of the Altai Territory. The river is 489 km long, the basin area is 12,800 sq. km. The main tributaries: Pansikha (left, length 22 km), Kurya (Aksenikha, left, length ...

The Kasmala River is a left tributary of the Ob, originating on a swampy watershed south of the Podstepnoye Rebrikhinsky district of the Altai Territory. It flows into the Ob - Tikhaya channel in the Pavlovsky region of the Altai Territory. The length of the river is 119 km, the catchment area is 2550 sq. Km. It receives a number of tributaries: Kalmanka, Rebrikha, Barsuchikha, Torbachikha, Borovlyanka, Rogozikha, Funtovka, Chernopyatovka. The drainage basin is flat, on the Priobskoye plateau. Bolina is located in a hollow of an ancient runoff, in the Kasmalinsky belt pine forest. Floodplain ...

Among the numerous rivers of Altai, the Katun is the largest and longest. It originates from the glaciers of Mount Belukha and goes out in the north-west beyond Gorny Altai. Merging with the second largest river in Altai, Bia, the Katun gives rise to one of the largest Siberian rivers, the Ob. The length of the Katun is 688 km. Depending on the slope and the nature of the channel, the river either rumbles between stones and boulders, then calmly flows along the flattened sections of the bottom, overgrown on low islands with willow bushes and ...

The Kulunda River is located in the closed area of ​​the Ob-Irtysh interfluve. It flows out of a small swamp 2 km north of the village of Ust-Mosikha in the Rebrikhinsky district of the Altai Territory. It flows into Lake Kulundinskoye in two branches. The river is 412 km long, the basin area is 12,400 sq. km. The largest tributaries: Ermachikha (left, 37 km long), Solonovka (right, 37 km long), Cheremshanka (right, 56 km long), Proslauha (right, 78 km long), Chuman (right, 88 km long). The catchment area is flat ...

The Kucherla river flowing into the Katun is formed as a result of the confluence of three equal river streams of sources: Kony-Aira, Ioldo-Aira and Myushtu-Aira. The general valley of Kucherla turns out to be deeper than the valleys of each of the three equal sources. There are large beautiful waterfalls on these rivers. When it flows into Lake Kucherla, the Kucherla River already looks like a stormy river, which is not so easy to cross. There are 43 lakes in the Kucherla valley, most of which are concentrated in the upper reaches of the valleys ...

The Kuchuk River originates 10 km south of the village. Voznesenka, Rodinsky District, Altai Territory, flows into Lake Kuchukskoye. Length 121 km, catchment area 1020 sq. km. In the upper reaches, small temporary streams flow into it. The catchment area is located on the Priobskoye plateau and the Kulunda lowland. The valley is expressed throughout, the floodplain is present only in some areas. The channel is blocked by earthen dams, in the areas between the ponds it is dry, the water is only in pits or reaches. The constant flow of the river ...

The Ob River, one of the largest rivers in the world. Formed from the confluence of Biya (length 301 km) and Katun (length 688 km) in the Altai Territory, 22 km below the city of Biysk, near the village of Sorokino (right bank) and the village of Verkhne-Obskiy (left bank). The Ob flows into the Gulf of Ob of the Kara Sea at Cape Yam-Sale. The length of the river is 3,650 km, the area of ​​the basin is 2,990,000 sq. km, within the Altai region (Altai Territory), its length is 493 km, the basin area is 209,500 sq. km. The main tributaries of the Upper Ob (from ...

The Sungai River is a right tributary of the Chumysh and flows into it above the village of Zarechny, Kytmanovsky District, Altai Territory. In the lower reaches it is called Kolbikha. It starts 2 km southwest of the Tyagun railway station. Length 103 km, catchment area 1480 sq. Km. The main tributaries are: Mishikha (right, 28 km long), Potaskui (left, 33 km long), Mostovaya (right, 45 km long). The upper part of the basin is located on the Salair Ridge, occupied by taiga. The lower part is located on a ridged bed, mostly plowed up.

The Uksunai River is a right tributary of the Chumysh, flows into it at the village. Buranovo Togulsky district of Altai Territory. It originates on the southwestern slope of the Salair Ridge. The length is 165 km, the area of ​​the drainage basin is 2600 sq. Km. The main tributaries are: Kamenushka (left, 43 km long), Togul (right, 110 km long). The catchment is formed on the slopes of the Salair and the Predsalair plain. In the upper part it is forested (fir, aspen, birch), in the lower part it is almost treeless, heavily plowed. The valley is well expressed along the entire course ...

