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] It 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.

Map including the Aldan River
Aldan
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 
 • average5,060 m3/s (179,000 cu ft/s)
(near mouth)
Basin features
ProgressionLena→ Laptev Sea
Tributaries 
 • leftAmedichi, Amga
 • rightTimpton, Uchur, Maya, Allakh-Yun

Course

It rises in the Stanovoy Mountains southwest of Neryungri, then flows northeast across the Aldan Highlands past Aldan and through Tommot, Ust-Maya, Eldikan and Khandyga before turning northwest and joining the Lena near Batamay.

The river's main tributaries are the Timpton, Uchur, Maya and Allakh-Yun from the right and the Amga from the left.[1] Its basin is known for gold and for Cambrian fossils.

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