Shilka River - the main characteristics and economic significance

One of the largest left tributaries of the Amur River , the Transbaikalian Shilka River, is formed by the merger of Ingoda and Onon. It flows in the region of the Amazar and Shilkin ranges and is characterized by rapid morals.

Geography

The general direction of the river is northeast. Only at the end, she confidently turns to the east. The length is 560 km, the width is from 40 to 200 m, the catchment area is 206 thousand km ² . Shilka stretches between the spurs of the mountains, only occasionally receding from the channel, forming small valleys. The upper course of the river is distinguished by a large number of waterfalls and rapids.

Shilka is fed by a lot of small rivulets, which number about seventy. The most significant among them - Kara, Kurenga, Chacha, Chernaya. The main tributary of the Shilka River is on the left side - it is Nercha, flowing into Shilka with several branches and having a length of 580 km.

Hydrology

The water regime of the Shilka river basin has its own peculiarity - the flood period here is 120-130 days. In total for a year there can be from 8 to 12 floods. Some of them overlap one another, and then their duration can be up to 3 months. The maximum fluctuations in the water level in the Shilka are noted up to 12.5 m. The river supply is 80% composed of rainwater, flooding snow and a large number of tributaries also contribute to flooding. For most of the year (up to 200 days), the Shilka River spends under the ice, completely free of it by May.

Flora and fauna

Along the course of the Shilka, the mountain taiga landscapes typical of the Eastern Transbaikalia occupy the most part. Dry grass-mixed herbs combine with the mountainous East Siberian taiga. Chestnut soils prevail in the lower part of them , and above the chernozems. The northern slopes of the hills at an altitude of about 1000 m are lined with gray forest soils.

The most common plants in the steppe zone are feather grass, snake, thyme, unstressed cobbler, etc. In taiga areas, pine, birch, larch, and cedar are predominant. In this case, most often the northern parts of the slopes are covered with light larch, and on the south, pine forests are mostly found. Cedar can be found only at the very top of the mountain-taiga zone.

The Shilka River is almost entirely surrounded by stony rocks, so all trees are thickly covered with trees and shrubs, where the channel at least slightly widens and the stream becomes quieter. Vegetation here is very diverse.

The surface of the bottom is diverse and covered with pebbles and boulders, therefore on the river there are often rolling, plains, pits and even waterfalls. Under such conditions, the most diverse types of fish live well. In large numbers, the beluga, sturgeon, salmon, keta and taimen dwell in the Shilke. One of the richest in fish stocks of water is the river Shilka. Many fish bring clean and cold mountain tributaries to the river, such as Unda, Delun, Bota and many others.

Economic importance

Like many rivers in the Far East, Shilka is of paramount importance as a transport route. It is navigable almost all over. However, due to the large number of overfalls in the river bed and the high speed of the current, shipping is often difficult. In the summer, breaks sometimes last up to 15 days. The most developed shipping is in the lower reaches - from the mouth to the city of Sretensk. The river is also widely used for rafting. Navigation lasts from 160 to 180 days.

In addition, the Shilka River is a fairly large source of energy resources. The Transbaikal region is capable of producing millions of kilowatts of cheap electricity at the expense of large and small rivers located on its territory. The development of hydropower resources is the most important task of the water sector in this region.

Shilka with its tributaries and for the fish industry is of no small importance. During the spawning, the commercial from the Amur go in jambs, rising to the spawning grounds to the headwaters of the mountain rivers.

In nearby settlements, favorable conditions are created for the reception of the numerous tourists that the Far East is so attracted to recently. The photo of the Shilka River, its stony banks, overgrown with valleys and vast expanses, among which it majestically carries its waters - all this is very impressive and fascinating.