Question 1

True or false: The city of Novosibirsk, Russia's third-largest city, is located on the banks of the Ob River.

Accepted Answer

True. Novosibirsk sits on the Ob, and the river is wide enough there to host a major hydroelectric dam and reservoir.

Question 2

True or false: The Ob River flows into the Arctic Ocean via the Gulf of Ob, a massive estuary.

Accepted Answer

True. The Ob empties into the Kara Sea, part of the Arctic Ocean, through the Gulf of Ob—one of the world's largest estuaries.

Question 3

True or false: The Ob River is the longest river in Russia, surpassing the Lena and the Yenisei.

Accepted Answer

False. The Ob is the fourth longest in Russia; the Lena is longest, then Yenisei, then Ob. Length rankings are often confused.

Question 4

True or false: The Ob River is completely frozen for less than three months each year.

Accepted Answer

False. In western Siberia, the Ob remains frozen for up to six months—from November to April—due to harsh winters.

Question 5

True or false: The Ob River is the only major river in the world that flows through a desert.

Accepted Answer

False. The Ob flows through taiga and tundra, not desert. The Nile and Colorado are examples of desert rivers.

Question 6

True or false: The Ob River is known for having the largest delta in the world by area.

Accepted Answer

False. The Ob has a large estuary, not a classic delta. The Ganges-Brahmaputra delta holds the world record for area.

Question 7

True or false: The Ob-Irtysh river system is the seventh-longest river system in the world.

Accepted Answer

True. When combined with its main tributary, the Irtysh, the system stretches about 5,410 km, ranking it among Earth's top ten.

Question 8

True or false: The Ob River is primarily fed by glacial meltwater from the Altai Mountains.

Accepted Answer

True. The Ob's main headwaters, the Katun and Biya, originate in the Altai glaciers, providing a significant portion of its flow.

Ob River Trivia Questions