The Chemrovka River is the right tributary of the river. Ob and flows into it below the village of Fominskoye of the Zonal District of the Altai Territory. Formed from the confluence of two rivers - left and right Marushka - at the village. Marushka of the Tselinny District of the Altai Territory. The river is 123 km long, the basin area is 2830 sq. Km. The main tributaries are: Sukhaya Chemrovka (left, 60 km long), Shubenka (right, 68 km long), Utkul (right, 55 km long). The catchment area of ​​the upper part of the basin is located in the south of the Biysko-Chumysh Upland with gentle hills and dense ...

The Chumysh River is a right tributary of the Ob River and flows into the latter 88 km below the city of Barnaul. Chumysh is formed from the confluence of the Kara-Chumysh and Tom-Chumysh rivers in the Kemerovo region. The river is 644 km long, the catchment area is 23,900 sq. Km. The main tributaries: Kara-Chumysh (left, 173 km long), Tom-Chumysh (right, 110 km long), Sary-Chumysh (left, 98 km long), Angurep (left, 48 km long), Yama (left, 110 km long), 67 km), Uksunai (right, 165 km long), Taraba (left, 70 km long), Sungai (right, length ...

Chuya (river), Chuiskie squirrels, Chuiskaya steppe, Chuisky tract - "Water, river". Chuya is of interest to water tourists from the mouth of the Mazhoy River, where the Mazhoi cascade of rapids of the 5-6 category of difficulty begins, one of the most interesting and technically difficult for rafting. Mazhoi cascade is the most popular among tourists due to the convenience of access roads. Downstream there are also several interesting rapids, on one of them - "Begemota" - an annual water tourism competition is held ...

Hello dear friends! I suggest you postpone your affairs for a while, take a break from your worries for a while and read Oksana Belousova's interesting story about rivers and lakes of Altai ... Looking at Oksanina's photographs, you can mentally move to Altai and admire this magical land, and she perfectly conveys all her emotions.

In Altai there are many rivers (more than 20 thousand), streams and lakes, there are natural and artificial reservoirs. I will share with you the photos of the reservoirs that I myself saw. And how much I have yet to see!

Altai rivers

Altai rivers - collage

Rivers in the Altai Territory

In the Altai Territory, there are unusual and even some funny names of the rivers:

  • Aychenok,
  • Badger, Wolf, Vydrikha, Hare, Hare, Goose, Crane,
  • Besstanka,
  • Big Garlic,
  • Big Sibiryachenok,
  • Loud speaker,
  • Dirt, Zamaraika,
  • Dugout,
  • Zelenka.

The names are easy to remember and then you can show off your knowledge at the lessons of geography or in the game "Cities, rivers". It was my favorite game in school.

Rivers in Gorny Altai

There are also many beautiful, unusual river names in Gorny Altai:

  • Akkem (White Water),
  • Aktru (Parking), Taldura (Willow camp), Argut (the place where the snow leopard lives),
  • Swan,
  • Chulcha (Stream),
  • Biya, Multa (there are 42 lakes in the Multa basin!), Katun, Kumir, Kucherla, Oroktay, Sandy, Pyzha, Tekelu, Charysh, Chulyshman, Chuya, Shinok.

In our city of Biysk there are three rivers - Biya, Ob, Katun. And close to the city - Chemrovka and Chugunayka.

Biya river in Gorny Altai

A pontoon bridge has been installed on the Biya River. The bridge is very helpful. After all, getting to the right place is faster.

Artificial reservoirs - sand pits, a reservoir, culverts. This is also all there in Biysk.

Biya river in Gorny Altai - collage

And here is a photograph rich in minerals. This spring is located in Kyzyl-Ozek.

Lakes of Altai Territory

The most interesting names of the lake in the Altai Territory:

  • White,
  • Bitter,
  • Mirror,
  • Crimson (the color of the lake is crimson due to crimson crustaceans),
  • Manzherok
  • Moss,
  • Dead,
  • Teletskoe
  • Khomutinoe,
  • Chernokurinskoe.

In the Altai Territory, in most of the lakes, the water is salty, many lakes are famous for their healing water.

I was only at Lake Aya and Manzherok.

