Pechora River
Encyclopedia
The Pechora River is a river in northwest Russia
which flows north into the Arctic Ocean on the west side of the Ural Mountains
. It lies mostly in the Komi Republic
but the northernmost part crosses the Nenets Autonomous Okrug
. It is 1,809 km long (a little less than the Columbia River
) and its basin is 322,000 square kilometers (about the same size as Finland). By mean annual discharge it ranks third in Europe, after the Volga and Danube. Its discharge is about half that of the Danube and a little more than its sister, the Northern Dvina River, and is the largest of any river with no dams in its basin outside of New Guinea
. West of its lower course is the Timan Ridge
. East of the basin along the west flank of the Urals is the Yugyd Va National Park
. Also in the basin is the Virgin Komi Forests
, the largest virgin forest in Europe. In the far northeast of the basin on the Usa River is the large coal center of Vorkuta
. The river was once an important transportation route, especially for those travelling to northwest Siberia. Today a railroad runs southwest from Vorkuta to Moscow.
Along the Pechora: The river rises in the Ural Mountains in the south-eastern corner of the Komi Republic. This area is part of the Pechora-Ilych Nature Reserve
. On the other side of the Urals are the headwaters of the Northern Sosva River
. The river flows south, then west and turns north near Yaksha
which is the head of navigation for small boats. A portage led south to the Kama River
basin. To the east is the upper Vychegda River
, a branch of the Northern Dvina. North past Komsomolsk-na-Pechore to Ust-Ilych where the Ilych River
comes in from the east. Northwest to Troitsko-Pechorsk
(1359 km from the mouth), north to Vuktyl
and Ust-Shchuger where the Shchugor River comes in from the east. North to Pechora
town where the railway from Vorkuta crosses. North to Ust-Usa where the Usa River
joins from the east (The Usa was once an important river route into Siberia
.). The Pechora curves northwest, west, and west southwest. Izhma River
joins from the south. West to Ust-Tsilma
(425 km from the mouth) where the Pizhma River (Komi Republic)
joins from the southwest and the Tsilma River joins from the west. (Before modern times people traveled up the Tsilma and portaged to the Pyoza River
to reach the White Sea.) Pechora turns north. Arctic Circle; border of the Nenets Okrug, Pustozyorsk
; Naryan-Mar
, the Nenets capital and a port at the head of the Pechora delta, Pechora Bay; Pechora Sea
; Barents Sea
.
road, from Cherdyn in the Kama River
basin to Yaksha
on the Pechora.
A project for a Pechora-Kama Canal
along the same general route was widely discussed in the 1960s through 1980s, this time not as much for transportation, but for the diversion of some of the water of the Pechora to the Kama, as part of a grand Northern river reversal
scheme. However, no construction work was carried out on the route of the proposed canal, other than a triple nuclear explosion in 1971, which excavated a crater over 600 m long.
Northwest Russia
Northwest Russia or Northern European Russia can be roughly defined as that part of European Russia bounded by Finland, the Arctic Ocean, the Ural Mountains and the east-flowing part of the Volga River. Although it was never a political unit there is some reason for treating it as a distinct...
which flows north into the Arctic Ocean on the west side of the Ural Mountains
Ural Mountains
The Ural Mountains , or simply the Urals, are a mountain range that runs approximately from north to south through western Russia, from the coast of the Arctic Ocean to the Ural River and northwestern Kazakhstan. Their eastern side is usually considered the natural boundary between Europe and Asia...
. It lies mostly in the Komi Republic
Komi Republic
The Komi Republic is a federal subject of Russia .-Geography:The republic is situated to the west of the Ural mountains, in the north-east of the East European Plain...
but the northernmost part crosses the Nenets Autonomous Okrug
Nenets Autonomous Okrug
Nenets Autonomous Okrug is a federal subject of Russia .It has an area of 176,700 km2 and population of 42,628 as of the preliminary results of the 2010 Census , 21,296 of whom live in Naryan-Mar, the administrative center.-Geography and ecology:The arctic ecology of this...
. It is 1,809 km long (a little less than the Columbia River
Columbia River
The Columbia River is the largest river in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. The river rises in the Rocky Mountains of British Columbia, Canada, flows northwest and then south into the U.S. state of Washington, then turns west to form most of the border between Washington and the state...
) and its basin is 322,000 square kilometers (about the same size as Finland). By mean annual discharge it ranks third in Europe, after the Volga and Danube. Its discharge is about half that of the Danube and a little more than its sister, the Northern Dvina River, and is the largest of any river with no dams in its basin outside of New Guinea
New Guinea
New Guinea is the world's second largest island, after Greenland, covering a land area of 786,000 km2. Located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, it lies geographically to the east of the Malay Archipelago, with which it is sometimes included as part of a greater Indo-Australian Archipelago...
