Editing Selenga (section)

{{Short description|River in Mongolia and Russia}}
{{Infobox river
| name               = Selenga
| native_name        = {{native name list |tag1=ru|name1=Селенга |tag2=mn|name2=Сэлэнгэ}}
| name_other         = Selenge
| name_etymology     = 
| image              = Selenga2.jpg
| image_size         = 
| image_caption      = Selenga River in Russia
| map                = Selengerivermap.png
| map_size           = 
| map_caption        = 
| pushpin_map        = 
| pushpin_map_size   = 
| pushpin_map_caption = 
| mapframe           = yes
| mapframe-zoom      = 5
| subdivision_type1  = Country
| subdivision_name1  = [[Russia]], [[Mongolia]]
| subdivision_type2  = 
| subdivision_name2  = 
| length             = {{convert|992|km|mi|abbr=on}} 
| width_min          = 
| width_avg          = 
| width_max          = 
| depth_min          = 
| depth_avg          = 
| depth_max          = 
| discharge1_location= [[Kyakhta|Ust-Kyakhta]]
| discharge1_min     = {{convert|23|m3/s|cuft/s|abbr=on}}February
| discharge1_avg     = {{convert|284|m3/s|cuft/s|abbr=on}}
| discharge1_max     = {{convert|601|m3/s|cuft/s|abbr=on}}August
| source1            = [[Delgermörön]]
| source1_location   = 
| source1_coordinates= 
| source1_elevation  = 
| source2            = [[Ider River|Ider]] 
| source2_location   = 
| source2_coordinates= 
| source2_elevation  = 
| source_confluence  = Olon Golyn Bilchir
| source_confluence_location = [[Khövsgöl Province|Khövsgöl]], [[Mongolia]]
| source_confluence_coordinates = {{coord|49|15|40|N|100|40|45|E|display=inline}}
| source_confluence_elevation = 
| mouth              = [[Lake Baikal]]
| mouth_location     = 
| mouth_coordinates  = 
| mouth_elevation    = 
| progression        = {{RLake Baikal}}
| river_system       = 
| basin_size         = {{convert|447000|km2|abbr=on}}
| tributaries_left   = 
| tributaries_right  = [[Uda (Selenga)|Uda]]
| custom_label       = Basin coordinates 
| custom_data        = 46-52 degrees N 96-109 degrees E 
| extra              = 
}}
[[File:Bridge over the Selenga River in Ulan-Ude.jpg|thumb|Bridge over the Selenga River in Ulan-Ude]]

The '''Selenga''' ({{IPAc-en|ˌ|s|ɛ|l|ɛ|ŋ|ˈ|g|ɑː}} {{respell|SEL-eng-GAH}})<ref>[http://www.dictionary.com/browse/selenga?s=t "Selenga", Dictionary.com]</ref>{{efn|{{langx|ru|Селенга}}, {{IPA|ru|sʲɪlʲɪnˈɡa|IPA}}}} or '''Selenge'''{{efn|{{Langx|mn|Сэлэнгэ мөрөн|translit=Selenge mörön}}, {{IPA|mn|síɮiŋkɘ mɵ́rʉɴ|IPA}}; {{langx|bua|Сэлэнгэ мүрэн|translit=Selenge müren}}, {{IPA|bua|ˈsɯləŋɡə ˈmurʉɴ|IPA}}}} is a major river in [[Mongolia]] and [[Republic of Buryatia|Buryatia]], [[Russia]]. Originating from its [[River source|headwater]] [[Tributary|tributaries]], the [[Ider River|Ider]] and the [[Delgermörön|Delger mörön]], it flows for {{convert|992-1024|km|mi|abbr=}}<ref>H. Barthel, ''Mongolei-Land zwischen Taiga und Wüste'', Gotha 1990, p.34f</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Сэлэнгэ мөрөн|url=http://www.medeelel.mn/index.php?page=land&sm=73&s=1345|work=www.medeelel.mn|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20121205104032/http://www.medeelel.mn/index.php?page=land&sm=73&s=1345|archive-date=December 5, 2012|access-date=July 16, 2007}}</ref><ref>{{GSEn|100947|Селенга}}</ref> before draining into [[Lake Baikal]]. The Selenga therefore makes up the most distant headwaters of the [[Yenisey]]-[[Angara]] river system.

Carrying {{convert|935|m3/s|cuft/s}} of water into [[Lake Baikal]], it makes up almost half of the riverine inflow into the lake, and forms a wide delta of {{convert|680|km2|mi2}} when it reaches the lake.

Periodic annual floods are a feature of the Selenga River. The floods can be classified as “ordinary”, “large” or “catastrophic” based on the degree of impact. Of the twenty-six documented floods that occurred between 1730 and 1900, three were “catastrophic”. The three “catastrophic” floods were the floods of 1830, 1869 and 1897.

The Selenga River basin is a semi-arid region that is {{convert|280000|km2|mi2}} in area. It is part of the [[Arctic Basin|Arctic Ocean Basin]] and is located in northern Mongolia. Stone implement artifacts found on the Selenga River at the end of the 19th century have been used to form a link between Native Americans and their ancestors in East Asia. The climate of the Selenga basin is influenced by a powerful Siberian anti-cyclone. The weather consists of harsh winters and warm summers, with the river freezing from November to April.

The Selenga River delta is a [[Ramsar site]], surrounded by marshlands. Found in the administrative region of the Republic of Buryatia, the wetlands are the habitat of a large number of threatened and endemic species, including the Siberian [[Baikal sturgeon]] and over 170 species of birds. The Selenge-Orkhon forest steppe includes the areas of the Orkhon and Selenge river basins. The region has scattered forests and extensive mountain ranges.

River modifications like the [[Irkutsk Hydroelectric Power Station]] have affected the environment of the Selenga Delta, causing it to become waterlogged. Activities including mining, agriculture, breeding and dumping of wastewater have also affected the environment of the river. There has been an observed degradation of water quality from these anthropogenic factors. Natural factors like erosion processes and weathering have also contributed to the decline in water quality.

The proposed Shuren Hydropower Plant Project was protested against by environmental groups because of the potential ecological ramifications it would have on the Selenga Delta. The reasons cited included potential disruption to the flow of the river and the breeding grounds of endemic fish species in Lake Baikal.