Where is the Kara river located? Komi, the Nenets Autonomous Okrug, the Arkhangelsk region and the northeast of the Bolshezemelskaya tundra are the lands of the northern part of Eurasia through which it carries its waters. The river bed at low water varies from 150 to 300 meters. Its depth is three or more meters, sometimes it reaches a five-meter mark. There are many shallow irregularly shaped lakes in the area. The Arctic climate is tempered by the proximity of the Gulf Stream and the impact of the sea. The climate becomes more continental with the removal inland from the coast of the Kara and Pechersk seas. In the village of Ust-Kara, located on the coast, the indigenous population of the region lives.
River description
The length of the Kara River is 257 km. It begins when the two rivers Bolshaya and Malaya Kara merge together, flowing along the slopes of the Polar Urals from the north-western side. The river separates the Nenets and Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Districts. On its way, it flows through several canyons, forming rapids and waterfalls. Buredan is the largest of them and is located 9 km below its confluence with the Nerusoveyakhi river. The river flows into the Gulf of Kara Bay. And the village of Ust-Kara is located on the right bank of the bay. The river eats from snows and rains, ice freezing begins in October and lasts until June. The river has three tributaries, shipping is possible in its lower part, and in the upper reaches it is used for boating.
At the mouth of the Kara River is a village. Further, it flows through uninhabited territory. Sometimes there are temporary reindeer herder camps and fishing houses. The stormy river has a capricious and unstable character. Its width and water level changes all the time. In the driest season, the width is about 70 m, the depth at rifts reaches one and a half meters. After heavy rains, the river deepens significantly, and the width in some areas can increase up to two times.
Climate
The sharply continental climate of the Polar Urals is characterized by a long winter with crackling frosts, snowstorms and heavy snow cover. The duration of the winter period reaches nine months. In mountain ranges, winter lasts a month longer than in flat areas, but with milder frosts. In the midst of cold weather, the temperature on the foothill lowlands sometimes reaches -54, and the average - about 19 degrees. There is a lot of rainfall in this area both in winter and in summer. In the northern part of the Arctic Circle, polar midnight begins in mid-December. With the onset of May, snow melts and rivers open, but the average monthly temperature is negative. In June at night, frost often occurs, but during the day it is warm, up to +20 degrees. After a short spring, summer quickly begins. The warmest month is July with an average temperature of up to 14 degrees above zero. Freezing is possible in the second half of August, but the average temperature is positive. The end of September is already the onset of winter, the water in the lakes freezes, snow cover is being established. In October, strong snowstorms begin, and winter completely dominates the Polar Urals.
Chumysh River
Chumysh is formed during the unification of Kara-Chumysh and Tom-Chumysh. They originate in the region of the Kemerovo region, near the border of the Altai Territory. Before the confluence, the length of Kara-Chumysh is 173 km, and Tom-Chumysh is 110 km. Both are located in the east of the Salair Ridge and flow towards the south. After the formation of the Chumysh River, near the city of Prokopyevsk, it changes direction, passing around the Salair Ridge from the south, and goes along the outskirts from the west. There is a reservoir on the Kara-Chumysh river, which supplies water to two cities - Prokopyevsk and Kiselevsk.
Both rivers, forming at the confluence of Chumysh, are mountainous and are located in the taiga in an uninhabited area. The Chumysh River from the southern part of the Salair Ridge flows along the plain, but rifts can occur. The length of the river is 644 km. Water masses are replenished due to snow and rain. In summer, dry weather is shallow. The river flows into the Ob, therefore it contains all the fish present in the Ob: ide, pike, common carp, pike perch, perch, bream, nelma, sterlet, sturgeon. Fishing at Chumysh is wonderful, lovers of spinning and float fishing are satisfied with it.
