Barguzin (river)

The Barguzin (Russian: Баргузи́н; Buryat: Баргажан, romanized: Bargajan) is a river in Buryatia, Russia, 480 km (300 mi) long, flowing into the Barguzin Bay of Lake Baikal, the largest and deepest bay of Baikal. Barguzin is the third (by the flow amount) inflow of Baikal, after the rivers Selenga and Upper Angara. Its watershed area is 21,100 km2 (8,100 sq mi).[1] It is navigable for 204 km (127 mi) upwards from its estuary. Its main tributaries are the Gagra, Argada and Ina from the left, and the Ulyun from the right.[2] In 1648, Ivan Galkin founded an ostrog on the Barguzin.

Barguzin
The Barguzin at Lake Baikal
Location
CountryRussia
Physical characteristics
MouthLake Baikal
 • coordinates
53.425°N 108.997°E / 53.425; 108.997
Length480 km (300 mi)
Basin size21,100 km2 (8,100 sq mi)
Basin features
ProgressionLake Baikal→ Angara→ Yenisey→ Kara Sea
Yenisey basin including Lake Baikal and the river Barguzin

Valley

In its middle part, the river flows along the Barguzin Valley or Depression (Russian: Баргузинская котловина), which is 200 km (120 mi) long and up to 35 km (22 mi) wide and runs between the Barguzin Range (to the northwest) and Ikat Range (to the southeast). In the valley, the river branches, loops, leaves old riverbeds, and creates a swampy water network with more than 1,000 lakes. In the valley is the Dzherga State Nature Preserve (Russian: Джергинский государственный природный заповедник) encompassing 2,387 km2 (922 sq mi).

Wind

The river also gave its name to a steady, strong wind on Baikal. The air flow rushes onto Baikal from the Barguzin Valley and blows across the lake at its middle, mostly for no longer than a day (starting at sunrise and ending by sunset). Usually it brings sunny weather. In Barguzin Bay, it may be of hurricane strength, but its average speed is usually less than 20 m/s. The wind is commemorated in the Russian folk song about a runaway from the Akatuy katorga:

Славное море - священный Байкал,
Славный корабль - омулевая бочка.
Эй, баргузин, пошевеливай вал,
Молодцу плыть недалечко.
The sacred Baikal is a glorious sea,
An omul barrel is a glorious ship.
Hey, barguzin, roll the wave
It is not too far to sail for a daring fellow.
Poetic translation:[3]
Glorious sea, sacred Baikal,
Glorious boat, a barrel of cisco
Hey, Barguzin make the waves rise and fall!
This young lad's ready to frisk-o!

References
  1. Река БАРГУЗИН in the State Water Register of Russia (Russian)
  2. Баргузин (река в Бурят. АССР), Great Soviet Encyclopedia
  3. Used in a translation of Master and Margarita ny Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky (1997) ISBN 0-14-118014-5, p. 191
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