Definition

Proper noun: * Upper Tunguska: The historical name for a major river in southeastern Siberia. It flows northwest from Lake Baikal and is a principal tributary of the Yenisei River. This name is now largely obsolete in modern geographical contexts.

Usage

• This term is primarily used in historical, geographical, or academic texts to refer to the river. In contemporary usage, the river is almost exclusively known by its modern name.
• Example: "In the 19th century, explorers charted the course of the Upper Tunguska."

Advanced Usage

• The term "Upper Tunguska" is an example of a historical exonym (a name given by outsiders). Its usage today typically signals a historical or specific academic perspective.

Variants and Related Words

• Angara River: The modern and official name for the river historically called the Upper Tunguska. This is the name used on contemporary maps and in current discourse.
  • Example: "The Angara River is the only river flowing out of Lake Baikal."

Different Meanings

• There is no other common meaning for the specific compound term "Upper Tunguska." However, it is part of a naming system for Siberian rivers:
  • Lower Tunguska (Nizhnyaya Tunguska): A different, separate river that is also a major tributary of the Yenisei River, located further north.

Synonyms

• Angara River: The direct and modern synonym.
• The Angara: A common shortened form.

Notes

• Important: "Upper Tunguska" is not a standard phrasal verb or idiom. It is a fixed proper noun for a geographical feature.
• The term is considered archaic. For clear and modern communication, "Angara River" is strongly preferred.

Noun

1. a river in southeastern Siberia that flows northwest from Lake Baikal to become a tributary of the Yenisei River