Lake Manzherok in Altai

Many people have heard of Manzherok, thanks to Edita Piekha's song "Manzherok". She sings about our lake - fabulous, in water lilies. Trees and flowers grow along the shores of the lake. There are always a lot of people on the beach. Local attraction is the white camel. Rolls the kids.

In the village of Manzherok there is a cable car to the Malaya Sinyukha mountain - in the form of a lift with chairs. Once I went up there. The spectacle is magnificent!

Lake Manzherok in Altai - collage

Lake Aya in Altai

I visit Lake Aya every year. There is such a wonderful forest! Birches are tilted towards the water. Rocky shores in some places. You can climb on them and look at the lake from high above.

Lake Aya in Altai - collage 1

Cozy gazebos on the shore of the lake, boats, catamarans, slides in the water park.

And also a bungee! Once we were at the lake with our daughter. She said she would go to the forest. I left and after a while I hear her voice - on the whole lake. And she is already flying on a bungee over the lake, and screams both from the joy of the flight and from fear. Hapnula adrenaline at age 18. I remember how her eyes burned after landing. The extreme was so delighted.

You swim, you sunbathe, the air is clean, fragrant, the gentle sun warms you and you don't want to leave. I would have stayed there so as not to return to the hustle and bustle of the city, where all the air smelled of gasoline.

The artist G.I. Choros-Gurkin was amazingly able to convey the beauty of Altai:

“… Altai is not just mountains, forests, rivers, waterfalls, but a living spirit, a generous, rich giant - a giant. He is fabulously beautiful with his multicolored clothes of forests, flowers, herbs. Mists - his transparent thoughts - run in all directions of the world. Lakes are his eyes looking into the Universe. Waterfalls and rivers - his speech and songs about life, about the beauty of the earth, mountains ... "

the beauty rivers and lakes of Altai - unsurpassed! And it is wonderful that we, who live in these beautiful, fabulous places, can enjoy, admire, admire all this natural wealth at any time! I can sing the beauty of Altai for a long time. But it's time to say goodbye. And you go back to your business. I hope your soul has warmed up and your mood has improved? All the best! And let the sunny summer be remembered! With warmth, Oksana Belousova .

Altai is characterized by a large number of rivers. Their total number is about 20 thousand. If you combine all the rivers of Altai into one, then its length will be enough to circle the globe along the equator one and a half times. Since the Altai Territory is characterized by a variety of landscape (there are mountains, valleys and lowlands), then the rivers differ in the nature of the flow. These are turbulent mountain streams and calm, slow streams.

The distribution of rivers and lakes in these places is determined by the nature of the area and the climate. So, for these reasons, the water system of the region is divided into two parts:
The rivers of the mountain range mainly belong to the Upper Ob basin. This is the Altai mountain range, its foothills, the entire Right Bank. Here river Ob collects the bulk of its waters. Its tributaries, both to the left and to the right, are about 2000 rivers, the length of each is up to 10 km, their density is 1.5-2 km;
Plain streams belong to the drainless Kulunda depression. These are calm rivers, in the channels of which many freshwater lakes are formed. The Kulunda depression is also distinguished by the presence of salt and bitter-salt lakes.
Altai rivers feeding
The Ob River is considered the main aquifer of this region. It is formed after the merger Biya and Katun ... It flows first through the mountainous terrain, where it feeds on numerous tributaries. In the valley, the nature of its flow changes and it resembles a deep, calm stream. Here its main tributaries are Chumysh, Alei, Bolshaya Rechka, Barnaulka, which are characterized by wide valleys and sandy reaches.
The rivers of the mountainous part are glacial, snowy and partly rainy. Ground nutrition is poorly expressed. It is characteristic only of plain rivers.
Since the Altai Territory differs in tectonic structure, the nature of the flow of rivers here is also diverse. Mountain arteries are stormy, impetuous streams of water, with a rapids channel and steep banks. The presence of tectonic ledges determines a large number of waterfalls (waterfalls on the slopes of the Belukha massif, on the northern slope along the Tekel, on Tigirek). The most picturesque waterfall is the Rossypnaya waterfall, 30 m high, which is located on the southern slope of Belukha, in the upper reaches of the Katun.
The flat rivers are characterized by wide valleys, calm flow, a large number of floodplains and terraces above the floodplain.
Altai rivers regime
The flow regime of the Altai rivers largely depends on climatic conditions. Since their main food is melt water, spring floods are typical for the Altai rivers. It lasts 10-12 days on the territory of the mountain range, on the plain - much longer. After him, the rivers become sharply shallow.
Freezing of rivers in the valley begins in October-November and lasts about 170 days. Ice drift begins in mid-April. Many rivers, especially shallow ones, freeze to the bottom. But on some (the rivers Biya, Katun, Charysh, Sandy), the water flow continues and in some places the water comes to the surface, forming icing. Rivers with fast flow - Katun, Biya, Bashkaus, Chuya, partially freeze. On sharp turns and descents, cascading ice forms here, and hanging ice on the waterfalls, which are of extraordinary beauty.

