The nature of the Kursk region has long been known for its unique relief and diversity of vegetation and wildlife. The water resources of this territory cannot be ignored. This article will describe some of the rivers of the Kursk region.
General information
The rivers of this region are a very extensive network. All of them belong to the flat type and are not distinguished by special full-flow. They mainly cover the central and western parts of the region (80%), adjacent to the Dnieper basin. These include the largest rivers, such as the Sejm and Psel, with their many tributaries. The rest (20%) in the eastern part of the region formed a network that merges with the Don basin. For example, Olym, Tim, Oskol, Kshen. In total, the length of the river network is approximately 8, 000 km. You may be interested to know where the rivers of the Kursk region flow, as well as what vegetation surrounds them.
Picturesque corners
The type of river system depends on the geographical and climatic features of the area. The Central Russian Upland, more precisely, its southwestern part, where the Kursk Region is located, is famous for the variety of flora and fauna. This area is characterized by a flat relief with small hills. Erosion damage, responsible for its formation in a given area, is mainly caused by the activity of river flows. Rivers and lakes of the Kursk region are a complex of separate picturesque corners, alternating one after another. As a result of the activity of small rivers, many ravines were formed. Forest-steppes are replaced by broad-leaved forests and oak forests. There are also pine groves that sprawl on sandy soils. Forests covering the coast alternate with meadows partially plowed for agricultural land.
Basically, the natural lakes of this region are formed in the floodplains of some rivers, once flooded with floods. Many of them are elders of the Seim river. These include lakes such as Malino, Fitizh, Macove, Lezvino, Cranberry. The latter was formed on the site of a former peat bog at the beginning of the 20th century. In places, its shores are covered with forest glades dotted with strawberries and raspberries. Many plants grow here, including those listed in the Red Book. Malino Lake is known as a source of good catch. It is noteworthy that each individual fish species knows its place in the pond. Lake Fitizh, near which there is a village with architectural sights, attracts many tourists in the summer.
River Nutrition
In nature, everything is arranged in such a way that each system can replenish its resources. In order for the riverbeds not to run dry, they need to eat due to the underground and surface runoff of the area in which they flow. The starting point of most of them are sources located in beams. Frequently flooded valleys are characterized by swampiness and a slow flow of water characteristic of such conditions. Rivers form many tributaries, which vary significantly both in the nature of the convolutions and in size. The main food for the rivers is melt snow water and, to a lesser extent, groundwater and rainwater. Due to snow reserves, river channels pass more than 50% of the annual discharge per year. Groundwater replenishes rivers by 30%, and rainwater - by 15%.
Spring flood
The highest level of the Kursk region river is reached in spring. In the past few decades, floods began to manifest themselves to a much lesser extent. The average duration of spring floods is about 20 days. This period varies depending on the size of the rivers and the terrain. On large flows, it can last more than a month, and on small ones - up to 10 days. At the Seim river this gap is quite significant, in particular within the lowlands.
The level of water rise begins 6-7 days before the ice breaks. This time usually falls on the end of March - the beginning of April. The movement of ice occurs within 5 days, and on large rivers twice as long. By the end of April, the flood usually ends, and already in May, the water level drops markedly.
The condition of the rivers in the summer-autumn period
In the summer, the rivers of the Kursk region are essentially shallow, and the shallow beds dry up completely. At the lowest level regarding the water level, these watercourses fall in August and September. However, the climatic conditions of the area can bring surprises. Sometimes low-water (low) water flows can be disturbed by rain floods associated with heavy rains. Often they occur repeatedly and can reach a height of more than 1 m. In contrast to spring floods, spontaneous floods do not affect the river state characteristic of this time. Although everything can happen in just a few hours or days, depending on the size of the channel, the water level quickly drops to the original.
When the air temperature begins to drop, river flows rise slightly, and in the second half of November the rivers usually freeze. Floods can also occur in winter due to short thaws. A characteristic feature of the rivers of this region is the thickness of the ice. It can reach 0.5 m, and in more severe winters this figure rises to 0.8 m.
More detailed information on the water sources of this area is provided below. We will find out where the river of the Kursk region Diet flows into, and the article also describes two other popular rivers - Tuskar and Psel.
