The Lena Plateau, also known as Prilensky Plateau ( rus, Приленское плато, ''Prilenskoye Plato''; sah, Өлүөнэтээҕи хаптал хайалаах сир), is one of the great
plateau
In geology and physical geography, a plateau (; ; ), also called a high plain or a tableland, is an area of a highland consisting of flat terrain that is raised sharply above the surrounding area on at least one side. Often one or more sides ha ...
s of
Siberia
Siberia ( ; rus, Сибирь, r=Sibir', p=sʲɪˈbʲirʲ, a=Ru-Сибирь.ogg) is an extensive geographical region, constituting all of North Asia, from the Ural Mountains in the west to the Pacific Ocean in the east. It has been a part of ...
. Administratively it is mostly within the
Sakha Republic
Sakha, officially the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia),, is the largest republic of Russia, located in the Russian Far East, along the Arctic Ocean, with a population of roughly 1 million. Sakha comprises half of the area of its governing Far Eas ...
(Yakutia), with a small sector in the
Irkutsk Oblast
Irkutsk Oblast (russian: Ирку́тская о́бласть, Irkutskaya oblast; bua, Эрхүү можо, Erkhüü mojo) is a federal subject of Russia (an oblast), located in southeastern Siberia in the basins of the Angara, Lena, and Nizh ...
,
Far Eastern Federal District
The Far Eastern Federal District (russian: Дальневосто́чный федера́льный о́круг, ''Dalnevostochny federalny okrug'') is the largest of the federal districts of Russia, eight federal districts of Russia but t ...
, Russia. The plateau is named after the
Lena River
The Lena (russian: Ле́на, ; evn, Елюенэ, ''Eljune''; sah, Өлүөнэ, ''Ölüöne''; bua, Зүлхэ, ''Zülkhe''; mn, Зүлгэ, ''Zülge'') is the easternmost of the three great Siberian rivers that flow into the Arctic Ocean ...
, which flows across it.
Google Earth
Google Earth is a computer program that renders a 3D computer graphics, 3D representation of Earth based primarily on satellite imagery. The program maps the Earth by superimposition, superimposing satellite images, aerial photography, and geog ...
Protected areas
There are spectacularly eroded
rock formation
A rock formation is an isolated, scenic, or spectacular surface rock outcrop. Rock formations are usually the result of weathering and erosion sculpting the existing rock. The term ''rock formation'' can also refer to specific sediment ...
s composed of
gypsum
Gypsum is a soft sulfate mineral composed of calcium sulfate dihydrate, with the chemical formula . It is widely mined and is used as a fertilizer and as the main constituent in many forms of plaster, blackboard or sidewalk chalk, and drywall. ...
-bearing and saline
limestone
Limestone ( calcium carbonate ) is a type of carbonate sedimentary rock which is the main source of the material lime. It is composed mostly of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of . Limestone forms whe ...
, dolomite and, in some places
sandstone
Sandstone is a clastic sedimentary rock composed mainly of sand-sized (0.0625 to 2 mm) silicate grains. Sandstones comprise about 20–25% of all sedimentary rocks.
Most sandstone is composed of quartz or feldspar (both silicates) ...
, in different spots of the plateau. The
Lena Pillars
Lena Pillars ( rus, Ле́нские столбы́, Lenskiye Stolby; sah, Өлүөнэ туруук хайалара, ''Ölüöne Turūk Khayalara'') is the name given to a natural rock formation along the banks of the Lena River in far eastern ...
, lining the banks of river Lena in the region, are the most well-known of these features. They were declared a
UNESCO World Heritage Site
A World Heritage Site is a landmark or area with legal protection by an international convention administered by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). World Heritage Sites are designated by UNESCO for h ...
in 2012.
Other
protected area
Protected areas or conservation areas are locations which receive protection because of their recognized natural, ecological or cultural values. There are several kinds of protected areas, which vary by level of protection depending on the ena ...
s in the plateau are the
Sinyyaya Pillars by river
Sinyaya
lv, Zilupe be, Сінюха
, image =Zilupe pie Zilupes pilsētas.jpg
, image_size =
, image_caption = Zilupe (Sinyaya) near Zilupe, Latvia
, source1_location = Lake Osveya
, mouth = Velikaya
, m ...
, and the
Turuuk Khaya Rocks by the
Lyutenge River
, image = Река Лютенге.jpg
, image_size =
, image_caption = View of the river
, pushpin_map = Russia Sakha Republic
, pushpin_map_size =
, pushpin_map_caption= Location in the Sakha R ...
.
Visit Yakutia
/ref> The Olyokma Nature Reserve
Olyokma Nature Reserve (russian: Олёкминский) (also Olekminsky) is a Russian 'zapovednik' (strict nature reserve) located south of the middle reaches of the Lena River on the right bank of its second largest tributary - the Olyokma River ...
is located on the eastern side, partly within neighboring Aldan Highlands
The Aldan Highlands, or Aldan Plateau ( rus, Алданское нагорье, r=Aldanskoye Nagorye; sah, Алдан үрдэлэ) are a mountainous area in the Sakha Republic, Far Eastern Federal District, Russia. Aldan town and Tommot are l ...
