International IEARN project Our rivers, our world

1. Our rivers, our world
The Sakha Republic (Yakutia), Russia,
Region of Olekminsk

2. Number of groups - 13
Number of participanting students – 132
Number of participating teachers - 13

3. The Lena River
The River Lena is one of the planet’s
greatest rivers. It carries its waters
as far as 4,400 km from its source in
the mountains near Lake Baikal to
the Arctic Ocean. In the middle of the
stream the distance between its
banks reaches 15 km; it is as wide
as 20 – 25 km in the downstream.
And the width of the river mouth is
mentioned in Guinness book. The
area of the Lena river basin is
calculated at 2,490,000 square
kilometres (961,394 sq mi), and
permafrost is typical of the whole
territory.

4. The Lena River
The river gets much water
supply from rain and snow. For
seven months the river is frozen
in ice more than 1 m thick.
Freeze up starts in late October,
ice breaking and ice-floating
starts in the second half of May.
The river is home to many kinds
of animal and plant life, 37
species of fishes are found in its
waters, silver salmon (taimen),
lenok, grayling, bass, whitefish,
pike are among them.

5. The banks of the river are covered with thick forest – taiga: there you will
see huge pines with golden-red trunks, thick cedars, dark spruce, fir-trees
and tall larches. Vast area of the River Lena basin is homeland for many
Siberian people: yakuts, evens, evenks who have close ties with the
nature.

6. The Lena River
Some of the Lena tributaries, such
as Vitim, Olekma, Viluy, Aldan are
greater than many big rivers of
Europe. The river doesn’t have any
weirs, or dams, or hydro power
stations. The river flows along its
natural riverbed like millions years
ago. You still can drink its water right
from the river.
Yakutia is the land of amazing
picturesque, severe and beautiful
nature that inspires artists and poets.
A traveler will meet kind, interesting
and hospitable people here; and
charms of local nature will make him
visit this land again.

7. Besides the Lena River there are lots of other
big and small rivers and lakes on the territory
of our region and republic. Many of them are
of vital importance for he population. The
students of different schools monitored water
quality in the Lena River and other small rivers
and lakes. When we started the project there
were 10 schools participating in it. Later a few
schools from other regions of the republic
joined us in the project.

8. Kudrin-Abaginskiy Secondary school,
Abagha village
Water resource under study
 Lake «Oibon Kyuel», drinkable water
 Located 1,5 km away from the village.
 Artificial reservoir.
 Willow is the main plant on the lakeside,
farmland is adjaicing.

9. «Lake Oibon Kyuel»

10. Koulachikov-Ellyai Chychymakhskaya Secondary School Tatta region, Sakha
Republic
«Erchim» students
ecological foundation
Avvakumova Ann – the leader
11 grade – Alexeeva Praskovia, Safonov Nick, popov Maxim
10 grade – Ivanov Nick, Mikhailova Klava, Popova Ann, Egorov Rouslan
9 grade – Kirillina Nadya, Karsanaeva Vlada, Malishev Alex, Taraboukin
Senya, Anisimova Aina, Kanaeva Tanya, Popova Liliana
8 grade – Afanasieva Natasha, Vasilieva Sargy, Bogdokoumova Nastya
7 grade – Kirillin Nick, Peshetnikova Sardana
6 grade – Afanasiev Stepa, Taraboukina Lida
5 grade – Antonova Valeria, Kanaeva Agasha
School Address: Chychymakh, Tatta Region,
678656 Sakha Republic, Russia
Tel. (841152) 24-754 e-mail: chychymakhtatta@mail.ru
Teacher Ivanova Daria,

11. Chychymakh is located in the lower Amga River. The lake under
monitoring Khatyryktaakh. In the spring time flooded by the river.
Length – 450 m, width - 100 м. It has ice holes for
cattle watering. People use ice for pure water.

12. The Totto Lake
Is located in the center of the village. Is surrounded by
deciduous forest. The water is good for the cattle. But in the
spring time the dung isn’t cleared well from the lake .
Length – 58,60
Width – 60 м

13. Moyuona Lake
Length – 850 m
width – 667 m
The lake is located 1 km north-west of the
village. In the spring time people hunt wildfowl,
fish and store ice in the autumn.

14. Kyllakh School
Abe Lake
 The source is the Lena River channel,
 length - 3 km, width 6-7 m.
 The lake curves around the village on the
north-west side. In winter it serves as cattle
watering place, in summer it is recreation
area.
 The main plants are willow, rush, water lily.

15. Abe Lake

16. Khorintsy School
 Tymny-Ulakh, never freezing river flowing
into the Lena River. Pure spring water.
 Located 5 km away from the village
Khorintsy, east-north on the winter ice road.

