Angara

Angara ängˌgəräˈ, Rus. ŭnˌgəräˈ [key], river, c.1,150 mi (1,850 km) long, SE Siberian Russia, the outlet of Lake Baykal. After leaving the southwestern end of Lake Baykal, it flows north past Irkutsk and Bratsk, then turns west after receiving the Ilim River and flows into the Yenisei River near Strelka. Below its junction with the Ilim River the Angara is known also as the Upper Tunguska (Rus. Verkhnyaya Tunguska).

The Angara is navigable between Irkutsk and Bratsk; below Bratsk there are many rapids. At Bratsk is a large dam with one of the world's largest hydroelectric power plants (c.4.5 million kW); a smaller hydroelectric station is at Irkutsk. Two other dams span the river, making it one of the world's greatest sources of hydroelectric power. Iron, coal, and gold deposits are found in the Angara basin, and aluminum and pulp are processed.

The Upper Angara River (Rus. Verkhnyaya Angara), c.200 mi (320 km) long, rises NE of Lake Baykal and flows SW through the Buryat Republic into the lake; it is partly navigable.

The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2024, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.

See more Encyclopedia articles on: CIS and Baltic Physical Geography