This beautiful Russian river flows through the expanses of the Magadan Region, the Autonomous Chukotka District and Yakutia. Its name is derived from the name of the genus of the Yukagir ethnic group - “omol”, which translates as “good”, and from the word “he” (“river”). All together means "river of the genus Omol."
The article presents a short story about the Omolon River.
Description, characteristics
The river is located in the north of the Far East. It originates from the slopes of the Otaykachansky ridge and carries water through a valley that extends between its spurs and the Kolyma ridge. The river channel along its entire length winds and branches, forming a large number of backwaters, channels, rifts and reaches.
Left-bank inflows in their bulk are connected to the main channel through the regional channels. Omolon in Yakutia flows into the Kolyma River, being its largest right tributary.
The total length of the Omolon River is about 1150 kilometers. The pool has an area of more than 118 thousand square meters. kilometers.
Climate
Throughout the river, the climate is sharply subarctic, continental. Siberian anticyclone dominates here with rather cold winters and rather hot summers. The average air temperature in these places is –12.8 ° . The recorded absolute maximum temperature is + 34 °, the minimum - minus 61 °.
The total annual rainfall is 240 mm, most of which is rain and drizzle.
Tributaries
Omolon has many tributaries, which are small rivers and streams.
The main tributaries: Oloy, Bebekan, Kedon, Molongda, Arrow, Cliff, Hunganja, Oloychan. Also, the rivers of the Greater Avlandi, Lesser Elgenchen, Greater Elgenchen, Hungandi, Labaznoy and Karbaschan rivers flow into it.
Hydrology
The Omolon River freezes after mid-October, and opens in the second half of spring (from mid-April). The spring flood period is May 20-25. Another seasonal flood occurs in late August.
The water in the river becomes ideally transparent in winter, during the period of ice drift it becomes whitish, and by the end of summer it becomes dark. In coastal lakes, the color of the water is dark or yellowish.
Flora
Along the banks of the Omolon River, approximately 550 species of plants grow. On the mountainous coastal slopes, cedar dwarf grows predominantly, in island floodplains - poplar and chosenia thickets. Larch also grows here thanks to sub-talik taliks. Some shrubby forms also grow - tansy, impatiens, cupar, weekly. Also here there are berry shrubs of wild currants and rose hips, and abundantly fruiting.
In more swampy places you can find kizlyak, Urut and the Kolyma pendulum, in mossy larch trees - a swimsuit and golden rhododendron.
Fauna
Different types of fish are found in the waters of Omolon in Russia. This is a pike, East Siberian grayling, valek, lenok, nelma, Chukuchan, variegated sculpin, chir. Lake minnow and Yakut crucian carp found refuge in floodplain lakes.
A total of 25 species of mammals are found on the coast of Omolon. Among them are chipmunk, shrew, flying squirrel, lemmings and white hare. Predators are represented mainly by brown bears, foxes, wolves, sables, wolverines, otters, weasels and ermines. And for the moose to inhabit nature, excellent conditions have been created in the Omolon Valley. Here the highest density of this species of animals is recorded.
Every year, in spring and autumn, wild deer emigrate northward and back across the river. Locals are actively hunting for them at this time.
Shipping and population
The Omolon River is navigable for 595 kilometers from the mouth, and it is floated mainly in the lower reaches.
During each navigation period in the middle of June, a large caravan of loaded barges is driven from the village of Zyryanka to the village of Omolon and vice versa (an intermediate wintering is possible).
In the middle course of the river and in the upper reaches, wandering Tungus lead a nomadic way of life, and the tracts of settled Yakuts occupy the lower part of the current. There is also a small Russian settlement. Further up the river, the Yukaghirs wander (the people of Eastern Siberia, belonging to the most ancient population).
Protection of Nature
Very popular rafting on the river Yakutia Omolon. Tourists are attracted here not only by the amazing beauty of these places, but also by the power and length of the river. However, these places attract people with its rich fauna.
Since the late 70s of the XX century, this region has become popular among those who live in the Mandrikovo mine. They equipped a convoy of motor boats for poaching - shooting moose. By that time, the number of these animals began to catastrophically decline. The Hunting Authority responded. In 1980, in the middle reaches of the river, the resource Omolonsky Reserve was created. And in 1994, another Elk sanctuary was organized on the river right bank, and in the future there are plans to create a natural national park called “Far North” on the basis of this zakaznik.