The Kirenga (Russian: Киренга) is a river in Irkutsk Oblast in Russia. The name originated in an Evenki word. The length of the river is 746 kilometres (464 mi). The area of its basin is 46,600 square kilometres (18,000 sq mi).[1]

Kirenga
The Kirenga at Magistralny
Kirenga is located in Irkutsk Oblast
Kirenga
Mouth location in Irkutsk Oblast, Russia
Location
CountryRussia
Physical characteristics
SourceBaikal Mountains
 • elevationca 1,500 m (4,900 ft)
MouthLena
 • coordinates
57°46′08″N 108°07′48″E / 57.76889°N 108.13000°E / 57.76889; 108.13000
 • elevation
250 m (820 ft)
Length746 km (464 mi)
Basin size46,600 km2 (18,000 sq mi)
Discharge 
 • average658 m3/s (23,200 cu ft/s)
Basin features
ProgressionLenaLaptev Sea

There are many settlements in the river valley. The Baikal Amur Mainline follows and crosses the Kirenga between Magistralny and Ulkan.[2]

Course

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It is a right tributary of the Lena which flows north between the upper Lena and Lake Baikal. The Kirenga begins in the Baikal Mountains 6 kilometres (4 mi) west of Lake Baikal, a few dozen kilometres north of the source of the Lena. The Kirenga marks the eastern limit of the Lena-Angara Plateau. The river flows along the Cis-Baikal Depression, limited by the Akitkan Range to the east.[3] Finally it joins the Lena at the town of Kirensk.[2]

The Kirenga is fed mainly by rain. It freezes up in late October to early November and stays under the ice until late April to May.

Tributaries

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Its main tributaries are the Ulkan, Minya, Okunayka and Kutima from the right, as well as the Khanda from the left.[2][4]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Река Киренга (Лев. Киренга) in the State Water Register of Russia". textual.ru (in Russian).
  2. ^ a b c Water of Russia - Киренга
  3. ^ "Топографска карта O-49; M 1:1 000 000 - Topographic USSR Chart (in Russian)". Retrieved 15 April 2022.
  4. ^ Киренга, Great Soviet Encyclopedia