Samarga River

The Samarga River is the northernmost river in the Primorsky Krai territory in the far eastern part of Russia. It is the largest coastal river in the northern Sikhote-Alin mountain range at 220 kilometres (140 mi) in length. It flows into the Sea of Japan. The river system is a unique and relatively untouched centre of biodiversity in the Eastern Sikhote–Alin mountains because it is in a remote and mountainous region.

The river is located in the northeast Primorsky territory of Russia. The northern and western boundaries of the river's watershed form the border between Primorsky territory and Khabarovsk territory. It confluences into the Sea of Japan at Samarga, a small town on the coast of the sea. In the estuary on the sea side, there is a kind of blind creek named the "Samrga duct" which extends for about 5 kilometres (3.1 mi).

Numerous small tributaries form a dense and extensive network in the watershed of the river.

The major left-hand tributaries of the Samarga River, facing downstream, are: the Perepadnaya River (30 kilometres (19 mi) long), the Dagdy River (70 kilometres (43 mi)), the Moi River (45 kilometres (28 mi)), the Isimi River (45 kilometres (28 mi)), and the Agzu River (30 kilometres (19 mi)). The Sobu, Zova, Dzolu, Kalashnikov, Takhalo, and Kipreinyi Rivers, among others, are minor tributaries.

The major right-hand tributaries are: the Pukhi River (60 kilometres (37 mi) long), the Kuksi River (30 kilometres (19 mi)), and the Bolshaya Sokhatka River (36 kilometres (22 mi)). The Bugu, Zaami, and Unity Rivers are minor tributaries.

The Samarga River’s average discharge is between 74 and 242 cubic metres (2,600 and 8,500 cu ft) per second. Its catchment area is around 7,760 square kilometres (3,000 sq mi). The length of the watershed boundary is 515 kilometres (320 mi). Floods are common in the summer and autumn.

The Samarga River watershed is so far the only place in the Primorsky territory with very high fish biodiversity and high natural fish productivity. The diversity of habitats provides for a wide variety of fish species.

A wide variety of fish, nearly 20 species –such as pink salmon, masu salmon, chum salmon, cherry salmon, Dolly Varden, white-spotted char, and grayling salmon – are abundant in the river and its tributaries. The river basin is also home to the largest population of a rare salmonid species – Sakhalin taimen. The Anadromous salmon (pink, masu, chum, and the less abundant coho) comprise a substantial part of the river biomass. The pink salmon stock is the largest, comprising 10% of the total population of pink salmon of the Russian mainland Sea of Japan coast. Masu salmon stocks rank second after pinks, and char are fairly abundant.

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Wikipedia