Animal world
The harsh conditions of the Polar Urals also exert their influence on the animal kingdom. But thanks to a long polar day and a large amount of food, animals manage to breed in a short summer. Most often there are such representatives of the fauna: hare, reindeer, wolverine, arctic fox, wolf and ermine. Birds are represented by larks, partridges, waders, waterfowl - geese and ducks. The main fish is grayling, which is found in all mountain rivers. Every season large shoals of loach come to spawn. There is another fish: burbot, pike, pike perch, ide, common carp.
Buredan - the largest waterfall in the Polar Urals
Boredan Waterfall is not the only one on the Kara River, but the largest and most amazing phenomenon. It is located 9 km from the mouth of the Nerusoveyyakh river, where Kara makes a sharp turn and rushes into the canyon with a steep cliff, forming a waterfall with three tiers. The length of the canyon is about one and a half kilometers. He is chained to steep cliffs. The picturesque three-tier cascade of rapids and rapids of Buredan on the Kara River stretches for ten kilometers.
The height of the water fall is 10 m. Buredan Waterfall is one of the largest not only on the Kara River, but also in the European part of Russia. After a stormy fall, the river calms down, and on its banks appear recesses formed from water and stones, similar to marble baths. In order to look at the waterfall, it is best to drive to the former mining village of Halmer-u, which is located northeast of Vorkuta, and then on an all-terrain vehicle or, rafting down the river, get to Boredan.
History of the Kara Kengir River
In the Karaganda region of the Republic of Kazakhstan in the Ulytau region, a river flows under the name Kara-Kengir at a length of 295 km. It originates from a spring seven kilometers from Lake Barakkol, and near the winter hut of Surgita flows into the Sarysu River and is its right tributary.
In 1952, the Kengir reservoir was built to supply water to industrial enterprises in Dzhezkazgan (now Zhezkazgan). Zhezkazgan is located on the shore of the Kara-Kengir reservoir and is considered a major center of non-ferrous metallurgy. In the river basin near the village of Malshybai there is a historical monument of the 13th century - the mausoleum of Alash Khan. It is built in the shape of a rectangle of ten meters in height. For masonry structures used burnt brick. Its walls on the outside resemble a carpet with an alai pattern. Popular legend says that Alysha-khan was a fearless and courageous leader of the Kazakh tribes.
Char on the river Kara
Kara is considered a fish river. And some fishing enthusiasts go fishing on a mountain river, which originates from the northern mountains of the Polar Urals. Here you can catch whitefish, muksuns, omul, grayling, but the char is a decoration of Kara. It is large in size and, as experienced fishermen say, is much tastier than char on other bodies of water in Russia. And the spawning of this fish, unlike other salmon, is not in the autumn, but in the last days of June.
The char on the river Kara has a strong body and powerful tail, which allows it to swim at high speed and cope with abrupt changes. The fish has a small head, and the mouth is filled with small and very sharp teeth. Mostly char live in the sea. However, for spawning, mature individuals about once every three years after August 15 swim in the fresh water of Kara and disperse throughout the river. Fish reaches four, and sometimes even six kilograms. It stops annually in the same places for rest and spawning, choosing sections of the river with a rocky or pebbly bottom most often above the rift. The char is an aggressive fish and devours all the fish that swim by. This is exactly what hunters use.
Go fishing for char
For fishing on the Kara river, when fishing for char, a rod or spinning rod is used. Fishing is carried out by the fly fishing method, so a rod consisting of four or five knees, with a total length of at least seven meters and a strong fishing line, is required. Fishing is carried out on an artificial fly or spinner, but because of the wide width of the river, fly fishing often cannot get char from the parking lot. That's why hunters on the Kara most often use spinning. And they take with them at once two, completely ready for fishing. Firstly, a strong fish is able to leave a fisherman without tackle on a stormy river, and secondly, the loach site is located far from the shore, and to reach it, a two-handed man is needed.
