Volga river in Russia. The Volga River Volga falls into a coma, hydrologists

From the eastern side of the Ural Mountains to the Caspian Sea, the mighty Russian Volga River, one of the largest rivers in the world, carries its waters across the East European Plain. Its source is located near the village. Volgoverkhovye at an altitude of about 230 m above sea level. Absorbing more than 150 thousand tributaries, it turns into a full-flowing powerful river with a basin area from the Valdai Hills to the Caspian Sea of ​​more than 1350 thousand square meters. m. Conventionally, it is divided into three sections. The Upper Volga from the source to the mouth of the Oka carries its waters through forests, the Middle Volga from the Oka to the mouth of the Kama flows through the forest-steppe belt. The route of the lower Volga is from the Kama through the steppe and semi-desert to the Caspian Sea. The river bottom is mostly muddy or sandy, with pebbles on the riffles.

The flora and fauna of the river is diverse. This is especially pronounced in the Lower Volga, where the unique Arkhangelsk Nature Reserve is located, numbering more than 1,450 species of insects, about 50 species of fish, more than 30 species of mammals, more than 200 species of birds, more than 920 plant varieties, most of which are listed in the Red Book of the Russian Federation. Here you can meet the white-tailed eagle, pelican, and seal. Fish include pike, sturgeon, burbot, catfish, beluga and many other species.

Volga on a map of Russia with cities

The Volga is of enormous economic importance; it is not only the largest, but also the largest in Europe. Since it is home to more than 50 species of commercial fish, fish farming is developed on the river. Shipping has emerged, making it possible to transport not only passengers, but also industrial and food goods. Many hydroelectric power stations, state district power stations, etc. have been built on the Volga, which makes it possible to provide electricity not only to the Volga region, but also to most of the Russian Federation. Industry, science and sports are well developed. Tourist cruises are organized. More than 60 cities were built here, 4 of which with a population of more than 1 million people. These are N. Novgorod, Kazan, Samara, Volgograd.

Cities on the Volga list by stream

1. Dubna is a unique city thanks to the only “Center of Europe” sign, which indicates the distance to cities in the world that are equally distant from Dubna. In addition, there are many monuments and busts dedicated to nuclear scientists; monument to V. Vysotsky; monuments to military and rocket technology. Of interest are 4 Orthodox churches. The city is famous for its ferry crossing No. 1, a beautiful beach on the Moscow Sea, fishing, and water sports. You can go on a yacht. In the center there are numerous shops, cafes, and a children's park.
   
   
2. Uglich is a rather old and attractive city, in which, thanks to tourism, new museums, monuments, summer cafes, and attractions are appearing. But the attraction is still numerous churches, such as the Holy Transfiguration Cathedral, the Church of Tsarevich Dmitry, the Church of the Nativity of John the Baptist, etc. The city has many unique museums: the Museum of Prison Art; Russian vodka; myths and superstitions of the Russian people, etc.
   
   
3. Myshkin is an old small town of the 15th century. The main direction of its development is tourism, so most of the local population is employed in this area. Of interest to tourists are the temple, 19th century estates, the unique Mouse Museum and 5 more museums. There is a pottery workshop and other folk crafts. Various festivals are constantly held. New hotels and guest houses, several cafes and restaurants welcome guests to the city.
   
   
4. Rybinsk is a beautiful big city at the northernmost point of the Volga. Of interest here is the bell tower of the Transfiguration Cathedral, built in the 18th century. Next to it is a cross over the grave of the cathedral archpriest Rodion Putyatin. A little further are the New and Old Grain Exchanges (1806-1811), now they house the River Station. In the building of the New Exchange, decorated with tiles, the Rybinsk State University was opened. historical, architectural and art museum-reserve.
   
5. Tutaev - an ancient city (1419) is interesting for tourists by visiting the Park of the Soviet Period, as here you can admire the details of the USSR period, and go skiing, mountaineering, and snowboarding; in summer - rafting on plastic boats, sailing on a yacht. For extreme sports enthusiasts, there is a rope course “Avatar” or paragliding at the Ertsog sports complex. If you like Russian or Caucasian cuisine, go to the Imperium restaurant; for lovers of Japanese cuisine – cafe “Yaponchik”. In your free time, visit the Resurrection Cathedral, the Estate of the Zatsepin nobles and 2-3 more museums.
   
