The Vitim (Russian: Витим; Evenki: Витым, Witym;[1]Yakut: Виитим, Viitim [local pronunciation];[1]Buryat and Mongolian: Витим, Vitim[1]) is a major tributary of the Lena. Its source is east of Lake Baikal, at the confluence of rivers Vitimkan from the west and China from the east. The Vitim flows first south, bends eastwards and then northward in the Vitim Plateau. Then it flows north through the Stanovoy Highlands and the town of Bodaybo. Including river Vitimkan, its western source, it is 1,978 kilometres (1,229 mi) long, and has a drainage basin of 225,000 square kilometres (87,000 sq mi).[2][3][4]
It is navigable from the Lena to Bodaybo. Upstream, tugs can haul barges as far as the Baikal Amur Mainline (BAM), but this is becoming rare.
The Vitim is an excellent place for adventure rafting, but is rarely visited because of its isolation. Baissa, one of the famous localities of fossilinsects is situated on the left bank of the Vitim River.
The first Russian to explore the river was probably Maksim Perfilyev in 1639–40, who brought back reports of the upper Amur River.[5] Formerly, because of its swift current, goods were hauled 144 kilometres (89 mi) overland from Chita to Romanovka. There boats were built, floated down the river, and broken up at their destination. This lasted until the late 1940s.
The Vitim event occurred in the Vitim River basin near Bodaybo on 25 September 2002. The event was probably caused by a bolide. The event was similar to Tagish Lake.
Courseedit
Going upstream: Vitim town where the Vitim joins the Lena. Mama and Mama Airport, about 130 kilometres (81 mi) south of Vitim. A muscovite mica mine from 1705 until the late 1930s. Now a small settlement. Mamakan, on a west-flowing stretch 200 kilometres (120 mi) south-southeast of Vitim. In 1963 a 86MW dam on the Mamakan River was completed, one of the first dams built on permafrost.[6]Bodaybo, just upstream, a gold mining center founded in 1864. Upstream, the port of Luzhki was the start of a road to the Lena gold fields. From here upstream the river goes crookedly east and then south. About 240 kilometres (150 mi) upstream from Bodaybo are the Delyun-Uran Rapids[7] and after 140 kilometres (87 mi) more, the Parama Rapids. About 40 kilometres (25 mi) or so upstream, the Vitim is crossed by the Baikal Amur Mainline between Taksimo and Kuanda. Upriver there are more rapids and goldfields. South through the Stanovoy Mountains toward Chita, then west into the Vitim Plateau east of Lake Baikal.[8] The river peaks in June and freezes from November to May.
Tributariesedit
The main tributaries of the Vitim are, from source to mouth:[2]
^"Река ВИТИМ in the State Water Register of Russia". textual.ru (in Russian).
^"Река ЧИНА in the State Water Register of Russia". textual.ru (in Russian).
