Katun River

Katun (Катунь)
River
The Katun River in Tungur village
Name origin: "woman", Altay language
Country	Russia
Regions	Altai Republic, Altai Krai
Part of	Ob River basin
Tributaries
- left	Koksa River, Ursul River, Kamenka River (Katun)
- right	Koutcherla River, Argout River, Chuya River, Icha River
Source	Katun Glacier
- location	Belukha Mountain, Altai Republic
- elevation	2,300 m (7,546 ft)
- coordinates	49°44′40″N 86°39′41″E / 49.74444°N 86.66139°E / 49.74444; 86.66139
Mouth	Ob River
- location	Confluence with Biya River, near Biysk, Altai Krai
- elevation	195 m (640 ft)
- coordinates	52°25′54″N 85°01′26″E / 52.43167°N 85.02389°E / 52.43167; 85.02389Coordinates: 52°25′54″N 85°01′26″E / 52.43167°N 85.02389°E / 52.43167; 85.02389
Length	688 km (428 mi)
Basin	60,900 km2 (23,514 sq mi)
Discharge	for Srotski, 58 kilometres (36 mi) from the mouth
- average	617 m3/s (21,789 cu ft/s) [1]
- max	2,930 m3/s (103,472 cu ft/s)
- min	16 m3/s (565 cu ft/s)

The Katun River (Russian: Катунь) is a river in the Altai Republic and the Altai Krai of Russia. It forms the Ob River as it joins the Biya River some 19 kilometres (12 mi) southwest of Biysk. The Katun River is 688 kilometres (428 mi) long, and its drainage basin covers 60,900 square kilometres (23,500 sq mi). It originates in the Katun glaciers on the southern slope of Belukha Mountain. The river freezes up in the late November or early December and breaks up in the early or mid-April. The Katun River has a few tributaries: Argut River, Chuya River, Koksa River and Sema River. The river is navigable.

Katun River in the Altai Republic

The upper reach of the Katun River flows down the distant and sparsely populated area, but a few kilometers downstream near the Kujus village, the coastal population density grows steadily and the area downstream of the Ust-Sema village is the most populated. There are numerous buildings, holiday camps and various guest houses in the pine forest near the village.

References