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Why does the Don River have its highest water levels in spring?
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Don River
The Don River at Rostov-na-Donu, Russia.
The Don River experiences its highest water levels in the spring primarily due to the melting of winter snows.1
In the river's upper course, for example, the flow increases significantly as the season progresses; while only about 7 percent of the annual flow occurs in March, approximately 65 percent of the annual flow takes place during April and May as the snowmelt begins. This seasonal surge is a defining characteristic of the hydrology of the Don, which remains frozen throughout much of the winter months.1