^Lantzeff, George V., and Richard A. Pierce (1973). Eastward to Empire: Exploration and Conquest on the Russian Open Frontier, to 1750. Montreal: McGill-Queen's U.P.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
vitim, river, vitim, russian, Витим, evenki, Витым, witym, yakut, Виитим, viitim, local, pronunciation, buryat, mongolian, Витим, vitim, major, tributary, lena, source, east, lake, baikal, confluence, rivers, vitimkan, from, west, china, from, east, vitim, flo. The Vitim Russian Vitim Evenki Vitym Witym 1 Yakut Viitim Viitim local pronunciation 1 Buryat and Mongolian Vitim Vitim 1 is a major tributary of the Lena Its source is east of Lake Baikal at the confluence of rivers Vitimkan from the west and China from the east The Vitim flows first south bends eastwards and then northward in the Vitim Plateau Then it flows north through the Stanovoy Highlands and the town of Bodaybo Including river Vitimkan its western source it is 1 978 kilometres 1 229 mi long and has a drainage basin of 225 000 square kilometres 87 000 sq mi 2 3 4 VitimThe Vitim near its tributary BambuykaLena watershedNative nameVitim Russian Vitym Evenki Witym Evenki Viitim Yakut Viitim Yakut Vitim Buryat Vitim Buryat LocationCountryRussiaRegionBuryatia Irkutsk Oblast Sakha Republic Zabaykalsky KraiCitiesBodaybo Vitim Mama RussiaPhysical characteristicsSource locationConfluence of rivers Vitimkan and China Ikat Range Irkutsk Oblast elevation1 171 m 3 842 ft MouthLena coordinates59 27 47 N 112 36 05 E 59 4631 N 112 6013 E 59 4631 112 6013Length1 940 km 1 210 mi Basin size225 000 km2 87 000 sq mi Discharge average1 937 m3 s 68 400 cu ft s Basin featuresProgressionLena Laptev SeaTributaries leftTsipa Muya Mamakan Mama rightKonda Karenga Kalakan Kalar BodayboMapIt is navigable from the Lena to Bodaybo Upstream tugs can haul barges as far as the Baikal Amur Mainline BAM but this is becoming rare The Vitim is an excellent place for adventure rafting but is rarely visited because of its isolation Baissa one of the famous localities of fossil insects is situated on the left bank of the Vitim River Contents 1 History 2 Course 2 1 Tributaries 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksHistory editThe first Russian to explore the river was probably Maksim Perfilyev in 1639 40 who brought back reports of the upper Amur River 5 Formerly because of its swift current goods were hauled 144 kilometres 89 mi overland from Chita to Romanovka There boats were built floated down the river and broken up at their destination This lasted until the late 1940s The Vitim event occurred in the Vitim River basin near Bodaybo on 25 September 2002 The event was probably caused by a bolide The event was similar to Tagish Lake Course edit nbsp Going upstream Vitim town where the Vitim joins the Lena Mama and Mama Airport about 130 kilometres 81 mi south of Vitim A muscovite mica mine from 1705 until the late 1930s Now a small settlement Mamakan on a west flowing stretch 200 kilometres 120 mi south southeast of Vitim In 1963 a 86MW dam on the Mamakan River was completed one of the first dams built on permafrost 6 Bodaybo just upstream a gold mining center founded in 1864 Upstream the port of Luzhki was the start of a road to the Lena gold fields From here upstream the river goes crookedly east and then south About 240 kilometres 150 mi upstream from Bodaybo are the Delyun Uran Rapids 7 and after 140 kilometres 87 mi more the Parama Rapids About 40 kilometres 25 mi or so upstream the Vitim is crossed by the Baikal Amur Mainline between Taksimo and Kuanda Upriver there are more rapids and goldfields South through the Stanovoy Mountains toward Chita then west into the Vitim Plateau east of Lake Baikal 8 The river peaks in June and freezes from November to May Tributaries edit The main tributaries of the Vitim are from source to mouth 2 Konda right Karenga right Kalakan right Kalar right Tsipa left Bambuyka right Muya left Kuanda left Bodaybo right Mamakan left Mama left See also editList of rivers of Russia Patom Highlands Selenga Highlands Southern Muya RangeReferences edit a b c KNAB the Place Names Database of EKI Eki ee Retrieved January 1 2013 a b Vitim reka v Buryat ASSR Great Soviet Encyclopedia Reka VITIM in the State Water Register of Russia textual ru in Russian Reka ChINA in the State Water Register of Russia textual ru in Russian Lantzeff George V and Richard A Pierce 1973 Eastward to Empire Exploration and Conquest on the Russian Open Frontier to 1750 Montreal McGill Queen s U P a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a CS1 maint multiple names authors list link Mamakan reservoir Water of Russia Porog Delyun Uran Yates and Zvegentzov Siberian BAM Guide 2001External links editA scary road bridge over the Vitim next to the BAM railway bridge at 56 13 26 N 115 43 59 E 56 224 N 115 733 E 56 224 115 733 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Vitim river amp oldid 1164985329, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
