Chirkuo
{{Short description|River in Yakutia, Russia}}
{{Infobox river
| name = Chirkuo
| other_name = Чиркуо
| image = Chirkuo 2022-10-28-23 59 Sentinel-2 L2A.jpg
| image_caption = Chirkuo confluence and inner Vilyuy Reservoir Sentinel-2 image
| pushpin_map = Russia Sakha Republic
| pushpin_map_size =
| pushpin_map_caption= Mouth location in the Sakha Republic, Russia
| source1_location = Vilyuy Plateau
| source1_coordinates =
| source1_elevation = {{convert|468|m|abbr=on}}
| mouth = Vilyuy
| mouth_location =
| mouth_coordinates = {{coord|63|29|48|N|109|27|39|E|source:wikidata-and-enwiki-cat-tree_region:RU}}
| mouth_elevation =
| progression = {{RVilyuy}}
| subdivision_type1 = Federal Subject
| subdivision_name1 = Yakutia
| length = {{convert|206|km|abbr=on}}
| discharge1_avg =
| basin_size = {{convert|7710|km2|abbr=on}}
}}
The Chirkuo ({{langx|ru|Чиркуо}}) is a river in Yakutia (Sakha Republic), Russia. It is a right hand tributary of the Vilyuy, and is {{convert|118|km|mi}} long —{{convert|206|km|mi}} including the Duikhta at its head, with a drainage basin of {{convert|7710|km2|mi2}}.{{GVR|251244|Река Чуркуо}}
In the Ust-Chirkuo Site ({{langx|sah|Чиркуо төрдө|Çirkuo tördö}}) there are remains of ancient settlements by the river.[https://archive.org/stream/taymyrarchaeolog52005khlo/taymyrarchaeolog52005khlo_djvu.txt Taymyr : the archaeology of northernmost Eurasia"] Currently there are no permanent inhabited places in the river area.{{cite web|url=https://maps.vlasenko.net/smtm1000/p-49_50.jpg|title=P-49-50 Topographic Chart (in Russian)|access-date=5 April 2023}}
Course
The Chirkuo lies in the upper stretch of the Vilyuy basin. It begins at the confluence of the Duikhta and the Kucchuchi-Chuurka (Куччучи-Чуурка) in the Vilyuy Plateau. The river flows roughly northwards across the plateau along the border with Irkutsk Oblast to the west. Finally it meets the right bank of the Vilyuy {{convert|1712|km|abbr=on}} from its mouth in the Lena. The river freezes between mid October and late May.[https://web.archive.org/web/20080613135415/http://www.nature.ykt.ru/RIAC/Yakutia_geogr/023.htm#%D0%A7%D0%B8%D1%80%D0%BA%D1%83%D0%BE Nature.ykt]
The main tributaries of the Chirkuo are the {{convert|120|km|mi}} long Golusakh and the {{convert|88|km|mi}} long Dulisma from the left. The last stretch and mouth area of the Chirkuo are part of the backwater of the Vilyuy Reservoir.[https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1755-1315/579/1/012031/pdf Influence of the Vilyui hydropower plant on the regime of the Vilyui river]
Fauna
The waters of the Chirkuo provide a habitat for the critically endangered Siberian sturgeon.[http://awsassets.panda.org/downloads/2_2007_sturgeon_biodiversity_and_cons_birstein_at__al__usa_1.pdf Sturgeon biodiversity and conservation]
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.academia.edu/87804110/_2022_Ancient_Cultures_and_Migrations_in_Northeastern_Siberia Ancient Cultures and Migrations in Northeastern Siberia]
- [https://www.researchgate.net/publication/226116320_Species_structure_contemporary_distribution_and_status_of_the_Siberian_surgeon_Acipenser_baerii Species structure, contemporary distribution and status of the Siberian sturgeon Acipenser baerii]