Rivers of Altai Territory

Ob
The main river of the Altai Territory is Ob formed from the confluence of two rivers - Biya and Katun... At a distance of 500 kilometers, the wide Ob strip crosses the Altai Territory, forming two giant bends. In terms of its length (3680 km), it is second in Russia only to the Lena (4264 km) and Amur (4354 km), and in terms of the basin area, the Ob is the largest river in our country, second only to five rivers on the planet: Amazon, Congo, Mississippi, Nile and La Plata.

Ob and its tributaries Chumysh, Anuy, Alei, Bolshaya river, Barnaulka and others have a calm current, wide developed valleys, in which very winding channels with sandy stretches adjoin.

Barnaulka river - tributary of the Ob river

The Ob 'bottom is sandy over a large extent. Sometimes you come across rocky shoals and shoals, especially a lot of them in the section of the river between Biysk and Barnaul. During floods, the water level in the Ob is high, the water floods the right low bank for several kilometers.

The name of the great river "Ob" owes its origin not at all to the peoples who have lived on its banks from time immemorial. The Nenets living in the lower reaches of the river called it "Salya-Yam", which means "cape river". The Khanty and Mansi gave it the name "As" - "big river", the Selkups called the river "Kwai", "Eme", "Kuai". All these names had the meaning of "large river". The Russians first saw the river in its lower reaches, when, together with the Zyryan guides, hunters and merchants went beyond Kamen (as the Ural Mountains were then called). Long before the conquest of Ermak of Siberia, the region around the Ob was called Obdorsk.

There is a version that the name of the great Siberian river came from the Komi language, which meant "snow", "snowdrift", "place near the snow."

There is also an assumption that the name is associated with the Iranian word "about" - "water". And such a name for the full-flowing river could well have been given by the peoples of the Iranian-speaking group, who lived in the south of Western Siberia from the Early Bronze Age to the Middle Ages.


Biya


Biya is the second largest river in Altai. It originates in Lake Teletskoye. Its length is 280 kilometers. In the upper part of the river there are rapids, waterfalls, rifts. By merging with Katunya, Biya gives the beginnings to Obi.

The name Biya is associated with the Altai word "biy", "bag", "biy" - "lord".

Katun


The Katun flows out of the Gebler glacier at an altitude of about 2000 meters on the southern slope of the highest mountain in Altai - Belukha. In the upper and middle reaches, the river has a mountainous character, especially in summer, when snow and glaciers are melting intensively. In the lower reaches, it acquires a flat character, spreading below the village. Maima flows into channels and channels, and flows along the sloping plain to the north until the confluence with Biya.

The water in Katun is cold, its temperature in summer rarely rises above 15 C. The river is fed mainly by melting snow and ice of glaciers. The length of the river is 665 kilometers, in its basin there are about 7000 waterfalls and rapids.

Alei


Alei is the largest tributary of the Ob in the flat part of the region. In length (755 km) it surpasses the Katun and Biya, but is inferior to them in terms of abundance. Alei originates in the low mountains of northwestern Altai. This is a river with a mixed type of food (snow and rain), the spring flood reaches its maximum in April. Aley is characterized by large loop-shaped bends; in the lower reaches of the river, the river has a wide clay soil.

Chumysh


Chumysh is a right tributary of the Ob. The river originates in Salair, from the confluence of two rivers: Tom-Chumysh and Kara-Chumysh. Although the river is twice as long as Biya (644 km), Chumysh is a relatively shallow river. In many places its valley is swampy and covered with mixed forest. The share of snow supply is more than half of the annual runoff, and the maximum flood on Chumysh is in April.

Altai lakes


Altai lakes are picturesque. There are thousands of them in the region, and they are located throughout the territory.

