Ob

Ob, or Obi, a large river of Siberia, formed by the confluence of the Biya and the Katun, both of which rise in the Altai range. Leaving Chinese territory with a north-westerly course, it discharges its waters into the Gulf of Ob in the Arctic Ocean, draining an enormous area, and having a total length of over 2,000 miles. Its chief tributaries are the Irtish, Tcharysh, Tom, and Tschulow, and the towns of Barnaul, Tomsk, and Narym are on its banks. Some few river steamers ply on its waters, and recently Captain Wiggins has endeavoured to open them up to commerce from the sea.