. West of its lower course is the Timan Ridge
Timan Ridge
The Timan Ridge is a highland in the far north of European Russia. Most of the Timan Ridge is situated in the Komi Republic, but the northernmost part is in Nenets Autonomous Okrug and Arkhangelsk Oblast. The highest point in the Timan Ridge is Chetlassky Kamen .The Timan Ridge is situated west of...
. East of the basin along the west flank of the Urals is the Yugyd Va National Park
Yugyd Va National Park
Yugyd Va National Park is a national park in the Komi Republic, a constituent republic of the Russian Federation, in Northeastern Europe. It is Russia's and Europe's largest national park.- Location :...
. Also in the basin is the Virgin Komi Forests
Virgin Komi Forests
The Virgin Komi Forests is a natural UNESCO World Heritage site in the Northern Ural mountains of the Komi Republic, Russia. At 32,800 km² it is the largest virgin forest in Europe.The Virgin Komi Forests belong to the Ural Mountains taiga ecoregion...
, the largest virgin forest in Europe. In the far northeast of the basin on the Usa River is the large coal center of Vorkuta
Vorkuta
Vorkuta is a coal-mining town in the Komi Republic, Russia, situated just north of the Arctic Circle in the Pechora coal basin at the Usa River. Population: - Labor camp origins :...
. The river was once an important transportation route, especially for those travelling to northwest Siberia. Today a railroad runs southwest from Vorkuta to Moscow.
Along the Pechora: The river rises in the Ural Mountains in the south-eastern corner of the Komi Republic. This area is part of the Pechora-Ilych Nature Reserve
Pechora-Ilych Nature Reserve
Pechora-Ilych Nature Reserve is a nature reserve in the Komi Republic, Russia. It currently occupies 7,213 square kilometers and forms the core of the World Heritage Site Virgin Komi Forests.-Location:...
. On the other side of the Urals are the headwaters of the Northern Sosva River
Northern Sosva River
The Severnaya Sosva is a river in Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug, Russia, which drains the northern Ural Mountains into the lower Ob River.-Geography:...
. The river flows south, then west and turns north near Yaksha
Yaksha, Komi Republic
Yaksha is a settlement in Troitsko-Pechorsky District of the Komi Republic, Russia, located in the upper streams of the Pechora River. Population: 1,218 ; 1,793 ....
which is the head of navigation for small boats. A portage led south to the Kama River
Kama River
Kama is a major river in Russia, the longest left tributary of the Volga and the largest one in discharge; in fact, it is larger than the Volga before junction....
basin. To the east is the upper Vychegda River
Vychegda River
Vychegda is a river in the European part of Russia, tributary to the Northern Dvina. Its length is about . Its source is approximately west of the northern Ural Mountains. It flows roughly in western direction, through Komi Republic and Arkhangelsk Oblast. The largest city along the Vychegda is...
, a branch of the Northern Dvina. North past Komsomolsk-na-Pechore to Ust-Ilych where the Ilych River
Ilych River
Ilych River is a river in Komi Republic in northwest Russia. It drains part of the northern Ural Mountains westward into the upper Pechora River. The length of the river is 411 km. The area of its basin is 16,000 km². The Ilych freezes up in early November and stays icebound until late April. Its...
comes in from the east. Northwest to Troitsko-Pechorsk
Troitsko-Pechorsk
Troitsko-Pechorsk is an urban locality and the administrative center of Troitsko-Pechorsky District of the Komi Republic, Russia, located on the Pechora River. Population: -External links:*...
(1359 km from the mouth), north to Vuktyl
Vuktyl
Vuktyl is a town in the Komi Republic, Russia, located on the right bank of the Pechora River near its confluence with the Vuktyl River, northeast of Syktyvkar. Population:...
and Ust-Shchuger where the Shchugor River comes in from the east. North to Pechora
Pechora
Pechora is a town in the Komi Republic, Russia, situated on the Pechora River, near the northern Ural Mountains. Population: It is served by Pechora Airport and is affiliated with the nearby Pechora Kamenka military air base....
town where the railway from Vorkuta crosses. North to Ust-Usa where the Usa River
Usa River
Usa River could refer to:* Usa , a small river in Hesse, Germany* Usa River , a river in Belarus* Usa River , a river in Kemerovo Oblast, Russia...
joins from the east (The Usa was once an important river route into Siberia
Verkhoturye
Verkhoturye is a historic town and the administrative center of Verkhotursky District of Sverdlovsk Oblast, Russia, located in the middle Ural Mountains on the left bank of the Tura River north of Yekaterinburg. Population: 7,815 Verkhoturye is a historic town and the administrative center of...
