Popigai

a river in Krasnoiarsk Krai, RSFSR. The Popigai is 532 km long and drains an area of 50,300 sq km. It originates in Lake Chonno-Kiuel’ on the north edge of the Central Siberian Plateau. Here the river has many rapids. The lower course flows across the North Siberian Lowland, where the river valley is broad and marshy. The Popigai empties from the right into the widened mouth of the Khatanga River. It is fed primarily by snow. Its mean flow rate is approximately 400 cu m per sec. The river freezes in October, and the ice breaks up in June. The main tributaries are the Rassokha and Fomich from the left.