Most of the lakes are located in the Kulunda lowland and on the Priobskoye plateau. It is not without reason that Altai is called the land of blue lakes. Small in size mountain and steppe lakes give the natural landscapes a peculiar charm and uniqueness.

The largest lake in the Altai Territory is a bitter-salt lake Kulundinskoe(area 600 sq. km, length - 35 and width 25 km). It is shallow (maximum depth - 4 m), fed by the waters of the Kulunda River and groundwater. South of Kulundinskoye is the second largest lake - Kuchukskoe(area 180 sq. km). It is completely similar in regimen and nutrition to the Kulundinsky and was previously connected with it by a channel.

Kulunda all lakes are remnants of an ancient sea that existed many millions of years ago on the site of the present plains. Many of these lakes have long been famous for their mineral waters with healing properties, as well as medicinal clays and muds. Bitter-Peresheechnoe, Raspberry- are places of pilgrimage for the inhabitants of the region and numerous guests. On salty Bolshoy Yarovoye the lake has existed for many years a health-improving complex. Salt water, an abundance of the steppe sun, a picturesque pine forest along the shores of such lakes create unique conditions for recreation.

There are a lot of fish in fresh flowing lakes, and waterfowl in the thickets of reeds along the banks.

The lakes of the mountainous part of the Altai Territory are very picturesque. They are located in the hollows of an ancient runoff, in the place of old channels of mountain rivers that disappeared long ago, which arose during the melting of an ancient glacier.

Small and shallow freshwater lakes are located between the Biya and Chumysh rivers. There are lakes on the floodplains of flat rivers, and in ancient and modern river valleys, there are small elongated lakes - oxbows.

The Altai Territory is also rich in mineral springs. Radon springs, which have been used by the local population for medicinal purposes since time immemorial, make it especially famous. Both in our country and abroad, the famous radon waters of Belokurikha are famous, where numerous resorts and health resorts have been built. The presence of radon waters in the valleys of the Kalmanka and Berezovaya rivers was noted.

Frequent in Altai and waterfalls, like a waterfall on the river Shinok, not far from Denisova cave, about 70 meters high, until recently was known only to local residents. Now many people dream of visiting this place. Currently, there are eight waterfalls and one water slope on the Shinok River. In 2000, the nature reserve "Cascade of waterfalls on the Shinok River" acquired the status of a natural monument.

Altai is characterized by a large number of rivers. Their total number is about 20 thousand. If you combine all the rivers of Altai into one, then its length will be enough to circle the globe along the equator one and a half times. Since the Altai Territory is characterized by a variety of landscape (there are mountains, valleys and lowlands), then the rivers differ in the nature of the flow. These are turbulent mountain streams and calm, slow streams.

The distribution of rivers and lakes in these places is determined by the nature of the area and the climate. So, for these reasons, the water system of the region is divided into two parts:
The rivers of the mountain range mainly belong to the Upper Ob basin. This is the Altai mountain range, its foothills, the entire Right Bank. Here the Ob River collects the bulk of its waters. Its tributaries, both to the left and to the right, are about 2000 rivers, the length of each is up to 10 km, their density is 1.5-2 km;
Plain streams belong to the drainless Kulunda depression. These are calm rivers, in the channels of which many freshwater lakes are formed. The Kulunda depression is also distinguished by the presence of salt and bitter-salt lakes.

Altai rivers feeding
The Ob River is considered the main aquifer of this region. It is formed after the confluence of Biya and Katun. It flows first through the mountainous terrain, where it feeds on numerous tributaries. In the valley, the nature of its flow changes and it resembles a deep, calm stream. Here its main tributaries are Chumysh, Alei, Bolshaya Rechka, Barnaulka, which are characterized by wide valleys and sandy reaches.
The rivers of the mountainous part are glacial, snowy and partly rainy. Ground nutrition is poorly expressed. It is characteristic only of plain rivers.

Since the Altai Territory differs in tectonic structure, the nature of the flow of rivers here is also diverse. Mountain arteries are stormy, impetuous streams of water, with a rapids channel and steep banks. The presence of tectonic ledges determines a large number of waterfalls (waterfalls on the slopes of the Belukha massif, on the northern slope along the Tekel, on Tigirek). The most picturesque waterfall is the Rossypnaya waterfall, 30 m high, which is located on the southern slope of Belukha, in the upper reaches of the Katun.
The flat rivers are characterized by wide valleys, calm flow, a large number of floodplains and terraces above the floodplain.

