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The Lena River, in eastern Siberia, Russia, is one of the longest rivers in the world. It flows generally northward for 2,730 miles (4,400 kilometers) from its headwaters near Lake Baikal to its delta in the Laptev Sea, an arm of the Arctic Ocean. In water volume it is also one of the largest rivers in the world. The river basin covers about 961,000 square miles (2,490,000 square kilometers).

Melting snow and rain contribute more than 95 percent of the Lena’s water. High floods, especially flash floods, are typical of the Lena Basin in summer. In winter there is very little flow. Breakup of ice in the spring causes significant damage to the shores of the river. The ice floes grind the rocks, uproot trees, and carry away sections of the river’s banks.

The people living in the Lena Basin are Russians, Sakhas, and Yukaghirs. There are many industrial and cultural centers, collective farms, and state farms in the area. The name Lena means “big river” in the Sakha language.

The Lena Basin is rich in fossil fuels, such as coal and natural gas, and in gold and diamonds. Near Olyokminsk are found salt beds, and to the south of Sakha are iron ore and coking coal.

The first exploration of the Lena was conducted by a group of Russians at the beginning of the 17th century. In 1631 a fortress and a settlement were founded at Ust-Kut. The first scientific research was conducted from 1733 to 1743, but the first maps were not made until 1910. In 1912 the delta was surveyed and mapped from ice-breaking ships.