River · Russia
Lena
The Lena River flows entirely within Russia, making it the longest river found in just one country. It crosses remote Siberian wilderness on its way to the Arctic Ocean.
Picture credit: [1] (CC BY-SA 3.0) · kees torn (CC BY-SA 2.0) · IV@no (CC BY 3.0) · Wikimedia Commons
Where is Lena?
The river begins at Baikal Mountains, near Lake Baikal, Russia.
It ends in the Laptev Sea (Arctic Ocean).
Along the way it passes: Baikal Mountains (source) → Kachug → Ust-Kut → Kirensk → Lensk → Olyokminsk → Pokrovsk → Yakutsk → Zhigansk → Kyusyur.
Countries on the river: Russia.
The story behind it
The Lena starts as a small spring in mountains just west of Lake Baikal, then flows for thousands of kilometres north across Siberia without ever leaving Russia, the only river of its great length to stay inside a single country. Along its middle course the river carved through limestone cliffs to create the Lena Pillars, a dramatic rocky landscape now protected as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Further north, near the city of Yakutsk, the ground stays frozen solid nearly all year round, a condition called permafrost, yet the powerful Lena still cuts its way through it. For up to seven months of the year the river is locked under thick ice, and when it finally breaks apart each spring the crashing ice chunks can jam together and cause serious flooding downstream.
Questions children ask
How long is the Lena River?
The Lena River is about 4,294 kilometres long, making it the longest river that flows entirely within a single country, Russia. It runs from mountains near Lake Baikal to the Arctic Ocean.
What are the Lena Pillars?
The Lena Pillars are tall, dramatic rock cliffs carved by the river through ancient limestone over millions of years. They are protected as a UNESCO World Heritage Site because of their striking, unusual shapes.
Does the Lena River freeze in winter?
Yes, the Lena freezes for up to seven months each year, becoming thick enough to walk or drive across. When the ice breaks apart in spring, it can cause dramatic and sometimes dangerous flooding.
Where these numbers come from
Every figure on this page was checked against public reference sources before publication. Where sources genuinely disagree, the text says so.
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