It is the biggest river in the Altai mountains. The name originates from the word “kadyn” that is translated as “landlady” in English.

The Katun is 688 km long. The total river drop is about 2000 m. The current velocity is 5-6 m/s.

The Katun is divided into three sections:

1) The Upper Katun (210 km from its source to its confluence with the river Koksa). Katun originates from the glacier Gebler - on the southern slopes of Mount Belukha. The river makes a large loop around the southern and western part of Katun range (the so-called Katun horseshoe). In this area the river is truly mountainous, with numerous small tributaries, the height of the water drop reaches 1000 m.

2) The Middle Katun (200 km from the confluence with the Koksa River to the confluence with the river Sumulta). The river continues to flow through the high mountains, but the height of the fall is not more than 400 m. The Katun crosses the Uimon steppe, after the confluence with the river Argut takes the northern route. In this area the Katun takes water from the glacier-fed rivers: the Multa, Akkem, Kucherla, Argut and Chuya. Main settlements in this region - Ust-Koksa, Upper Uimon, Multa, Tyungur.

3) The Lower Katun (280 km, from the river Sumulta to the confluence with the Biya). In the lower flow the Katun reaches the plain, is becoming wider, but to call it quiet until now is impossible, the height of the falling water reaches 400 meters. Only after the Mayma village (near Gorno-Altaysk) the river flows into the open steppe area. The main tributaries in this section are the Chemal and Sema. The confluence of the Biya and Katun (19 km south-west fron Biysk) forms the river Ob, one of the largest Russian rivers flowing north into the Kara Sea. The main towns in this area - Chemal , Manzherok, Turquoise Katun, Mayma, Aya, Srostki. From Ust-Sema to Biysk the Katun flows along the Chuysky tract (highway R-256). It is the most developed tourism region not only of the Katun, but of the whole Altai. There are many tourist facilities, hotels, campgrounds, cafes, restaurants, museums, man-made attractions and other tourist infrastructure.

Even during warmer months, the water temperature in the Katun rarely rises above 15°C. Flood period continues throughout the summer months. It freezes in the upper reaches in December, in the lower reaches - in late November, breakes up in the first half of April. During the year, the river changes its color: in spring and summer the water from melting glaciers gives the river dirty milky color, and closer to the fall, it becomes more transparent, with a turquoise tint in the upper and middle reaches.

There are about 30 tributaries with the total length 50 km, which together with Katun are in demand with amateurs of water sports, as they provide the tourists with amazing opportunities for rafting of different categories.

The Katun has 254 small and large tributaries, 50 or more km long. The main ones are: the Chuya, Koksa, Kuragan, Kucherla, Akkem, Argut, Ursul, Kadrin, Sumulta, Sema, Mayma, Isha. The river is home for grayling, trout and in the lower reaches there is pike, perch, burbot.

The Katun and its tributaries are in great demand among fans of water tourism, as they provide great opportunities for rafting of all categories of difficulty. The raftings can be of different duration, from a few hours to 6 days. Calm raftings take place in the Lower Katun, extreme raftings are organized on the numerous rapids of the Upper and Middle Katun.

See the itinerary of Middle Katun Rafting

Legend about the Biya and the Katun

Once upon a time there was in Altai neither high mountains nor large rivers. On a large plain a rich khan Altai lived and he had a daughter, the beautiful Katun.

Katun was in love with the poor shepherd Biya and refused all other rich men. When khan Altai heard of this, he decided to marry off his daughter at his own decision. But the same night the beautiful Katun ran away from home to meet her lover Biya. Khan Altay sent his servants to follow the rebellious daughter and said that the one who can catch Katun will marry her.
The servants rushed after the lady and the fastest was a knight Babyrgan. Seeing that the pursuit is near, Katun has become a fast-moving river. Biya also became the river and ran to meet his beloved lady. Two rivers – the Katun and the Biya met together and flowed as a stream, forming the great Siberian river Ob.

Khan Altai angrily turned his servants into the mountains. The fastest knight Babyrgan greets tourists today as the first big mount in the Altai, which is called - Mountain Babyrgan. Khan Altai became the highest mountain of the Altai - Belukha. That’s the way how the Altai Mountains appeared!

See other Siberian rivers: the Angara, Abakan, Chulyshman, Biya, Nizhnyaya Tunguska, Yenisei