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| Kuta | |
|---|---|
 View of the river | |
  Mouth location inIrkutsk Oblast, Russia | |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | Lena-Angara Plateau |
| • coordinates | 57°33′17″N105°53′42″E / 57.55472°N 105.89500°E /57.55472; 105.89500 |
| • elevation | 650 m (2,130 ft) |
| Mouth | Lena |
• location | Ust-Kut |
• coordinates | 56°45′15″N105°39′25″E / 56.75417°N 105.65694°E /56.75417; 105.65694 |
• elevation | 284 m (932 ft) |
| Length | 408 km (254 mi) |
| Basin size | 12,500 km2 (4,800 sq mi) |
| Basin features | |
| Progression | Lena→Laptev Sea |
| Tributaries | |
| • right | Kupa |
TheKuta is aSiberian river north ofLake Baikal inIrkutsk Oblast,Russia, that flows into theLena atUst-Kut. With its right tributary, the Kupa, it forms a ‘T’ shape with the flat head pointing west and the point at Ust-Kut.The river is 408 kilometres (254 mi) long and its basin is about 12,500 square kilometres (4,800 mi2).[1]
Its source is about 650 metres (2,130 ft) above sea level and its mouth, 284 metres (932 ft). It flows first west and then south through thetaiga and swampland of theLena-Angara Plateau. At its juncture with the Kupa, it turns east and flows through a relatively narrow and deep valley to Ust-Kut. It is not navigable and is frozen from November to the middle of May. The upper course is practically uninhabited, but is used for forestry. The lower course has a few villages. TheBaikal-Amur Mainline fromBratsk eastward runs along its north side for about 60 kilometres (37 mi). The next river to the west is theIlim. In Cossack times a portage from the Ilim to the Kuta connected the Yenisei and Lena basins.
TheKupa is a right tributary that flows directly north and joins the Kuta where it turns east.