Yenisei
Fifth-longest river system, largest Arctic Ocean tributary.
The Yenisei (also Yenisey) is a major river system in Siberia, Russia, and the fifth-longest in the world. It is the largest river to drain into the Arctic Ocean, flowing north from its source at Mungaragiyn-gol in Mongolia, through the Krasnoyarsk Dam, and into the Yenisey Gulf of the Kara Sea. The river divides the Western Siberian Plain from the Central Siberian Plateau and drains a large part of central Siberia, with its basin including Lake Baikal, the world's deepest lake. Its delta lies between the Gyda and Taymyr Peninsulas. The Yenisei is the central of three large Siberian rivers flowing into the Arctic Ocean, alongside the Ob and the Lena. The earliest written mention of the river, as "Kem," appears in 7th-century Tang dynasty Chinese records, referencing contact with the Yenisei Kyrgyz. This name, found in the Book of Zhou and later histories, has been compared to the 8th-century Orkhon inscription "Käm" and appears in 13th–14th-century Mongolian works. The term survives in Tuvan as *xem* and Tofa as *hem*, both meaning "river," and in over 50 river names in the Altai Republic containing the suffix *-kem*. Russians reached the lower Yenisei in the early 17th century via the Taz River, likely adopting the name from Samoyed-speaking peoples. Dutch navigators of the late 16th century knew it as "Gilissi" or "Geniscea," phonetically similar to the modern Russian "Yenisei," which appeared around 1600. The river's etymology remains unclear; proposals include a Selkup origin meaning "big river" or a compound of Old Kyrgyz words, but these are speculative. The Yenisei proper, from the confluence of the Great and Little Yenisei at Kyzyl to the Kara Sea, flows through the Russian regions of Tuva, Khakassia, and Krasnoyarsk Krai. Major tributaries include the Angara, Podkamennaya Tunguska, and Nizhnyaya Tunguska. The Brekhovskie Islands in the estuary provide important wetland habitat for rare birds.
- maximum depth
- 61 m
- average depth
- 14 m
- source
- Mungaragiyn-gol, Mongolia
- mouth
- Yenisey Gulf, Kara Sea
- countries
- Mongolia, Russia
Quick Facts
- Native Name
- tag1=ru · name1=Енисей · tag2=tyv · name2=Улуг-Хем · tag3=kjh · name3=Ким суғ · tag4=evn · name4=Ендэгӣ · tag5=nenets · name5=ям'
- Etymology
- from either Old Kyrgyz otk · Эне-Сай (Ene-Sai, 'mother river') or Evenki evn · Ионэсси (Ionəssi, 'big water')
- Mapframe
- yes
- Mapframe-Zoom
- 2
- Subdivision Type1
- Country
- Subdivision Name1
- Mongolia, Russia
- Subdivision Type3
- Region
- Subdivision Name3
- Tuva, Krasnoyarsk Krai, Khakassia, Irkutsk Oblast, Buryatia, Zabaykalsky Krai
- Subdivision Type5
- Cities
- Subdivision Name5
- Kyzyl, Shagonar, Sayanogorsk, Abakan, Divnogorsk, Krasnoyarsk, Yeniseysk, Lesosibirsk, Igarka, Dudinka
- Length
- 3,487 km
- Width Min
- 90 m
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The Yenisei River is first mentioned in written history as "Kem" in 7th-century Tang dynasty Chinese records, referring to contact with the Yenisei Kyrgyz. This name appears in the Book of Zhou, the History of the Northern Dynasties, and the New Book of Tang, while the 14th-century History of Yuan also uses it. Chinese maps from the 18th century, including the Kangxi, Yongzheng, and Ch'ien-lung atlases, depict names such as "Kem River," "Cliffs of the Kem River," and "yeke Kem bira" (Great Kem River). The etymology of "Kem" is not considered Turkic; a Samoyed derivation has been proposed but remains uncertain. The word survives today in Sayan Turkic languages: in Tuvan as "xem" and in Tofa as "hem," both meaning "river." Over fifty river names containing the suffix "-kem" exist in the Altai Republic, and the term "Kim" barely persists in Khakas. Meanwhile, by the 17th century, Russians reached the lower Yenisei from the northwest, building Fort Mangazeya on the Taz River. The name "Yenisei" was likely transmitted from Samoyed-speaking peoples with whom the Russians had contact. Dutch navigators of the late 16th century knew the river as "Gilissi," "Gelissi," or "Geniscea," the latter phonetically close to "Yenisei." The Russian spelling "Yenisei" appeared around 1600 and has remained stable. Linguist Max Vasmer suggested connections to Nganasan "Jentajea," Enets "Jeddosi," and Selkup "N'andesi." Other proposed etymologies, such as "iondessi" meaning "big river" or a compound of "ene" (great-grandmother) and "say" (gravel), remain speculative false etymologies lacking support from reliable modern dictionaries.
Reader's Guide
The Yenisei is historically significant as a central Siberian river, one of three large rivers (with the Ob and Lena) flowing into the Arctic Ocean. The river's delta, between the Gyda and Taymyr Peninsulas, includes the Brekhovskie Islands, a wetland habitat for rare birds. The Taimyr reindeer herd, the world's largest, migrates along the Yenisei.
Did You Know?
- The Yenisei is the fifth-longest river system in the world and the largest to drain into the Arctic Ocean.
- Its basin includes Lake Baikal, the world's deepest lake.
- The first written mention of the river, as 'Kem', dates to the 7th century in Tang dynasty China.
- The Taimyr herd of tundra reindeer, the largest reindeer herd in the world, migrates to winter ranges along the Yenisei.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Yenisei?
The Yenisei is a major river system in Siberia, Russia, ranking as the fifth-longest river on Earth. It flows northward from Mongolia through central Siberia and empties into the Kara Sea via the Yenisey Gulf.
Where does the Yenisei begin and end?
Its source is the Mungaragiyn-gol in Mongolia, and it terminates at the Yenisey Gulf in the Kara Sea. Along the way, it passes through the Krasnoyarsk Dam region in Russia.
Why is the Yenisei considered important?
It holds the distinction of being the largest river that drains into the Arctic Ocean. Its vast basin also encompasses Lake Baikal, the deepest lake in the world, making it a critical part of central Siberia's hydrology.
What countries does the Yenisei flow through?
The river originates in Mongolia and then travels through Russia before reaching the Arctic. It effectively divides the Western Siberian Plain from the Central Siberian Plateau as it crosses the Russian landscape.
How deep is the Yenisei?
The river reaches a maximum depth of 61 meters, though its average depth sits around 14 meters. These figures make it one of the deeper major river systems in the world.
More in Rivers Of The World 1-20
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