| Chyolomdzha | |
| Other Name: | Чёломджа / Чаламдя |
| Pushpin Map: | Russia Magadan Oblast |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Mouth location in Magadan Oblast, Russia |
| Source1 Location: | Upper Kolyma Highlands |
| Source1 Coordinates: | 60.5681°N 145.6861°W |
| Mouth: | Taui |
| Mouth Coordinates: | 59.7811°N 148.2553°W |
| Subdivision Type1: | Country |
| Subdivision Name1: | Russia |
| Subdivision Type2: | Federal subject |
| Subdivision Name2: | Magadan Oblast |
| Subdivision Type3: | District |
| Subdivision Name3: | Olsky District |
| Length: | 2280NaN0 |
| Discharge1 Avg: | 132m3/s |
| Basin Size: | 12000km2 |
| Progression: | Taui → Sea of Okhotsk |
The Chyolomdzha (Russian: Чёломджа; Чаламдя) is a river in Magadan Oblast, Russia. It has a length of 228km (142miles) and a drainage basin of 12000km2.
The Chyolomdzha is the longest tributary of the Taui (Kava) and flows across an uninhabited area, part of the Magadan Nature Reserve.[1] The name of the river originated in the Even language.[2]
The source of the Chyolomdzha is in the Upper Kolyma Highlands. The river heads in a roughly southern direction, flowing fast across mountainous terrain, then it turns to the southeast descending into a floodplain where it slows down and splits into multiple sleeves, while the channels form meanders. Finally the Chyolomdzha joins the left bank of the Taui in the wide Kava-Taui Plain, 66km (41miles) from its mouth in the Sea of Okhotsk.[1] [3] [4]
The river freezes yearly between early October and late May.[4] Its main tributary is the 1240NaN0 long Burgagylkan (Бургагылкан), joining its left bank in the lower course.
Different species of salmonids live in the waters of the Chyolomdzha, including chum salmon, malma, coho salmon and kundzha, as well as grayling.
The banks of the river provide a habitat for the Blakiston's fish owl, an endangered species.[5]
