Penzhina

The Penzhina (Russian: Пенжина; Koryak: Мыгыкивэем) is a river in Kamchatka Krai, Russia. It is 713 kilometres (443 mi) long, and has a drainage basin of 73,500 square kilometres (28,400 sq mi).^[1]

Penzhina Пенжина / Мыгыкивэем
View of the Penzhina near its mouth
Mouth location in Kamchatka Krai
Physical characteristics
Source
• location	Kolyma Mountains
• coordinates	64.9119°N 163.5227°E / 64.9119; 163.5227
• elevation	738 m (2,421 ft)
Mouth	Sea of Okhotsk
• location	Penzhina Bay
• coordinates	62°28′21″N 165°8′12″E
Length	713 km (443 mi)
Basin size	73,500 km2 (28,400 sq mi)
Discharge
• average	695 m3/s (24,500 cu ft/s)

The name "Penzhina" originated the Chukchi word "Pennyn", meaning "place of attack". In Koryak it is known as "Wegykiveem" (Мыгыкивэем), meaning "stormy river".^[2]

Course

The source of the Penzhina is in the Kolyma Mountains, and it flows eastwards across the Ichigem Range. After bending southwards it enters a wide floodplain filled with lakes, finally flowing into the Penzhina Bay of the Sea of Okhotsk.^[3][4][5][6]

The villages of Kamenskoye, Oklan, Slautnoye and Ayanka are located by the river, as well as the seaport of Manily.

Its main tributaries are the Shayboveyem, Kondyreva and Oklan from the right, and the Ayanka, Chyornaya and Belaya from the left.^[3]

Basin of the Penzhina with its two main tributaries

Flora and fauna

Among the fish species in the river the Far Eastern brook lamprey, Pacific lamprey, pike, chir, Kamchatka grayling, pink salmon, chum salmon, coho salmon, Dolly Varden trout, kundzha, Levanidov char and burbot deserve mention.^[6]

See also

• List of rivers of Russia