Byssa (river)

The Byssa (Бысса) is a river in Selemdzhinsky District, Amur Oblast, Russia. It is the third longest tributary of the Selemdzha, with a length of 235 km and with 6370 km2 the third in drainage basin area, after the Orlovka. The name of the river originated in the Evenki language.

The river flows across a largely uninhabited area except for Byssa and Fevralsk villages in the area of its mouth. South of Fevralsk the river is crossed by the Far Eastern Railway line.

Course
The Byssa is a left tributary of the Selemdzha. It has its origin at an elevation of about 800 m in the northwestern slopes of the Turan Range. The river flows in a roughly southwestern direction with rapids and a winding channel in its upper reaches. After leaving the mountainous area it enters a wide swampy valley where it meanders slowly all along its middle and lower course. Finally it meets the left bank of the Selemdzha 206 km from its mouth in the Zeya.

The main tributaries of the Byssa are the 73 km long Iga from the left and the Sinnikan from the right. There are hot springs in the middle basin of the river where the water reaches a temperature of 43 C.