   
6. Yaroslavl is an ancient large city (founded in 1010) - an important automobile, railway and shipping hub, located at the confluence of two rivers. Machine-building, shipbuilding, car repair, and light industry are well developed. There are 2055 retail outlets. A large scientific center - there are many research institutes and design institutes, State. University. Tourism is well developed. Interesting places to visit are the Spaso-Preobrazhensky Monastery, the Church of St. John Chrysostom, and several other churches and museums.
   
   
7. Kostroma is famous for its history of the 18th – 19th centuries. Here, in addition to the Epiphany Convent and the Church of the Savior, there are a number of memorable historical places (Trading rows, ancient buildings with wooden carvings, etc.) Heavy and light industry, many wood-processing enterprises are developed; food industry enterprises. The city is also famous for a number of jewelry factories: KYUZ, Alkor, Topaz and 5 more jewelry enterprises.
   
   
8. Volgorechensk is a city of industry and electricity. Here is the Kostroma State District Power Plant, which runs on natural gas, as well as a number of enterprises in the construction and fishing industries. Tourists are interested in the Temple of St. Tikhon of Lukh, the sculpture of Prometheus, visiting the local history museum, and a number of other memorable places.
   
   
9. Plyos is a nice old town, basically. in 1141 Now a resort city, there are recreation centers, tourist centers, hospitals, sanatoriums, and boarding houses. In winter – ski rental; in summer - excursions along the Volga. There are many historical places: Trinity Church, Church of St. Barbara, etc., a number of museums. It is interesting to look at the “Tree of Love” - 2 pine trees with an fused branch.
   
   
10. Navoloki - a pier on the right bank. Basic in the 80s of the XIX century. In the form of a village near a textile factory. In 1938 received city status. The main enterprises are the Privolzhskaya Kommuna cotton plant; Garment factory. The Historical Museum and art gallery are interesting.
11. Kineshma is famous for the most beautiful boulevard on the Volga - Volzhsky Boulevard, on which a number of historical monuments of the 18th century are located. The city has many churches and other architectural monuments and museums. For recreation there are numerous parks, tourism, fishing are organized, and water sports competitions are held.
12. Yuryevets is a small cozy ecologically clean town, lost in the pine and birch forests of the right bank of the Volga. Nature is rich in mushrooms and berries; For fishing lovers there is a river with tributaries. Among the enterprises here are “Sewing Factory”, “Omega”, “Krivin A.V.”, TPK “Storm”. Lots of shops, cafes, restaurants. There are a number of museums and other historical places
    
    
13. Puchezh is a city with a developed light and food industry. Particularly noteworthy are the folk craft enterprises “Richelieu”, “Naris”, “Istoki”, which deal with Russian embroidery. There are a number of churches in the city: the Church of Seraphim of Sarov, the Church of St. George the Victorious, etc. Monuments from the times of the USSR are interesting to visit: Memorial complex to the heroes of the Second World War; "Embroiderer" and others.
14. Chkalovsk - formerly Vasileva Sloboda. The settlement was named in honor of Vasily Yuryevich, the son of Prince Dolgoruky, the founders. His XII century. Renamed in 1937. There are several large enterprises here (Chkalovskaya shipyard, garment factory, etc.). In the suburban area there is the Church of the Transfiguration. There are many museum monuments in the city (MUK “District Center of Crafts”, monument to V.P. Chkalov, etc.)
15. Zavolzhye is a cozy town near the Gorky Reservoir. The main attraction is the Nizhny Novgorod hydroelectric power station built in 1955. In addition, the Church of the Holy Trinity, a monument to Yu. Gagarin, the Museum of the History of the City, and several more monuments.
16. Gorodets is an ancient city, famous for its unique monument of the 12th century. – Gorodets earthen rampart. Subsequently, several Orthodox churches, a Museum of Local Lore, and a Museum of Samovars were built here. Shipbuilding is successfully developing here. But the city became famous for its famous Gorodets gingerbread and wood carvings.
17. Balakhna is famous for its archaeological find - a site of hunting and fishing tribes of the Neolithic culture. The tented Nikolskaya (!552), Trinity (1748) and other ancient churches have been preserved. There are Balakhninsky local history and local history (in the Church of the Intercession) museums. Production: Pravdinsky radio relay equipment plant, a number of factories and meat and dairy products enterprises
    
