Khatyrka (river)

The Khatyrka (Russian: Хатырка; Chukot: Ватыркан) is a river in Chukotka Autonomous Okrug, Russia. The length of the river is 367 kilometres (228 mi) and the area of is drainage basin 13,400 square kilometres (5,200 sq mi).[1]

Khatyrka
Хатырка / Ватыркан
Panorama of the Khatyrka estuary
Khatyrka (river) is located in Chukotka Autonomous Okrug
Khatyrka (river)
Mouth location in Chukotka
Khatyrka (river) is located in Far Eastern Federal District
Khatyrka (river)
Khatyrka (river) (Far Eastern Federal District)
Location
CountryRussia
Federal subjectChukotka Autonomous Okrug
DistrictAnadyr District
Physical characteristics
Source 
  locationKoryak Highlands
  coordinates62°18′03″N 171°29′06″E
  elevationca 600 metres (2,000 ft)
MouthBering Sea
  coordinates
62°02′35″N 175°16′40″E
  elevation
0 metres (0 ft)
Length367 km (228 mi)
Basin size13,400 km2 (5,200 sq mi)
Discharge 
  average174 m3/s (6,100 cu ft/s)

The name of the river comes from the Chukot "vatyrkan" (Ватыркан), meaning "dry, depleted place".[2]

Course

The Khatyrka has its source in the Koryak Highlands. It first flows in an ENE direction along the northern slopes of the Komeutyuyam Range as a mountain river within a narrow valley. It bends to the SSE at the northeastern end of the range and the valley expands, the river dividing into channels. In its lower course it flows along a marshy floodplain.[3][4] A stretch of the river forms the border with the Olyutorsky District of Kamchatka Krai. Its mouth is in an estuary that is separated by a narrow landspit from the Bering Sea. Khatyrka village lies at the mouth of the estuary.[5][6]

Tributaries

The main tributary of the Khatyrka is the 103 km (64 mi) long Iomrautvaam (Иомраутваам), joining it from the right.[1] A unique-type of meteorite[7] fell in the area of the Iomrautvaam river basin and was buried in a 7,000-year-old layer of dirt. It was found during an expedition to Chukotka in the summer of 2011.[8]

Course of the Khatyrka.

Flora and fauna

The river basin is characterized by tundra vegetation, including mosses, lichens, dwarf shrubs, and sedges.[9]

The inhabitants of the area are engaged in reindeer herding. River Khatyrka is a good place for fishing. Among the fish species found in the waters of the river the pink salmon, chum salmon, sockeye salmon and Chinook salmon deserve mention.[6]

See also

References

  1. "Река Хатырка in the State Water Register of Russia". textual.ru (in Russian).
  2. Leontiev V.V. , Novikova K.A. Toponymic dictionary of the North-East of the USSR / scientific. ed. G. A. Menovshchikov ; FEB AS USSR . North-East complex. Research Institute. Lab. archeology, history and ethnography. - Magadan: Magadan . book. publishing house , 1989. - S. 290. - 456 p. — ISBN 5-7581-0044-7 .
  3. Atlas of Russia
  4. "Топографска карта P-59_60 - Topographic USSR Chart (in Russian)". Retrieved 17 February 2022.
  5. Google Earth
  6. Water of Russia - Хатырка
  7. Cosmic sleuthing: An origin story for a really weird meteorite
  8. Khatyrka meteorite, Iomrautvaam - Mindat.org
  9. V. Yu. Neshataeva, Vegetation cover of the North of the Kamchatka Okrug (Kamchatsky Krai) and its geobotanical zoning // Ecology and geography of plants and plant communities: Proceedings of the IV International Scientific Conference. - Yekaterinburg, 2018. - April 16. — ISBN 978-5-7741-0341-6
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