The most suitable reel for loach fishing is the inertial Nevskaya. It has the necessary strength, is simply adjustable and allows for quick wiring. The fishing line is used strong, withstanding a load of at least 9 kilograms. But the spinners do not really matter. Loaches perfectly peck both at the rotating and oscillating spinner of any color. In addition, it needs durable large-sized tees with sharp hooks and large beards. Fishermen who do not have enough experience may not immediately notice a bite, and with a small tee, the char quickly disappears. Under the circumstances, the fishermen catch a very large fish, so the satisfied and rested come back from vacation. And next year, many again return to familiar places.
How to get there
There are several ways to get to the inaccessible Kara River, the length of which is about 300 kilometers.
First you need to get to Vorkuta. 70 km northeast of it is the former mining village of Halmer-U, to which a passenger train runs from Vorkuta. And then use two routes:
- Land - it is necessary to overcome the forty-kilometer path to the upper Kara. You can take the accompanying all-terrain vehicle.
- Water - in a boat on the Harmel-Yu river, swim to its confluence with Silovaya-Yakha (about 60 km), and then along it to Kara. Good boat driving skills will be required.
Experienced anglers who have visited the Kara River several times warn of the necessary equipment. They advise you to take with you:
- tourist tent;
- air mattress;
- a bag for sleeping;
- Primus "Bumblebee".
The lack of forests and a small number of shrubs does not allow to make bonfires. The economical and portable Bumblebee primus is used not only for cooking, but also for heating and drying clothes.
Waters of Kara-Koisu
In Dagestan, the Kara-Koysu River serves as a tributary of the Avar Koysu and flows through the terrain of three districts for 97 km. Its origins begin on the slopes of the Dulti-Dag ridge. Its waters are used to supply villages and irrigate fields located in the river basin. In 1940, the first power station of Dagestan was erected on the river, and in 2005 the construction of another hydroelectric station on Kara-Koisu was completed. The river is fed by snows and rains.
The waters of the river carry a lot of suspensions and sediments, especially in floods. In some places, the river reaches only 30 meters wide and lies in the grip of vertical rock walls, reaching a height of several hundred meters. Above them there are flat slopes suitable for farming, and then again stone walls. The river valleys are filled with stones and talus. During the melting of snow and precipitation, the Kara-Koysu river rages, and the water carries huge stones, sweeping away everything in its path and forming mudflows. The rocky walls have large niches with hanging ceilings that formed after the collapse of the blocks. In places, vertical rocks descend under the water and erode, forming landslides and landslides.
Hiking routes
Water rafting on various rivers is one of the types of water tourism. So, in Vorkuta groups are recruited for travel and fishing along the northern rivers. Anyone can choose a direction and make an application for participation. One of these routes is: Boredan waterfall, located on the Kara river, - Kara Sea.
This is an extreme route that runs in the highlands of the Polar Urals and along the coast of the Arctic Ocean. You can endlessly admire the untouched nature of the north, which you probably will not find anywhere else. The best time to go is from the second decade of July to the first decade of September. Applications are submitted in advance by email. The necessary conditions:
- clothes - thermal underwear, waterproof and windproof suits, high boots;
- Food.
Boots and provisions can be purchased at Vorkuta stores.
The duration of the tour is eight days. Tourists gather in Vorkuta and stay at the hotel for a day. Then they are cast to the famous Boredan waterfall using a helicopter or on an all-terrain vehicle. On the shore of the pond, a camp is spent for the night. Further rafting on the river Kare is planned, lasting three days with two nights and fishing, which is a large number in the river. Upon arrival in the village of Ust-Kara, tourists walk on foot to the Kara Sea, where they spend the night in tents. The next day they return to Vorkuta and are accommodated in a hotel. A tour is organized around the city.
Campaign is conducted by experienced instructors, all overnight stays are outdoors in tents, food is cooked at the stake, and rafting on the river in rubber motor boats.