18. Tokko School
The Long Lake, 200 m long, oblong shape.
Water is not used for drinking. Located in the
village outskirts. Freezes in winter. Thick
vegetation on the lakeside. There is lots of
fish in the lake.

20. Star Infant School
Olekminsk, Sakha Republic, Russia
Our Researches on the
Lena River

21. Our goals:
Learn to do the researches,
Learn more about the Lena
River

23. The Lena Cantata
by Peter Bernov, the local poet
Ах ты, Лена, красавица Лена,
Ты как песня, мне в душу вошла,
И протоки с черемухой белой,
И разливов твоих зеркала.
Много рек, и больших, и не очень,
Зазывали меня на причал.
Но признаюсь тебе, между прочим-
Красивее тебя не встречал.
Многих ты красотой покорила,
Разноцветьем прибрежных полян,
Словно мать, своей грудью вскормила
Не одно поколенье землян.
Много песен, душевных и славных,
В твою честь я исполнить готов.
Ты проходишь артерией главной
Через сердце моих земляков.
Свои чувства к тебе и признанье,
свою радость и легкую грусть
Мне не выразить даже словами –
Просто в пояс тебе поклонюсь.

24. we continue our research as it has social
value:
 It helps us to understand the importance of
water resources.
 It helps us to understand how human economic
activity affects the water quality and what
consequences it will have for future
generations.

25. Neryuktiainskaya Secondary
School
«Our rivers – our world»

26. The Nimsiki Lake is located on the
left bank of the Solyanka river, the
River Lena tributary. The village
Neryuktiay 2 is located on the left
bank of the lake.
The word «nimsiki»
translated from the
yakut language means
«dry» or «rotten».
Before 1930 the left tributary of the Solyanka
River flowed on that place. During the spring flood
the water level increased in the lake but in the
summer it decreased and the standing water
smelled bad.
Soon the dyke was built
and the Nimsiki lake
appeared.

27. The name of our team is
«Mermaids».
We started to study and monitor the Nimsiki
Lake water in 2009.

28. And I am
Snezhana
Popova, 7
grade

30. Saniyakhtah School, Olekminsk, Russia
The Lena River
 The Lena River freezes in winter but people make ice-
holes for getting fresh water. The river section under
research is located on the left bank of the river 1 km
away from the residential rural area and 0.5 km from the
ice winter road.
 Along the banks of the river there are water meadows in
the warm season. Lots of plants, herbs an grass species
can be found here, many of them are of medical value
an widely used in folks medicine. You will find here
clover, Gramineae, irises, willow, wild rose, birch and
others. In the river water lots of fish species are foun:
pike, bass, sturgeon, some local small fishes.

31. This is our group

32. The wide Lena River

33. Tyanya Secondary School
Olekminsk, Sakha Republic,
Russia
«Our rivers – our world»

34. The Tyanya River
 The Tyanya River belongs to the Arctic Ocean basin.
 That’s a mountain river with its source 1000 m over the sea
level. It flows its waters into the Tokko River. After heavy
summer and autumn rains the river floods the adjacent
territories. The river feeds on snow and rain waters.
 The river freezes in late October and breaks up in May.
 The river flows across the flat valley with small hills 500
– 700 m above the see level.
 The river environment has plants diversity with boreal
species predominating. The most frequent are Gmelin
larch, pine, alder, birch, Siberian spruce. On the left bank of
the river there are lots of meadows, marshes, moss pine
forests.
 The River Tyanya is the main fresh water source for
the local population. Fishing is one of the main people
occupation here.

35. Our group:
Nadezhda Nickolayeva – biology teacher
Students:
 Natasha Gabysheva
 Saskylana Ivanova
 Mark Stepanov
 Grisha Peshperov

37. Zheday School, Sakha
Republic, Russia
OUR RIVERS - OUR
WORLD

38.  The Lena River belongs to the Arctic Ocean basin, it’s a valley river
and like most big Siberian rivers it flows from south to north, from warm
latitudes to the cold ones.
 At the point where our village is located, the river’s width reaches 2,5
km. High-water bed is 3,5 km wide. Autumn freeze-up period starts in
the middle of October, By the November second decade the river is
totally covered with ice solid. Winter break-up starts in the middle of
May. High water period lasts May-June. The Lena River is navigable,
it’s the main water way of the region.
 For the people of the village it is the only road that connects the village
with the region center – water in the warm season, ice-road in the
winter. It is also the main fresh water resource for the local population.
The river abounds in different fish, like taimen, bass, cisco, lenok and
others.
 Picturesque riverside is a good recreation area.
The Lena River

39. Monitoring river water

40. The Lena River covered with ice

41. Our team