Lake Taymyr
Large Arctic lake with irregular shape and cold-water fish.
Lake Taymyr sits in the central part of the Taymyr Peninsula, within Russia’s Krasnoyarsk Krai, just south of the Byrranga Mountains. The lake stretches about 165 kilometers from west to east, but its shape is irregular, with many long arms branching out over a wide area. At its widest point, near the eastern end, it reaches only about 23 kilometers across.
From late September through June, the lake is locked in ice. Its main inflow comes from the west via the Upper Taymyra River. Other rivers feeding it include the Zapadnaya, Severnaya, Bikada-Nguoma, Yamu-Tarida, and Kalamissamo. The Lower Taymyra River flows out of the lake to the north, cutting through the Byrranga Mountains.
South of the lake, the tundra is dotted with smaller lakes and marshes. To the east and southeast of the lake’s easternmost bay, Yamuneru Bay, lie two sizable lakes: Lake Kungusalakh, about 33 kilometers east, and Lake Portnyagino, about 72 kilometers southeast. Each is roughly 20 kilometers across.
The lake supports a rich population of cold-water Arctic fish, including loach, common whitefish, muksun, and a char species called *Salvelinus taimyricus*. Despite the area’s remoteness, some fish species are overexploited. Traces of plutonium have been found in the lake’s sediments, likely carried by wind from Cold War-era atmospheric nuclear tests on Novaya Zemlya.
Water temperatures are cold: in August, the average is +7°C, while in winter it hovers just above +1°C.
Quick Facts
- Location
- Taymyr Peninsula, Taymyrsky Dolgano-Nenetsky District, Krasnoyarsk Krai, Russia
- Inflow
- Zapadnaya, Severnaya, Bikada-Nguoma, Yamu-Tarida, Kalamissamo, Upper Taymyra
- Outflow
- Lower Taymyra
- Catchment
- 104300 km2
- Countries
- Russia
- Area
- 4560 km2
- Depth
- 2.8 m
- Max Depth
- 26 m
- Volume
- 12.8 km3
- Elevation
- 6 m
- Islands
- 20
- Frozen
- late September until June
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Lake Taymyr is approximately 165 km long, running roughly east-to-west, with an irregular shape featuring many arms. Its maximum width is only about 23 km, found at the eastern end. The lake is covered with ice from late September until June. The main river flowing into its basin from the west is the Upper Taymyra; other tributaries include the Zapadnaya, Severnaya, Bikada-Nguoma, Yamu-Tarida, and Kalamissamo. The Lower Taymyra flows out of the lake northwards across the Byrranga mountain region.
Reader's Guide
Lake Taymyr is a significant geographical feature of the Taymyr Peninsula, notable for its size, irregular shape, and extreme Arctic climate. Its ecology supports cold-water fish species such as loach, common whitefish, muksun, and the char species Salvelinus taimyricus. Overexploitation of some fish species has been reported despite the area's remoteness. Additionally, slight plutonium contamination has been detected in the lake's sediments, possibly from wind-carried particles after atmospheric nuclear tests in Novaya Zemlya during the Cold War. The lake's tundra surroundings contain many smaller lakes and marshes, with larger lakes Kungusalakh and Portnyagino located to the east and southeast.
Did You Know?
- The main river flowing into Lake Taymyr from the west is the Upper Taymyra.
- The char species Salvelinus taimyricus is found in the lake.
More in Great Lakes Of The World 1-24
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