The Biya River is the second full-flowing river after the Katun River in the Altai mountains. It originates in Teletskoye Lake, being the only river flowing from the lake. The source is located near the bridge in Artybash village. The river’s mouth is near the town Biysk.  Merging with the Katun, it gives birth to the Ob River. It’s a full-flowing river during all its length (301 km) and its waters are unbelievably transparent all the year round.

Big tributaries of the Biya have beautiful Old Russian names – the Lebed, the Sarykoksha, the Pyzha, the Nenya. In the upper reaches of the river there are a number of cascades and whirlpools, while the lower part is characterized by its calmness, so that it gives the opportunity for navigation. River banks are covered by pine forest. In the past the wood was rafted on the Biya.

Along the whole length of the river from Teletskoye Lake up to the confluence with the Katun, everyone can find a variety of places for fishing and having a rest. The Biya is rich for fish. You can fish there different species of fish – taimen, grayling, lenok, starlet, pike, pikeperch, perch, eel-pot and many others.

The Biya is a treasure for rafters, as there is a variety of rapids. Among them are Urtok, Kabyrovsky, Pyzhinsky, and Kuzensky. The river has the 2^nd class of difficulty. Near Turochak village, there is a high mountain, the colourful slopes of which go down to the waters of the Biya, forming a high ledge with a strong current under it. Rafting is rather dangerous there and near Turochak village there is a very large whirlpool called Kruzhilo. If the rafters are not experienced enough, they can spin for a long time and it’s difficult enough to get out of the whirlpool. Other rapids are Kipyatok. Its significant feature is that the current changes its direction and the water breaks against the rocks and splashes around, so that it seems that the water seethes around. After the confluence of the Lebed River, Biya calms down, the river valley widens. Tourists who have rafting experience, will enjoy the water trip with aesthetic pleasure – banks of the Biya are extremely picturesque, and if you're lucky, you can meet beautiful graceful birds - black cranes, this kind is particularly rare one, listed in the Red Book of Russia. Typically, rafting starts in Artybash and finishes in the village Kebezen.

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, Katun, Nizhnyaya Tunguska, Yenisei