The Chyolomdzha (Russian: Чёломджа; Even: Чаламдя) is a river in Magadan Oblast, Russia. It has a length of 228 kilometres (142 mi) and a drainage basin of 12,000 square kilometres (4,600 sq mi).[2]

Chyolomdzha
Чёломджа / Чаламдя
Chyolomdzha is located in Magadan Oblast
Chyolomdzha
Mouth location in Magadan Oblast, Russia
Location
CountryRussia
Federal subjectMagadan Oblast
DistrictOlsky District
Physical characteristics
Source 
 • locationUpper Kolyma Highlands
 • coordinates60°34′05″N 145°41′10″E / 60.56806°N 145.68611°E / 60.56806; 145.68611
MouthTaui
 • coordinates
59°46′52″N 148°15′19″E / 59.78111°N 148.25528°E / 59.78111; 148.25528[1]
Length228 km (142 mi)
Basin size12,000 km2 (4,600 sq mi)
Discharge 
 • average132 m3/s (4,700 cu ft/s)
Basin features
ProgressionTauiSea of Okhotsk

The Chyolomdzha is the longest tributary of the Taui (Kava) and flows across an uninhabited area, part of the Magadan Nature Reserve.[3] The name of the river originated in the Even language.[4]

Course

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The source of the Chyolomdzha is in the Upper Kolyma Highlands. The river heads in a roughly southern direction, flowing fast across mountainous terrain, then it turns to the southeast descending into a floodplain where it slows down and splits into multiple sleeves, while the channels form meanders. Finally the Chyolomdzha joins the left bank of the Taui in the wide Kava-Taui Plain, 66 kilometres (41 mi) from its mouth in the Sea of Okhotsk.[3][1][5]

The river freezes yearly between early October and late May.[5] Its main tributary is the 124 km (77 mi) long Burgagylkan (Бургагылкан), joining its left bank in the lower course.[2]

Fauna

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Different species of salmonids live in the waters of the Chyolomdzha, including chum salmon, malma, coho salmon and kundzha, as well as grayling.

The banks of the river provide a habitat for the Blakiston's fish owl, an endangered species.[6]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b Google Earth
  2. ^ a b "Река Чёломджа in the State Water Register of Russia". textual.ru (in Russian).
  3. ^ a b "Топографска карта O-55 - Topographic USSR Chart (in Russian)". Retrieved 18 March 2022.
  4. ^ Leontyev V.V., Novikova K.A. Toponymic dictionary of the North-East of the USSR, USSR Academy of Sciences. Magadan, 1989 - p. 409 - ISBN 5-7581-0044-7
  5. ^ a b Taui - Water of Russia
  6. ^ Успешное гнездование рыбного филина в Магаданском заповеднике (in Russian)
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