Aldan (river)

The Aldan (Russian: Алдан) is the second-longest, right tributary of the Lena in the Sakha Republic in eastern Siberia.[1] The river is 2,273 kilometres (1,412 mi) long, of which around 1,600 kilometres (990 mi) is navigable. It has a drainage basin of 729,000 square kilometres (281,000 sq mi).[2]

Aldan
The Aldan by the Kyllakh Range
Location
CountryRussia
Physical characteristics
Source 
 • locationStanovoy Mountains
MouthLena
 • coordinates
63°26′46″N 129°33′13″E
Length2,273 km (1,412 mi)
Basin size729,000 km2 (281,000 sq mi)
Discharge 
 • average5,489 m3/s (193,800 cu ft/s)
(near mouth)
Basin features
ProgressionLena→ Laptev Sea
Tributaries 
 • leftAmedichi, Amga
 • rightTimpton, Uchur, Maya, Allakh-Yun

The river was part of the River Route to Okhotsk. In 1639 Ivan Moskvitin ascended the rivers Aldan and Maya and crossed to the Ulya to reach the Sea of Okhotsk.

Its basin is known for gold and for Cambrian fossils.

Course

The Aldan rises in the Stanovoy Mountains southwest of Neryungri, then flows northeast across the Aldan Highlands, where it forms the northern border of the Sunnagyn Range. Then it flows past Aldan and through Tommot, Ust-Maya, Eldikan and Khandyga before turning northwest flanking the southern slopes of the Verkhoyansk Range and joining the Lena near Batamay.[3]

The river's main tributaries are the Timpton, Uchur, Maya, Khamna, Allakh-Yun, Khanda, Tyry, Eastern Khandyga, Tompo, Khandiga, Baray, Tukulan, Kele and Tumara from the right, and the Amedichi, Chuga, Yungyuele, Bilir, Notora, Kuoluma, Amga, Tatta and Tanda from the left.[4]

Basin of the Lena with the Aldan River in the right side
Map of the Aldan River course

See also

References
  1. Алдан (река в Якут. АССР), Great Soviet Encyclopedia
  2. Река АЛДАН in the State Water Register of Russia (Russian)
  3. Google Earth
  4. Aldan - Water of Russia
  • Zvegintzov, Nicholas; Yates, Anthol (2001). Siberian BAM Guide: Rail, River & Road. Rail Guides Series. Trialblazer Publications. ISBN 9781873756188.
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