The Lena River

The Lena River is one of the longest rivers in the world. It flows through the cold wilderness of Siberia in Russia. The river is about 2,734 miles long. It empties into the Arctic Ocean through one of the largest river deltas on Earth.

A Giant River

The Lena starts near Lake Baikal in southern Siberia. It flows north through thick forests and frozen tundra. The river is very wide in some places. In spring, when the ice melts, huge floods can happen along the river.

The Lena Delta

The Lena Delta is one of the largest deltas in the world. It covers about 12,000 square miles. The delta is a protected wildlife area. Millions of birds migrate here in summer. The ground in the delta is permanently frozen, called permafrost.

Fun Facts

• The Lena River is the 10th longest river in the world.
• The Lena Pillars are tall rock formations along the river that are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• The Lena River freezes solid for about seven months each year.

Did You Know?

Woolly mammoth bones and even frozen mammoth bodies have been found in the permafrost near the Lena River!