The location of the Ob River compared to the world (figure 2)
A close up view of the Ob River (figure 3)
Surroundings
The frozen Ob River (figure 5)
The Ob River's surroundings vary greatly in different parts of the river. In the Northern regions, the Ob River is icy and runs through treeless tundra. In the middle and lower parts of the river, there is swampy forests and marshlands as well as cities and towns around the Ob River.
Location and Physical Features
The Ob River is a spectacular river that zigzags across Russia. At a whopping 3,650km it is the seventh longest river in the world! The Ob River is created from the Katun River as the Biya River. It starts in a town called Altai Krai and continues through Russia until it flows into the Gulf of Ob then to the Kara Sea and finally to the Arctic Ocean. Be sure to seize this once in a lifetime cruise opportunity because the Ob River is frozen for the six coldest months of the year. The freezing causes ice dams which often leads to flooding. For the other parts of the year to Ob River is home to stunning sunsets and beautiful landscapes.
A sunset over the Ob River (figure 4)
Uses and Functions
The Ob River is very important to the surrounding communities. It is a main source for fresh drinking water and water for irrigation for near by settlements. The Ob River is also a major source of transportation and many imports and exports are shipped along the Ob River. Another useful function of the Ob is that it generates large amounts of hydro-electric power. Finally, the Ob River accounts for 12% of river water inputted into the Arctic Ocean.