.
Geography
The Lena Plateau is located in the southern Sakha Republic, between the Lower Tunguska River
The Nizhnyaya Tunguska ( rus, Ни́жняя Тунгу́ска, p=ˈnʲiʐnʲɪjə tʊnˈɡuskə, meaning "Lower Tunguska") is a river in Siberia, Russia, that flows through the Irkutsk Oblast and the Krasnoyarsk Krai. The river is a right tribut ...
in the west and the Amga River
The Amga (russian: Амга; sah, Амма) is a river in Sakha (Yakutia), Russia. The length of the river is . The area of its basin is . The Amga freezes up in the first half of October and stays under the ice until May. Many different kinds ...
in the east. It extends roughly to the north along the left bank of the Lena River for more than with an average width of . The Central Siberian Plateau
The Central Siberian Plateau (russian: Среднесибирское плоскогорье, Srednesibirskoye ploskogorye; sah, Орто Сибиир хаптал хайалаах сирэ) is a vast mountainous area in Siberia, one of the Grea ...
, is located to the northwest and the Central Yakutian Lowland
The Central Yakutian LowlandJohn Kimble (ed.), ''Cryosols: Permafrost-Affected Soils'' or Central Yakutian Lowlands (russian: Центральноякутская равнина; sah, Саха сирин ортоку намтала), also known as ...
to the north. To the south, beyond the Aldan Aldan may refer to:
;People
*Gille Aldan, the first bishop of Galloway, Scotland
* Andrey Aldan-Semenov (1908–1985), Russian writer
*Duke Aldan, a fictional character in '' Langrisser IV'' video game
;Places
*Aldan, Russia, a town in the Sakha R ...
, rise the Olyokma-Chara Plateau
The Olyokma-Chara Plateau ( rus, Олёкмо-Чарское плоскогорье; sah, Өлүөхүмэ-Чаара хаптал хайалаах сир) is a mountainous area in the Sakha Republic and Irkutsk Oblast, Far Eastern Federal Di ...
and the Aldan Highlands
The Aldan Highlands, or Aldan Plateau ( rus, Алданское нагорье, r=Aldanskoye Nagorye; sah, Алдан үрдэлэ) are a mountainous area in the Sakha Republic, Far Eastern Federal District, Russia. Aldan town and Tommot are l ...
.
The average height of the Lena Plateau surface is between and . Elevations become slightly higher towards the south of the plateau, reaching a maximum height of at an unnamed summit. The plateau is located in a permafrost
Permafrost is ground that continuously remains below 0 °C (32 °F) for two or more years, located on land or under the ocean. Most common in the Northern Hemisphere, around 15% of the Northern Hemisphere or 11% of the global surface ...
zone where the soil freezes down to hundreds of meters.
The Lena Plateau occupies a very large area, including parts of the districts of Mirny, Suntar, Verkhnevilyuy, Gorny, Khangalassky, Megino-Kangalassky, Lensky, Olyokmin, Amgin and Aldan Aldan may refer to:
;People
*Gille Aldan, the first bishop of Galloway, Scotland
* Andrey Aldan-Semenov (1908–1985), Russian writer
*Duke Aldan, a fictional character in '' Langrisser IV'' video game
;Places
*Aldan, Russia, a town in the Sakha R ...
in the Sakha Republic, as well as parts of Katanga and Bodaybin districts in the Irkutsk Oblast
Irkutsk Oblast (russian: Ирку́тская о́бласть, Irkutskaya oblast; bua, Эрхүү можо, Erkhüü mojo) is a federal subject of Russia (an oblast), located in southeastern Siberia in the basins of the Angara, Lena, and Nizh ...
.
Hydrography
The Namana
The Namana (russian: Намана; sah, Намана) is a river in Yakutia (Sakha Republic), Russia. It is the 17th longest tributary of the Lena with a length of . Its drainage basin area is .
There are no settlements located by the river, bu ...
, Buotama
, image = Круиз Якутск - Ленские столбы - Тикси - Якутск, 2017 (047).jpg
, image_size =
, image_caption = View of the river
, pushpin_map = Russia Sakha Republic
, pu ...
, Menda, Suola, Kenkeme
The Kenkeme (russian: Кенкеме; sah, Кэҥкэмэ, ''Keŋkeme'') is a river in Yakutia (Sakha Republic), Russia. It is a tributary of the Lena (river), Lena with a length of — together with the Yagas-Yyaabyt at its head— and a drain ...
, Bappagay, Kempendyay (Кемпендяй), Tatta
, image = Ытык-Кюель1.jpg
, image_caption = A branch of the Tatta at Ytyk-Kyuyol
, source1 = Lena Plateau
, source1_elevation =
, source1_coordinates =
, mouth = Aldan River
, mouth_elevatio ...
, Tamma
The Tamma (russian: Тамма; sah, Тамма) is a river in Yakutia (Sakha Republic), Russia. It is a tributary of the Lena with a length of and a drainage basin area of .