Altai rivers regime
The flow regime of the Altai rivers largely depends on climatic conditions. Since their main food is melt water, spring floods are typical for the Altai rivers. It lasts 10-12 days on the territory of the mountain range, on the plain - much longer. After him, the rivers become sharply shallow.

Freezing of rivers in the valley begins in October-November and lasts about 170 days. Ice drift begins in mid-April. Many rivers, especially shallow ones, freeze to the bottom. But on some (the rivers Biya, Katun, Charysh, Sandy), the water flow continues and in some places the water comes to the surface, forming icing. Rivers with fast flow - Katun, Biya, Bashkaus, Chuya, partially freeze. On sharp turns and descents, cascading ice forms here, and hanging ice on the waterfalls, which are of extraordinary beauty.

The Ob is the main water-bearing artery of the Altai Territory, has a mixed supply (snow (49%) with a noticeable share of rain (27%)). The basin area is 3 million square meters, the length is 453 km. The high water on the river lasts about 120 days, is observed mainly in spring and partly in autumn, the water level rises by 1-8 m. The river flows into the Ob reservoir.
Biya is the second largest river in the area. Biya begins from Lake Teletskoye, but its own sources are located far to the south-east, where Bashkaus and Chulyshman begin in the spurs of the Chikhachev ridge. Its large tributaries are the rivers Lebed, Sarykoksha, Pyzha, Nenya. The length of the river is 300 km.

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Rivers and lakes of Altai Territory Primary school teacher: Maslova Natalya Aleksandrovna Belokurikha, Altai Territory

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There are more than 20,000 rivers on the territory of the Altai Territory, most of which belong to the Ob system. Many rivers start high in the mountains and flow rapidly. When leaving the mountains, the rivers become more and more calm. Most rivers of the region are characterized by mixed nutrition, due to snow, ice and rain. In winter, the rivers are fed only from groundwater.

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Biya river Biya is the second largest river in the region. It starts in Lake Teletskoye. Its length is 280 kilometers. In the upper part of the river there are rapids, waterfalls, rifts. Merging with Katunya, Biya gives rise to Obi. The name Biya is associated with the Altai word "biy", "bag", "biy" - "lord". The river is fed mixed. Biya is navigable in the big water.

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The Katun River Katun flows out of the Gebler glacier at an altitude of about 2000 meters on the southern slope of the highest mountain in Altai - Belukha. In the upper and middle reaches, the river has a mountainous character, especially in summer, when snow and glaciers are melting intensively. In the lower reaches, it acquires a flat character, spreading below the village. Maima flows into channels and channels, and flows along the sloping plain to the north until the confluence with Biya. Almost 7000 rivers and streams flow into the Katun.

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The water in Katun is turquoise and whitish - yellow. The water in Katun is cold, its temperature in summer rarely rises above 15 C. The river is fed mainly by melting snow and ice of glaciers. The length of the river is 665 kilometers, in its basin there are about 7000 waterfalls and rapids.

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Confluence of the Biya and Katun rivers The confluence of Biya and Katun is one of the main attractions of the Smolensk region. Two streams of rivers meet each other on the spit of Ikonnikov Island, near the village of Verkh-Obskoye. Turbid whitish water of Katun and clear bluish water of Biya flow for a long time without mixing with each other. The confluence of the Biya (Biy) and Katun (Khatyn) rivers has been considered sacred by local ethnic groups since ancient times. At the confluence of Biya and Katun on the right bank of the Ob, the Alexander Nevsky temple was built at the beginning of the century. The island of Ikonnikov itself is a unique natural object with fairly well-preserved island landscapes.

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The Ob River The main river of the Altai Territory is the Ob, formed from the confluence of two rivers - Biya and Katun. At a distance of 500 km, the wide Ob strip crosses the Altai Territory, forming two giant bends. In its length (3,680 km) it is second only to the Lena (4,264 km) and the Amur (4,354 km) in Russia, and in terms of the basin area, the Ob is the largest river in our country, second only to five rivers on the planet: Amazon, Congo, Mississippi, Nile and La Plata. The river is fed mixed. The Ob reservoir is located in the north of the region.

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The Alei Aley is the largest tributary of the Ob in the flat part of the region. In length (755 km) it surpasses the Katun and Biya, but is inferior to them in terms of abundance. Alei originates in the low mountains of northwestern Altai. This is a river with a mixed type of food (snow and rain), the spring flood reaches its maximum in April. Aley is characterized by large loop-shaped bends; in the lower reaches of the river, the river has a wide clay soil.

