Selenga


The Selenga or Selenge is a major river in Mongolia and Buryatia, Russia. Originating from its headwater tributaries, the Ider and the Delger mörön, it flows for before draining into Lake Baikal. The Selenga therefore makes up the most distant headwaters of the Yenisey-Angara river system.
Carrying of water into Lake Baikal, it makes up almost half of the riverine inflow into the lake, and forms a wide delta of when it reaches the lake.

Name

The name Selenge comes from Mongolian seleh, which means "to swim". 'Selenga' is the russified version of the same.
An alternate source believes the name originated with the Evenki word sele to which the nga suffix was added.
The Selenge Province of Mongolia is named after the river.

Tributaries

The largest tributaries of the Selenga are, from source to mouth: