The Baksan, also known as Azau (russian: Баксан, Азау) is a river in
Kabardino-Balkaria in Russia. It flows east northeast and joins the
Malka just before that river joins the northwest bend of the
Terek. The Baksan is long, with a
drainage basin
A drainage basin is an area of land where all flowing surface water converges to a single point, such as a river mouth, or flows into another body of water, such as a lake or ocean. A basin is separated from adjacent basins by a perimeter, ...
of .
Course
The Baksan originates in the Azau
glacier
A glacier (; ) is a persistent body of dense ice that is constantly moving under its own weight. A glacier forms where the accumulation of snow exceeds its ablation over many years, often centuries. It acquires distinguishing features, such a ...
, on the south slopes of
Mount Elbrus
Mount Elbrus ( rus, links=no, Эльбрус, r=Elbrus, p=ɪlʲˈbrus; kbd, Ӏуащхьэмахуэ, 'uaşhəmaxuə; krc, Минги тау, Mingi Taw) is the highest and most prominent peak in Russia and Europe. It is situated in the we ...
. Notable tributaries are the
Chegem and the
Cherek
The Cherek (russian: Черек) is a river in Kabardino-Balkaria in Russia, a right tributary of the Baksan (Terek basin).[ ...]
.
[ On your ascent of the river, Baksan town and ]Tyrnyauz
Tyrnyauz (russian: Тырныауз; krc, Тырныаўуз, ''Tırnıawuz'') is a town and the administrative center of Elbrussky District of the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic, Russia, located on the main road leading to the Upper Baksan valley ...
lie alongside it, and there is a 25 MW hydropower plant on the river.Baksan Neutrino Observatory
The Baksan Neutrino Observatory (BNO; Baksan is sometimes spelled Baxan) is a scientific laboratory of INR RAS located in the Baksan River gorge in the Caucasus mountains in Russia. Cleared for building in 1967, it started operations in 1977, be ...
.
Photo Gallery
File: Stormy Baksan.jpg, Stormy Baksan
File: Forest on the bank of Baksan.jpg, Forest on the bank of Baksan
References
External links
Vimeo Video of Baksan River
Rivers of Kabardino-Balkaria
{{Russia-river-stub