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Chumysh River Chumysh is the right tributary of the Ob. The river originates in Salair, from the confluence of two rivers: Tom-Chumysh and Kara-Chumysh. Although the river is twice as long as Biya (644 km), Chumysh is a relatively shallow river. In many places its valley is swampy and covered with mixed forest. The share of snow supply is more than half of the annual runoff, and the maximum flood on Chumysh is in April.

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Cascade of waterfalls on the Shinok River Altai Territory, Soloneshensky District. There is a cascade of waterfalls on the Shinok River in the middle of the valley. The Shinok River is an amazing and unique natural monument, the uniqueness of which lies in the unprecedented accumulation of waterfalls. The waterfalls of the Shinok River have been known since the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, but they gained popularity a century later. In 1999, the state nature reserve "Cascade of waterfalls on the Shinok River" was formed, and in 2000, three waterfalls received the status of natural monuments

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The Shinok River, whose name in translation from Turkic means “inaccessible”, “steep”, mostly flows in a picturesque gorge, which is surrounded by a rich cedar forest growing on the slopes of the mountains, which gives an amazing view to the river valley. The Shinok River, a tributary of the Anui, originates on a swampy plateau south-west of Mount Askaty (1786 m) on the border of the Soloneshensky District of the Altai Territory and the Ust-Kansky District of the Altai Republic. The valley of the Shinok River is deeply cut and has steep, often rocky slopes. Its length from the confluence of its two sources to the mouth is about 30 km, the height difference is 850 m. Most of the Shinka is a rocky channel with a turbulent current, there are at least 12 waterfalls on the Shinok River.

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The Belaya River The Belaya River is a left tributary of the Charysh, flows through the southern territory of the Altai Territory. The Belaya River is up to 85 m wide and up to 2 m deep. The river is very picturesque and is distinguished by its extraordinary purity; it flows rapidly in a beautiful valley squeezed by high mountains. The Belaya River attracts tourists not only for its beauty, but also for the opportunity to raft along it.

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The Kumir River The Kumir River is one of the left tributaries of the Charysh. It is located in the Charyshsky district of the Altai Territory. The river is not big, but with a violent character, which makes it attractive for rafting enthusiasts. For 40 km the Kumir River flows in a deep gorge. There are about 17 rapids and 20 shivers on this section. This beautiful river is full of rapids of the 2-3 category of difficulty.

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On the Kumir river, there is an amazingly picturesque place "Maiden reach", which is located near the village of Ust-Kumir. This place is unexpectedly quiet, calm, with transparent water to the bottom, in the middle of a fast-moving river. The Kumir basin is rich in minerals. There is a rare and very beautiful white jasper, and there are also deposits of rock crystal. The river is very picturesque, rafting along it, you can really get an unforgettable experience not only from its frenzied character and all kinds of obstacles encountered on the way, but also from the magnificent landscapes of the coastal areas. The nature here amazes with its pristine purity and beauty.

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The Korgon Korgon River is a left tributary of the Charysh. It originates on the northern slope of the Korgon ridge. Everywhere the flow of the Korgon River is fast, rapids, in some places the river forms cascades. This is one of the most picturesque rivers in the whole Altai, it has a length of 50 km. The river flows in a shallow gorge, the river bed is very rocky and rapids. And just before the very confluence with Charysh, its valley expands. In total, there are 25 rapids and 40 shivers on Korgon.

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The river has tributaries Antonov Korgon, Korgonchik and others. There are several apiaries in the valley. Korgon - can be called one of the most interesting rivers for rafting in Gorny Altai, containing numerous obstacles of 3-5 categories of difficulty. Korgon, together with the Kumir and Charysh rivers, form a link Kumir - Charysh - Korgon - Charysh, which is the only route of the 5th category of difficulty in Altai. Unpredictability and variety are the hallmarks of this river.

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The Charysh River The Charysh River is one of the largest rivers in the Altai Mountains; its length is 547 km. The river flows down from the northern slopes of the Korgon ridge; in the upper course it rushes between steep slopes, like a typical mountain river, on average calms down somewhat, in the lower stream it goes out onto the plain in a wide channel. Everywhere, except for the lower reaches, there are rapids and rifts. All major tributaries come from the left side: Kumir (66 km), Korgon (43 km), Inya (110 km), Belaya (157 km). If the Charysh itself is called a stormy river, then they say about its left tributaries "mad". They have a large drop, in significant areas they flow between rocky shores.

