Mount Belukha foot and source of the Katun River. The Altai Mountains, border between Russia and Kazakhstan
The longest river in Altai is the Katun. Its length is 688 km. The Katun rises from the Katun Glacier (the Glacier of Gebler) on the southern slope of Belukha at an altitude of 2,000 m. There are over 800 glaciers in its basin. It has 254 tributaries totaling a length of over 700 km. The word “Katun” means “Queen of rivers”. The Katun is a turbulent mountain river with lots of rapids, one of which is known as the Teldekpen Rapid. It occurs just below the mouth of the Edigan River. At this point the Katun roars in a narrow canyon formed by high indented rocks. In its lower reaches, close to the confluence with the Biya River, the Katun becomes a calm steppe river. The Katun is especially gorgeous at the beginning of May when its rocky banks get covered with a delicate rose-colored haze of an evergreen blossoming bush - rhododendron. The Katun River basin is home to 26 species of fish. Several families belong here: sturgeons (the Siberian sturgeon and the sterlet); salmon (the taimen, nelma, grayling, and lenok); codfishes (the only freshwater member is the burbot). The total fish population in the Katun remains small because of rapid current, turbidity, low water temperatures and little forage resources.
Size: 4948px × 4965px
Location: Mount Belukha Katun River Glacier Ridge Altay Altai Mountains Russia Kazakhstan Russian Federation
Photo credit: © Pavel Filatov / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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