What Is The Source Of The Ob River?
The Ob River is the 7th longest river in the world and is found in the Siberian region of Russia. It traverses through the region covering a total distance of 2,268 miles and drains into the Arctic Ocean up north. The Ob River is part of the three great Siberian rivers with the other two being Yenisei and Lena. The Ob has a drainage basin of about 1,419,650 square miles which puts it among the top ten basins regarding size. The Ob River is a source of livelihood for millions of Russians and has played a significant role in the industrialization of the nation with many vital cities situated along the river's banks.
The Source Of The Ob River
The Ob River is formed at the confluence of two rivers called Biya and Katun which originate from the Altay Mountains region which stands at an elevation of around 7,546 feet above the sea level. The Biya River has its source in Lake Telet while the Katun River has its source in the glaciers of Mount Belukha. The Katun River is considered the primary source while the Biya River is secondary source due to their difference in size and volume of discharge.
Tributaries Of The Ob River
Like many rivers of its size, the Ob River is fed by a series of tributaries that flow from different sources before finally joining up with Ob. The tributaries of the Ob are divided into two categories, the Left Tributaries, and the Right Tributaries. The left tributaries include the Katun River which is 428 miles long with a drainage basin of 23,500 square miles, and there is the Anuy River which runs for 230 miles and has a basin area of 2,680 square miles. There is the Charyish River which is 340 miles long. The Irtysh River is another tributary which is the biggest in this category covering a total distance of 2,640 miles. Most people consider the Irtysh as part of the Ob rather than a tributary. There are also other tributaries and they include Vasygan River, the Parabel River, the Aley River, and the Northern Sosva River.
The Right Tributaries Of The Ob River
The Right Tributaries include the Biya River which is part of the other half of the Ob River’s primary sources. The Biya is 187 miles long and has a drainage basin of 14,000 square miles. There is the Berd River which is 226 miles long. Next up is the Inya River which is 412 miles long. There is the Tom River which runs for 514 miles before joining up with the Ob. There is also the Chulym River which covers a distance of 1,118 miles long with a 52,000 square mile drainage basin. Ket River is another tributary which is 1,007 miles long, and then there is the Tym River which runs for 590 miles to the Ob. The Vakh River is another right tributary that is 599 miles long with a drainage basin of 29,600 square miles. While Pim River is 290 miles long, and lastly, there is the Kazim River that has a total length of 409 miles with a drainage basin of 13,700 square miles.