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A significant part of the Charysh basin is occupied by forests. Spruce and fir predominate on the slopes of the Korgon Ridge; higher up, a zone of alpine meadows begins with low but bright forbs. The maral root grows almost everywhere. The large-flowered shoe, the Altai gymnosperm and others, which are listed in the Red Book of Russia, have survived in the Charysh region. There are many fish in the Charysh River: grayling and royal taimen are the dream of every fisherman; there are pike, perch, burbot. The mountain slopes in the Charysh basin abound in caves, which makes it possible to climb speleological routes here. Those who are interested in archeology and the history of ancient times visit the caves in the vicinity of the Ust-Kan village and the banks of the river in the middle reaches, where the sites of ancient people were found. The Charysh and its tributaries are well-known among rafting enthusiasts.

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Peschanaya river Peschanaya river flows through the territory of Altai, Smolensk, Soloneshsky districts of Altai Territory. The Peschanaya basin covers an area of ​​5660 sq. km. It is bounded in the west by the Anuisky ridge, in the east by the Cherginsky ridge, and in the south by the spurs of the Terektinsky and Seminsky ridges. The Peschanaya River belongs to the Ob basin. The Peschanaya river descends from the eastern slope of the Seminsky ridge, from a height of 1600 m, to the Pre-Altai plain, where it flows into the Ob. More precisely, it does not descend, but quickly escapes from the mountains, overcoming obstacles in the form of rifts and rapids, branching into channels and joining into a single channel.

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The path of the river is 276 km long. The Peschanaya River is beautiful and very diverse. The rushing water washes now heaps of stones, now sandbanks, now sheer booms, now steep talus. The river is a popular destination for water tourists. The river is also of great interest to anglers. These places are very popular among fishing enthusiasts, and even special fishing tours are organized. The Peschanaya estuary has the status of a natural monument as an extremely picturesque area. This place is unique in that there are many floodplain lakes and bays, on the shores of which waterfowl nest.

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Lakes of the Altai Territory Altai is the land of thousands of lakes. Altai lakes are picturesque. There are thousands of them in the region, and they are located throughout the territory. Most of the lakes are located in the Kulunda lowland and on the Priobskoye plateau. It is not without reason that Altai is called the land of blue lakes. Small-sized mountain and steppe lakes give the natural landscapes a peculiar charm and uniqueness. The largest lake in the Altai Territory is the bitter-salt lake Kulundinskoe (area 600 sq. Km, length - 35 and width 25 km). It is shallow (maximum depth - 4 m), fed by the waters of the Kulunda River and groundwater. To the south of Kulundinskoye there is the second largest lake - Kuchukskoye (area 180 sq. Km). It is completely similar in regimen and nutrition to the Kulundinsky and was previously connected with it by a channel.

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Kulundinskoye Lake Kulundinskoye lakes are all remnants of an ancient sea that existed many millions of years ago on the site of the present plains. Many of these lakes have long been famous for their mineral waters with healing properties, as well as medicinal clays and muds. The largest lake in the region is Kulundinskoe. Its shores are flat, low-lying, merging with the flat surface of Kulunda. Lake Kulunda is shallow, fed by the waters of the Kulunda River and groundwater.

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Lake Kolyvanskoe Lake is located at the foot of the northern slope of the Kolyvanskoe ridge, 3 km east of the village. Savvushka in the vicinity of Zmeinogorsk, Altai Territory. Kolyvan Lake is a complex natural monument. This is one of the largest lakes in the southwestern part of the Altai Territory (length 4 km, width 2-3 km). But it is not famous for this. The shores of this beautiful, calm and very clean lake are framed by rocks of bizarre outlines, which human imagination shapes into columns, palaces, fantastic animals, human faces.

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Lake Kolyvan is compared to a blue gem framed by picturesque rocks. The purity of the water in Lake Kolyvan is evidenced by the fact that there is a rare water nut - chilim, listed in the Red Book. This is a relict plant that has survived from the preglacial period. On the territory of Altai, chilim is also found in Lake Manzherokskoye and in several small lakes. Chilim is rich in protein and starch. In the old days it was eaten, it also served as amulets and talismans.