Bolshoy Yenisei, Major river in Tuva, Russia
Bolshoy Yenisei is a river in the Tuva region of southern Siberia that forms the right source of the Yenisei River system. It flows roughly 605 kilometers through mountainous terrain and serves as a major waterway for the area.
The river was carved through southern Siberian mountains over thousands of years by geological forces. It historically served as a natural dividing line between various administrative regions including Tuva, Buryatia, Irkutsk Oblast, and Krasnoyarsk Krai.
Local communities call the river Bii-Khem in the Tuvan language, which means 'big river'. This name reflects how important the waterway has been to people living in this region.
The river is navigable for about 285 kilometers upstream from its mouth, making parts of it accessible for water travel. Visit during warmer months when the water is free of ice and conditions for any water activities are better.
In its upper section, the river flows past nine extinct volcanoes on the Azas Plateau. This volcanic landscape creates a geologically distinctive setting that few visitors might expect to find here.
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