.). The Pechora curves northwest, west, and west southwest. Izhma River
Izhma River
Izhma is a river in the Komi Republic of Russia. It is a left tributary of the Pechora River. It is 531 km long, with a drainage basin of 31,000 km². 154 km from its mouth it has an average discharge of 203 m³/s...
joins from the south. West to Ust-Tsilma
Ust-Tsilemsky District
Ust-Tsilemsky District is an administrative district , one of the twelve in the Komi Republic, Russia. Municipally, it is incorporated as Ust-Tsilemsky Municipal District. Its administrative center is the rural locality of Ust-Tsilma...
(425 km from the mouth) where the Pizhma River (Komi Republic)
Pizhma River (Komi Republic)
Pizhma River is a river in Komi Republic in Russia, an arm of the Pechora River. The length of the river is 389 km and the area of its basin is 5,470 km². The Pizhma flows southeast out of the Yamozero Lake, turns east and then north and joins the Pechora River at Ust-Tsilma where the Tsilma River...
joins from the southwest and the Tsilma River joins from the west. (Before modern times people traveled up the Tsilma and portaged to the Pyoza River
Pyoza River
The Pyoza is a river in Mezensky District of Arkhangelsk Oblast in Russia. It is a right tributary of the Mezen River. It is long, and the area of its basin...
to reach the White Sea.) Pechora turns north. Arctic Circle; border of the Nenets Okrug, Pustozyorsk
Pustozyorsk
Pustozyorsk was the administrative center of Yugra and Pechora krais of Muscovy and Imperial Russia. It was situated in what is today Nenets Autonomous Okrug of Arkhangelsk Oblast in Russia....
; Naryan-Mar
Naryan-Mar
Naryan-Mar is a sea and river port town and the administrative center of Nenets Autonomous Okrug, Russia. The town is situated on the right bank of the Pechora River, upstream from the river's mouth, on the Barents Sea. Naryan-Mar lies north of the Arctic Circle, south of Andeg and east of...
, the Nenets capital and a port at the head of the Pechora delta, Pechora Bay; Pechora Sea
Pechora Sea
Pechora Sea , is a sea at the northwest of Russia, the southeastern part of the Barents Sea. The western border of the sea is off Kolguyev Island, while the eastern border is the western coasts of Vaygach Island and the Yugorsky Peninsula, and the northern border the southern end of Novaya...
; Barents Sea
Barents Sea
The Barents Sea is a marginal sea of the Arctic Ocean, located north of Norway and Russia. Known in the Middle Ages as the Murman Sea, the sea takes its current name from the Dutch navigator Willem Barents...
.
Connections with the Kama
Before the arrival of the railroad to the Pechora, an important way of travel to the region was via a portagePortage
Portage or portaging refers to the practice of carrying watercraft or cargo over land to avoid river obstacles, or between two bodies of water. A place where this carrying occurs is also called a portage; a person doing the carrying is called a porter.The English word portage is derived from the...
road, from Cherdyn in the Kama River
Kama River
Kama is a major river in Russia, the longest left tributary of the Volga and the largest one in discharge; in fact, it is larger than the Volga before junction....
basin to Yaksha
Yaksha, Komi Republic
Yaksha is a settlement in Troitsko-Pechorsky District of the Komi Republic, Russia, located in the upper streams of the Pechora River. Population: 1,218 ; 1,793 ....
on the Pechora.
A project for a Pechora-Kama Canal
Pechora-Kama Canal
Pechora–Kama Canal , or sometimes Kama–Pechora Canal was a proposed canal intended to link up the basin of the Pechora River in the north of European Russia with the basin of the Kama, a tributary of the Volga...
along the same general route was widely discussed in the 1960s through 1980s, this time not as much for transportation, but for the diversion of some of the water of the Pechora to the Kama, as part of a grand Northern river reversal
Northern river reversal
The Northern river reversal or Siberian river reversal was an ambitious project to divert the flow of the Northern rivers in the Soviet Union, which "uselessly" drain into the Arctic Ocean, southwards towards the populated agricultural areas of Central Asia, which lack water.Research and planning...
scheme. However, no construction work was carried out on the route of the proposed canal, other than a triple nuclear explosion in 1971, which excavated a crater over 600 m long.