Lake Taymyr

Infobox lake
lake_name = Lake Taymyr
image_lake = Kara sea2TL.png caption_lake = Location of Lake Taymyr in the middle of the Taymyr Peninsula.
image_bathymetry =
caption_bathymetry =
location = Taymyr Peninsula, Krasnoyarsk Krai
coords = coord|74|32|34|N|101|38|39|E|region:RU-KIA_type:waterbody|display=inline,title
type =
inflow = Zapadnaya, Severnaya, Bikada Nguoma, Yamutarida, Kalamissamo, Upper Taymyra
outflow = Lower Taymyra
catchment =
basin_countries = Russia
length = 250 km Fact|date=December 2007
width =
area = convert|6990|km2|sqmi|abbr=on Fact|date=December 2007
depth = 2.8 m Fact|date=December 2007
max-depth = 26 m Fact|date=December 2007
volume =
residence_time =
shore =
elevation =
islands =
cities =
frozen = late September until June

Lake Taymyr ( _ru. Таймыр, Таймырское озеро) is a lake of the central regions of the Taymyr Peninsula in Krasnoyarsk Krai, Russian Federation. It is located south of the Byrranga Mountains.

Lake Taymyr is large, with a length of 165 km roughly east-to-west. It has an irregular shape with many arms projecting in different directions that cover a wide region. Its maximum width, however, is only about 23 km in its broadest area which is towards the eastern end of the lake.

Lake Taymyr is covered with ice from late September until June. The main river flowing into its basin is the Upper Taymyra, which flows into the lake from the west; other rivers flowing into it are the Zapadnaya, Severnaya, Bikada Nguoma, Yamutarida and Kalamissamo. The Lower Taymyra River flows out of the lake northwards across the Byrranga mountain region.

The tundra areas south of Lake Taymyr are full of smaller lakes and marshes. There are two quite large lakes towards the east.

Ecology

Lake Taymyr is teeming with many kinds of fishes typical of the cold Arctic waters, like loach, sig, and muksun. But there is overexploitation of some fish species despite the remoteness of the area.

Slight plutonium contamination has been detected in the sediments of Lake Taymyr. This is perhaps a consequence of wind-carried particles after the numerous atmospheric nuclear tests in Novaya Zemlya during the Cold War.

Water temperatures

* Average water temperature in August: +7 °C
* During winter, water temperature is slightly above 1 °C

References

* [http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-Taymyra.html]
* Taymyr area information and pictures: [http://www.taimyr24.ru/about/area/2]
* Geological and paleontological data: [http://www.yukonmuseums.ca/mammoth/abstra-d.htm]
* Overexploitation of some fish species: [http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayAbstract?fromPage=online&aid=252989]