Katun (river)

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Katun
The Katun in Tyungur village
Etymology	Altai for 'woman', from Proto-Turkic *xātun 'queen, lady'
Native name	Катунь (Russian)
Location
Country	Russia
Region	Altai Republic, Altai Krai
Physical characteristics
Source	Katun Glacier
• location	Belukha Mountain, Altai Republic
• coordinates	49°45′49″N 86°33′50″E / 49.7635°N 86.564°E / 49.7635; 86.564
• elevation	2,300 m (7,500 ft)
Mouth	Ob
• location	Confluence with Biya, near Biysk, Altai Krai
• coordinates	52°25′54″N 85°01′26″E / 52.43167°N 85.02389°E / 52.43167; 85.02389
• elevation	195 m (640 ft)
Length	688 km (428 mi)
Basin size	60,900 km2 (23,500 sq mi)
Discharge
• location	Srostki, 58 kilometres (36 mi) from the mouth[1]
• average	617 m3/s (21,800 cu ft/s)[2]
• minimum	16 m3/s (570 cu ft/s)
• maximum	2,930 m3/s (103,000 cu ft/s)
Basin features
Progression	Ob→ Kara Sea
Tributaries
• left	Koksa, Ursul, Kamenka
• right	Kucherla, Argut, Chuya, Isha

The Katun (Russian: Катунь [kɐˈtunʲ]; Altay: Кадын [qɑˈdɯn]) is a river in the Altai Republic and the Altai Krai of Russia. It forms the Ob as it joins the Biya some 19 kilometres (12 mi) southwest of Biysk.^[3] The Katun is 688 kilometres (428 mi) long, and its drainage basin covers 60,900 square kilometres (23,500 sq mi).^[4] It originates in the Katun glaciers on the southwestern slope of Belukha Mountain. The river freezes up in late November or early December and breaks up in early or mid-April. The main tributaries of the Katun are, from source to mouth: Koksa (left), Kucherla (right), Argut (right), Chuya (right), Ursul (left), Sema (left) and Isha (right). The river is navigable.

In its upper reach of the Katun flows down the distant and sparsely populated area, but a few kilometers downstream near the village Kuyus, the coastal population density grows steadily and the area downstream of the village Ust-Sema is the most populated. There are numerous buildings, holiday camps and various guest houses in the pine forest near the village. The main settlements along the Katun are, from source to mouth: Ust-Koksa, Katanda, Inya, Chemal, Manzherok, Souzga, Aya, Mayma, Srostki and Verkh-Katunskoye.