Vegetation
The vegetation of the Polar Urals is not very diverse. Taiga forests grow only in the southern part and they consist of spruce and larch. Among the forests there are marshes covered with moss, where cloudberries, blueberries and blueberries grow. When climbing mountains, there are larch and birch groves, which alternate with small types of shrubs, birches and willows. A lot of space is occupied by meadows, which are full of bright flowers of various colors. Even higher, the climate becomes very harsh, and there is no vegetation on the slopes of the ranges, except for mosses and lichens covering stone placers. In the northern part of the region, vegetation is even poorer. Only rare deciduous forests are found on the eastern slope. And in the west - the Kara and Pechora river basin, as well as their tributaries, are covered with bushes of the polar birch and willow, flowers and herbs. Further north, in the summer months, on the sunny slopes, everything is filled with flowers. Later, mushrooms, blueberries, cloudberries and lingonberries ripen.
The population of the Polar Urals
Most of this polar region is completely uninhabited. In the summer, yurts of nomadic reindeer herders are found, and along the banks of mountain rivers here and there are houses for fishermen. Komi and Nenets are indigenous to the harsh terrain. They are engaged in reindeer husbandry, fishing and hunting for fur animals. Small towns and cities are located along the railway line. Not far from Labytnangi passes the Trans-Yamal highway, around which the district begins to settle down. In the northernmost part of the Polar Urals is the village of Ust-Kara, which has helicopter links with Vorkuta and Naryan-Mar. Its length along the coast of the Kara Sea is one kilometer. The village has a telephone, telegraph, post office, hospital, two shops and a bathhouse. The local population is very friendly and welcoming. Along the river, you can go into any plague, where you will be fed, heated and, if necessary, a helicopter will be called by radio.
Kara River Travel Report
In summer, groups of several people make a water trip along the mountainous and amazing Kara river. The report on the rafting is in the public domain so that everyone who wants to travel the northern outskirts of the mountains of the Polar Urals, admire the nature of the harsh region and go fishing on a mountainous, raging river is familiar with it. The main purpose of the rafting is fishing. Usually biting pleases travelers, grayling pecks on any bait.
The fish is quite large and reaches a weight of more than a kilogram. At first it is considered pieces, then it is weighed in kilograms, and then they are measured in bags. Travelers roast grayling, roasted, boiled, salted, smoked and even dried in the northern sun. At this time, the weather is excellent, in the summer at night it is as light as day. Such information is contained in the report. Rafting on the river Kara is always successful. The main attraction is the threshold with the Boredan waterfall. The nature in the tundra is monotonous. Delivery to the river and back can be performed by helicopter or all-terrain vehicle.
Legends of the Ural region
The legacy of the indigenous inhabitants of the Polar Urals left a large number of beautiful legends telling about the emergence of the beauties of the northern lands. Here are two of them:
- Khanty and Mansi narrate that once upon a time there lived a hefty and very greedy giant in the taiga. From year to year, he put a lot of jewelry in a giant belt. Once, from accumulated goodness, the belt fell to the ground and the Ural Mountains appeared with rich deposits of metals and gems.
- In the Northern Urals, there are seven stone outcrops called the Weathering Pillars. Legend has it that a very long time ago a tribe lived in this area, the leader of which was a wise man with a lovely daughter and a wise son. And when the son was hunting, a heartless giant from another tribe got involved with his daughter. After the beauty's refusal, the giant called his six brothers and the battle began. The son returned from the hunt and directed a ray of sunshine, reflecting from the magic shield, at the enemies. Since then, seven giants turned into stones and to this day stand on the battlefield.
Historical information
Among the most noteworthy are the following:
- The Kara River (whose photo is in the article) has long attracted wanderers. In 1909, the geologist O. A. Baklund made his first trip along it. Having overcome the difficult path, he found himself at the middle course, from where he began to descend the river in a rubber folding boat. An accident did not occur, because the reindeer breeders met just before the waterfall warned of the danger.
- In 1736, near the mouth of the Kara River, a wintering of the Great Northern Expedition was organized, the participants of which were Stepan Malygin and Alexey Skuratov. After it, the Kara Sea found its name.
- In 1902, the first hydrographic expedition of the Arctic Ocean, led by Alexander Varneka, worked at the mouth of Kara.
