Onega (river)
| Onega | |
|---|---|
 The Onega inPlesetsky District | |
| Native name | Онега(Russian) |
| Location | |
| Country | Russia |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | |
| • location | Lake Lacha |
| • elevation | 117 m (384 ft) |
| Mouth | White Sea |
• coordinates | 63°56′00″N37°59′27″E/ 63.9332°N 37.9908°E |
• elevation | 0 m (0 ft) |
| Length | 416 km (258 mi)[1] |
| Basin size | 56,900 km2(22,000 sq mi)[1] |
| Discharge | |
| • average | 505 m3/s (17,800 cu ft/s)[1] |
TheOnega(Russian:Оне́га;Finnish:Äänisjoki) is a river inKargopolsky,Plesetsky,andOnezhsky DistrictsofArkhangelsk OblastinRussia.The Onega connectsLake Lachawith theOnega Bayin theWhite Seasouthwest ofArkhangelsk,flowing in the northern direction. The discharge at the source is 74.1 cubic metres per second (2,620 cu ft/s) and at the mouth is 505 cubic metres per second (17,800 cu ft/s). The river is 416 kilometres (258 mi) long, and the area of its basin 56,900 square kilometres (22,000 sq mi). Its maintributariesare theVoloshka(right), theKena(left), theMosha(right), theKodina(right), and theKozha(left). The major tributary of the Lake Lacha is theSvid.
In terms of both area of the basin and the average discharge, the Onega is the third river basin of the White Sea (behind theNorthern Dvinaand theMezen). The river basin of the Onega is spread over the west of Arkhangelsk Oblast, north-west ofVologda Oblast,and also includes minor areas in the east ofRepublic of Karelia.The Onega basin includes some of the biggest lakes of Arkhangelsk and Vologda Oblasts, such asLake Vozhe,Lake Lacha,Lake Lyokshmozero,Lake Kenozero,Lake Undozero,andLake Kozhozero,as well asKenozersky National Park.
The whole valley of the Onega is populated, with the exception of the stretch betweenSeveroonezhskandYarnema,in Plesetsky District. There are two towns located on the river Onega,Kargopolclose to its source andOnegain its mouth. There are also two urban-type settlements, located opposite to each other in the middle course of the river,Oksovsky(right bank) and Severoonezhsk (left bank). 155 kilometres (96 mi) of the river's lower course, between the village of Gorodok and theseloof Porog, is listed in the State Water Register of Russia as navigable.[2]The rest of the Onega is notable for therapids,spread everywhere between Kargopol and Gorodok, and also located downstream from Porog (the namePorogmeansa rapid).
The river name is traditionally explained as related to FinnishEnojoki- the main river, stream.[3]The Onega basin area has an important historical and cultural significance. Kargopol is one of the oldest cities in Russian North (the traditional foundation date in the 12th century, first mentioned in the 14th century), and it still contains a big number of architectural and historical monuments.Oshevenskon the left bank of the Onega is the location of the formerAlexandro-Oshevensky Monastery.Another historically important monastery in the Onega basin is theKozheozersky Monasteryon an island in the Lake Kozheozero. Some of the finest monuments of the northern wooden architecture are located in the basin of the Onega, including ensembles ofLyadiny,Saunino Pogost,Krasnaya Lyaga,andBolzhaya Shalga.These monuments also suffer from the lack of protection and their number steadily diminishes. In fact, the majority of them have been lost.[4]
The river splits into theBig OnegaandLittle Onega75 kilometres (47 mi) from itsestuary,but then these branches join again, forming a big flat island.
It freezes up in late October - early December and stays under the ice until mid-April - May. It was used fortimber rafting.[1]
The Onega flows among the coniferous forests (taigaof spruce, pine, and larch), mostly among theswamps.
There are only four bridges across the Onega: one in Kargopol on the road connecting Kargopol toNyandoma,one in the village of Sorokinskaya, onOnezhsky Trakt,the road connecting Kargopol toPlesetskandYemetsk,one combined road and railway bridge connecting Oksovsky and Severoonezhsk, and one railway bridge in Porog on the railway from Arkhangelsk to Belomorsk (no road traffic). Elsewhere, including the former district center ofKonyovo,the Onega can only be traversed by ferry crossings.
References
[edit]- ^abcdОнега (река в Архангельской области).Great Soviet Encyclopedia.
- ^Река Онега(in Russian). State Water Register of Russia.Retrieved12 June2011.
- ^Фасмер, Макс.Этимологический словарь Фасмера(in Russian). p. 464. Archived fromthe originalon 2019-04-04.Retrieved2011-11-20.
- ^Русское деревянное зодчество(in Russian). Академия архитектуры СССР. 1942.RetrievedJune 6,2011.
External links
[edit]
Media related toOnega Riverat Wikimedia Commons
- Река Онега(in Russian). State Water Register of Russia.Retrieved12 June2011.