Where do they go
The Seim river bed is located on the territory of Russia and Ukraine, and the watercourse itself belongs to the Black Sea and Dnieper basins. Its source is located on the southwestern slopes of the Central Russian Upland. The diet is considered one of the most famous waterways of the Kursk region. Where does the Seim river flow? From the village of Morozovo, Gubkinsky district, located near its source, it goes to Sumy region and merges with Desna in the Chernihiv region.
The Tuskar River originates near the village of Novoaleksandrovka (Shchigrovsky District), referring to the catchment of the Black Sea and such rivers as Desna, Dnieper and Seim. With the latter, Tuskar merges on the southern side of the city of Kursk, acting as its right tributary.
The waters of the Psel River flow from the village of Prigorki on the border with the Kursk Region, completing their journey along the Dnieper River. On the way, Psel flows through the Sumy and Poltava regions, its channel is located within the Dnieper lowland. The river is the left tributary of the Dnieper and is included in the catchment of the Black Sea.
Obviously, the river system cannot be called monotonous. All rivers of the Kursk region are beautiful in their own way. The description of each of them individually focuses on their features.
Diet
In its size, it differs from other rivers of the Kursk region. The Sejm is a large tributary of the Desna, the width of which in the lower reaches is up to 100 m. The riverbed with a length of 500 km is located among the picturesque landscapes. The main part of its tributaries (a total of 900) is located here. These include Swapa, Kleven and Tuskar. The length of 7 tributaries flowing into the river in the Ukrainian valleys is about 10 km.
In the course of the river, the river forms a large number of bends. It has different banks, one of which is quite steep and acts as a cliff. However, at the beginning of the journey both banks are gentle. Due to the fact that the river flow has a slight slope, its flow is slow, although in ancient times it was navigable. The bottom in the upper reaches of the Seimas is loamy, then it is replaced by sandy loam, and below it turns into sandy.
In the waters of the river and lakes located in the nearby valleys, there are many fish. You can find such varieties as tench and rudd. Of the plants listed in the Red Book of Russia, gladiolus grows here, and a white water lily in the river itself. Gladiolus meadow is located near the floodplain and adjoins the Glushkovsky district nature reserve near the village of Karyzh. A considerable part of the river’s coastal area is covered by a pine forest, in which rare types of trees grow: Manchurian walnut, Weymouth pine and Crimean.
Dog
The length of the Psel River channel in the Kursk region is more than 200 km, the rest is in Ukrainian territory (about 500 kilometers). Of the 25 available tributaries, the most voluminous merge with the river in the middle of its course. The length of the right tributary Grun is 55 km. The Khorol River, carrying its waters for 300 km, flows into Psel from the left side. Some places are characterized by high bogging.
The Psel River itself is characterized by a calm course, spacious sandy banks and diverse vegetation. It is shallow, with a beautiful winding channel and asymmetrical shores. The bottom is mostly sandy, sometimes silty. There are aquatic inhabitants, of which there are up to 50 species. There are hares and foxes on the shores, and in the thick of the forest you can encounter roe deer and wild boar.
Tuskar
The Tuskar River flowing through the Kursk Region is the third largest among all tributaries of the Seimas. It forms its own tributaries. The right are Nepolka, Again and Chickens, and the left are the Vinogrobl River. In the area of the village of Freedom, Tuskar beautifully wriggles, covering the entire village. The river serves as the border between the Railway and Central districts of the city. At the Kirov bridge there is an old woman with the historical name "New Marina", assigned to it in the XVI century. The most famous of several branches of Tuskar and the formed old ladies are Rovets and Krivets.
Interesting Facts
In the era of Kievan Rus, the Tuskar River was an integral part of the water chain, starting from the Dnieper and lasting to the Volga. Once, ships sailed along it, and in the 18th century a port was built and a steam boat launched. In Soviet times, various sports games and competitions were held on the river, and now it has become a resting place for local residents.
There is a legend that the Seim river was formed as a result of the merger of seven shallow rivulets, hence, as they say, it got its name. Previously, the river was navigable; later, different types of recreation centers were built on its banks.
During the time of Peter the Great, industry began to develop in Kursk, and the city was transformed into a large shopping center. Over time, agriculture expanded significantly and the first cloth factory appeared. At this time, the Seim river served as a means for transporting its products.
