Desna River
Encyclopedia
Desna is a river
in Russia
and Ukraine
, left tributary
of the Dnieper. The word means "right hand" in the Old East Slavic language
. Its length is 1130 km (702 mi), and its drainage basin covers 88900 km² (34,324 sq mi).
In Ukraine, the river's width ranges from 60 to 250 meters, with its average depth being 3 m (10 ft). The mean annual discharge at its mouth is 360 m³/s (12,713 ft³/s). The river freezes over from early December to early April, and is navigable from Novhorod-Siverskyi
to its mouth, which totals about 535 km (332 mi).
, Russia
. The river's source lies eastsoutheast from the city of Smolensk
and not far from Yelnya
in a forest near the village of Naleti. The Desna then flows south through a low and swampy valley toward the city of Bryansk
, where the river's right bank rises.
After its confluence with the Seim River
near the Russian-Ukrainian border, the river then widens, splitting into numerous smaller branches. Its right bank declines again near the city of Chernihiv
, and again near one of its tributaries, the Oster
, where the Desna continues its course through a low, muddy plain until it finally reaches its mouth near Kiev
at the Dnieper River.
The Svensky Monastery
is located at the confluence of the Desna and the Svin River.
River
A river is a natural watercourse, usually freshwater, flowing towards an ocean, a lake, a sea, or another river. In a few cases, a river simply flows into the ground or dries up completely before reaching another body of water. Small rivers may also be called by several other names, including...
in Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
and Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
, left tributary
Tributary
A tributary or affluent is a stream or river that flows into a main stem river or a lake. A tributary does not flow directly into a sea or ocean...
of the Dnieper. The word means "right hand" in the Old East Slavic language
Old East Slavic language
Old East Slavic or Old Ruthenian was a language used in 10th-15th centuries by East Slavs in the Kievan Rus' and states which evolved after the collapse of the Kievan Rus...
. Its length is 1130 km (702 mi), and its drainage basin covers 88900 km² (34,324 sq mi).
In Ukraine, the river's width ranges from 60 to 250 meters, with its average depth being 3 m (10 ft). The mean annual discharge at its mouth is 360 m³/s (12,713 ft³/s). The river freezes over from early December to early April, and is navigable from Novhorod-Siverskyi
Novhorod-Siverskyi
Novhorod-Siversky is a historic city in the Chernihiv Oblast of Ukraine. It is the administrative center of the Novhorod-Siversky Raion, and is situated on the bank of the Desna River, 330 km from the capital, Kiev, and 45 km south of the Russian border. Current estimated population:...
to its mouth, which totals about 535 km (332 mi).
Course
The Desna River originates in the Smolensk Heights of Smolensk OblastSmolensk Oblast
Smolensk Oblast is a federal subject of Russia . Its area is . Population: -Geography:The administrative center of Smolensk Oblast is the city of Smolensk. Other ancient towns include Vyazma and Dorogobuzh....
, Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
. The river's source lies eastsoutheast from the city of Smolensk
Smolensk
Smolensk is a city and the administrative center of Smolensk Oblast, Russia, located on the Dnieper River. Situated west-southwest of Moscow, this walled city was destroyed several times throughout its long history since it was on the invasion routes of both Napoleon and Hitler. Today, Smolensk...
and not far from Yelnya
Yelnya
Yelnya is a town and the administrative center of Yelninsky District of Smolensk Oblast, Russia, situated on the Desna River from Smolensk. Population: -History:...
in a forest near the village of Naleti. The Desna then flows south through a low and swampy valley toward the city of Bryansk
Bryansk
Bryansk is a city and the administrative center of Bryansk Oblast, Russia, located southwest of Moscow. Population: -History:The first written mention of Bryansk was in 1146, in the Hypatian Codex, as Debryansk...
, where the river's right bank rises.
After its confluence with the Seim River
Seym River
Seym is a river in Russia and Ukraine. Its length is 748 km and its basin area about 27,500 km². It is the largest tributary of the Desna....
near the Russian-Ukrainian border, the river then widens, splitting into numerous smaller branches. Its right bank declines again near the city of Chernihiv
Chernihiv
Chernihiv or Chernigov is a historic city in northern Ukraine. It is the administrative center of the Chernihiv Oblast , as well as of the surrounding Chernihivskyi Raion within the oblast...
, and again near one of its tributaries, the Oster
Oster River
The Oster River is a river in the northern Ukrainian oblast of Chernihiv. The river is the left branch of the Desna River. It is approximately 199 km long and its basin area is 2,950 km². It is connected by canals and streams with the Trubizh River, which flows southwest from Kiev into...
, where the Desna continues its course through a low, muddy plain until it finally reaches its mouth near Kiev
Kiev
Kiev or Kyiv is the capital and the largest city of Ukraine, located in the north central part of the country on the Dnieper River. The population as of the 2001 census was 2,611,300. However, higher numbers have been cited in the press....
at the Dnieper River.
Tributaries
The Desna has 18 right and 13 left tributaries. The most significant are:
|
Sudost River The Sudost River is a river in Bryansk Oblast in Russia and Chernihiv Oblast in Ukraine. It is a right tributary of the Desna River.The length of the Sudost River is . The area of its basin is approximately . The river freezes up in November and December, and stays icebound until late March–early... (R) Snov River Snov River is a river in Bryansk Oblast in Russia and Chernihiv Oblast in Ukraine, right tributary of the Desna River . The length of the river is 253 km. The area of its drainage basin is 8,700 km². The Snov freezes up in November - late January and stays icebound until March - early April.... (R) |
Seym River Seym is a river in Russia and Ukraine. Its length is 748 km and its basin area about 27,500 km². It is the largest tributary of the Desna.... (L) Oster River The Oster River is a river in the northern Ukrainian oblast of Chernihiv. The river is the left branch of the Desna River. It is approximately 199 km long and its basin area is 2,950 km². It is connected by canals and streams with the Trubizh River, which flows southwest from Kiev into... (L) |
Cities and towns on the Desna
|
Seltso Seltso is a town in Bryansk Oblast, Russia, situated on the Desna River northwest of Bryansk. Population: 17,600 .Seltso was granted urban-type settlement status in 1938 and that of a town in 1990.... , Russia Bryansk Bryansk is a city and the administrative center of Bryansk Oblast, Russia, located southwest of Moscow. Population: -History:The first written mention of Bryansk was in 1146, in the Hypatian Codex, as Debryansk... , Russia Trubchevsk Trubchevsk is a town and the administrative center of Trubchevsky District of Bryansk Oblast, Russia. It is situated about south of the city of Bryansk. Population:... , Russia |
Novhorod-Siverskyi Novhorod-Siversky is a historic city in the Chernihiv Oblast of Ukraine. It is the administrative center of the Novhorod-Siversky Raion, and is situated on the bank of the Desna River, 330 km from the capital, Kiev, and 45 km south of the Russian border. Current estimated population:... , Ukraine Chernihiv Chernihiv or Chernigov is a historic city in northern Ukraine. It is the administrative center of the Chernihiv Oblast , as well as of the surrounding Chernihivskyi Raion within the oblast... , Ukraine Oster Oster is a city located where the Oster River flows into the Desna in Chernihiv Oblast of Ukraine. As of January 1, 2005, its population is 7,100.... , Ukraine |
The Svensky Monastery
Svensky Monastery
Svensky Monastery is a Russian Orthodox monastery located at the confluence of the Desna and Svin Rivers, three miles from Bryansk, Russia...
is located at the confluence of the Desna and the Svin River.
External links
- Desna River at the Encyclopedia of Ukraine
- Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic Dictionary — Desna, tributary of the Dnepr