The Tamma is the largest river of Megino-Kangalassky District. The ...
, Peleduy
Peleduy (russian: Пеледуй; sah, Пеледуй) is an urban locality (an urban-type settlement) in Lensky District of the Sakha Republic, Russia. As of the 2010 Census, its population was 5,243. Geography
Peleduy is located on the ...
, Nyuya
Nyuya (russian: Нюя; sah, Ньүүйэ, ''Ñüüye'') is a rural locality (a '' selo''), the administrative centre of and one of two settlements, in addition to Turukta, in Nyuysky Rural Okrug of Lensky District in the Sakha Republic, Rus ...
, Pilyuda
The Pilyuda (russian: Пилюда) is a river in Irkutsk Oblast, Russia. It is a tributary of the Lena with a length of and a drainage basin area of .
The river flows across an uninhabited area of the Kirensky District. Orlova village is loc ...
, Ichera
The Ichera (russian: Ичера or Ичёра) is a river in Irkutsk Oblast, Russia. It is a tributary of the Lena with a length of and a drainage basin area of .
The river flows across an uninhabited area of the Kirensky District. Ichera vil ...
, Chona
The Chona ( rus, Чона; sah, Чуона) is a river in the Sakha Republic (Yakutia) and Irkutsk Oblast, Russia. It is a right hand tributary of the Vilyuy, and is long, with a drainage basin of .
The Russian Geographical Society organized ...
, Sinyaya
lv, Zilupe be, Сінюха
, image =Zilupe pie Zilupes pilsētas.jpg
, image_size =
, image_caption = Zilupe (Sinyaya) near Zilupe, Latvia
, source1_location = Lake Osveya
, mouth = Velikaya
, m ...
, Markha, Lungkha
The Lungkha (russian: Лунгха; sah, Луҥха, ''Luŋxa'') is a river in Yakutia (Sakha Republic), Russia. It is the 14th longest tributary of the Lena with a length of — counting its Yychaky tributary. Its drainage basin area is .
A3 ...
, Tyugyuene
The Tyugyuene (russian: Тюгюэне or Тюгене; sah, Түгүөнэ, ''Tügüöne'') is a river in Yakutia (Sakha Republic), Russia. It is a tributary of the Lena with a length of and a drainage basin area of . The river marks the borde ...
, Ulakhan-Botuobuya
The Ulakhan-Botuobuya ( rus, Улахан-Ботуобуя or Большая Ботуобуя; "Big Botuobuya"; sah, Улахан Ботуобуйа) is a river in Yakutia (Sakha Republic), Russia. It is a right hand tributary of the Vilyuy, with ...
, Malaya Botuobuya, Matta, Biryuk, Cherendey, Ura, Sitte and Lyutenge
, image = Река Лютенге.jpg
, image_size =
, image_caption = View of the river
, pushpin_map = Russia Sakha Republic
, pushpin_map_size =
, pushpin_map_caption= Location in the Sakha Re ...
are some of the watercourses having their source in the plateau.
Flora and climate
There are taiga
Taiga (; rus, тайга́, p=tɐjˈɡa; relates to Mongolic and Turkic languages), generally referred to in North America as a boreal forest or snow forest, is a biome characterized by coniferous forests consisting mostly of pines, spruce ...
forests made up mostly of pine and larch
Larches are deciduous conifers in the genus ''Larix'', of the family Pinaceae (subfamily Laricoideae). Growing from tall, they are native to much of the cooler temperate northern hemisphere, on lowlands in the north and high on mountains furt ...
in the higher areas. Wetlands
A wetland is a distinct ecosystem that is flooded or saturated by water, either permanently (for years or decades) or seasonally (for weeks or months). Flooding results in oxygen-free (anoxic) processes prevailing, especially in the soils. The ...
and meadows are common in the river valleys cutting across the plateau.[Приленское плато, ]Great Soviet Encyclopedia
The ''Great Soviet Encyclopedia'' (GSE; ) is one of the largest Russian-language encyclopedias, published in the Soviet Union from 1926 to 1990. After 2002, the encyclopedia's data was partially included into the later ''Bolshaya rossiyskaya e ...
The plateau is characterized by a harsh continental climate
Continental climates often have a significant annual variation in temperature (warm summers and cold winters). They tend to occur in the middle latitudes (40 to 55 north), within large landmasses where prevailing winds blow overland bringing som ...
, with long cold winters and sparse amounts of snow. In winter the temperature may drop to , and sometimes even down to . Summers are moderately warm with temperatures reaching to . Precipitation is between and per year. Most of the yearly precipitation falls in the summer in the form of rain.
See also
* Geography of Russia § Topography and drainage
* Patom Highlands
The Patom Highlands ( rus, Патомское нагорье) are a mountainous area in Eastern Siberia, Russia. Administratively most of the territory of the uplands is part of Irkutsk Oblast, with a smaller section in northern Transbaikal Krai. ...
References
{{Reflist
External links
Physiogeography of the Russian Far East
Wetlands in Russia - Vol.4
Central Siberian Plateau
Plateaus of the Sakha Republic
Landforms of Irkutsk Oblast