    
18. N. Novgorod is a metropolis with a population of 1,254,595 people. Large industrial Russia, scientific and cultural center: more than 50 universities, of which 6 universities, 4 academies; exhibition galleries, gyms and stadiums; Nizhny Novgorod Circus, Planetarium, Limpopo Zoo; theaters of Comedy, Opera and Ballet, Drama Theatre; numerous recreation parks. The ancient Nizhny Novgorod Kremlin (built 1508 - 1515) will tell about the history of the city. On its territory and next to it there are a number of churches and other historical monuments. At the beginning of the Chkalov Stairs there is the boat “Hero” - a participant in the Civil War of 1918-19. In general, there are many churches, temples and other historical monuments throughout the city. Lots of cafes and restaurants. The city is often visited by tourists.
19. Bor is a cozy holiday and industrial town. The heavy, woodworking, food industries are developed: the Bortomash, Borsky Pipe Plant, forestry enterprises, Borsky Dairy Plant, etc. In 2012, a cable car was built - the most convenient way to cross to N. Novgorod.
20. Kstovo is a relatively young (founded 1957) city with a well-developed industry. The main enterprise is Lukoil-Nizhegorodnefteorgsintez LLC, one of the largest oil refineries in Russia. More than 15 churches have been restored in the city, including the Temple of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God, etc. The World Sambo Academy sports complex and Puppet Theater have been opened, and there are a number of modern monuments.
21. Lyskovo is a small town on the banks of the Cheboksary reservoir. Industry: JSC LETZ, JSC LMFZ; several food and light industrial enterprises. Remarkable State. Museum of Local Lore, architecture: Five-domed Spaso-Preobrazhensky Cathedral (1711), Ascension Church (1838)
22. Kozmodemyansk - main in 1583 as a fort, the status of a city since 1609. Production: a number of enterprises in the light and food industries, the main of which is OJSC “Kopir”. There are several museums: Museum of Local Lore. N.V. Ignatieva and others. In the center there are many historical houses of wealthy merchants, the Streletskaya Tower chapel (1696)
    
    
23. Zvenigovo – main village in 1860. Since 1974 - city status. Economy: Ship construction-repair plant; timber industry enterprise, a number of chemical plants. industry; MUSHP "State Farm Zvenigovsky". Among the attractions: Central Boulevard and a small copy of the Eiffel Tower.
24. Volzhsk - formerly the village of Lopatino - has been known since the 16th century. Since 1940 - the status of the city and the name Volzhsk. Economy: large combines, factories (ZAO Ariadna, Russian-Italian joint venture Sovitalprodmash, etc.), State Unitary Enterprise Volzhskaya Poultry Farm. 4 universities: Volga branches of KSTU named after. A.N. Tupolev, KSTU, MSTU, RAP. The city has many monuments and busts to A.S. Pushkin, V.I. Lenin, and the Monument to Fallen Warriors. There are many parks and squares (Oak Grove, Victory Park, Ariadne Square, etc.). Every year the city hosts the International Music Festival. festival named after An.Baranova “Mimikabo”
25. Cheboksary - main in the XIII-XIV centuries. A green city with beautiful squares, monuments, museums, restored churches, wide squares. Large administrative, industrial, cultural and scientific center. More than a dozen groves and alleys. Object of federal significance Cheb. Botanical Garden, Pine Culture Park 1903, etc. Forest. massifs and groves. More than 20 museums, 5 theaters. The pride of the city is the “Patroness Mother” monument. 46 m. ​​The city has the Vvedensky Cathedral and the Assumption Church. The Cheboksary Aggregate Plant, Tekstilmash and others operate. Electrical energy: Chuvashenergo; defense: NPO im. V.I. Chapaeva.
    
    
26. Novocheboksarsk is a young city in which the Cheboksary hydroelectric power station, Novocheboksarskaya CHPP-3 and several plants and factories operate. The Novocheboksarsk sports complex, the Khimik Palace of Culture, and the School of Arts were built. There are two museums - Local History and Art.
27. Mariinsky Posad is a green city with flowering streets and gardens, white-stone churches visible from the “Sovereign Mountain”, at the foot of which there are many healing springs. The city center is an architectural monument of the 17th-19th centuries. A province untouched by the 20th century. There are many churches here: Trinity Cathedral, Church of the Kazan Mother of God, etc. There is a Memorial complex of pilot-cosmonaut A.G. Nikolaev and 5 more museums, 3 galleries, an arboretum. There are a lot of edible mushrooms and berries in the forest. A hunting society is open, commercial fishing is underway; Trade and folk crafts are developed (wicker weaving, embroidery, wood carving, etc.) For tourists - hotels, boarding houses, health care institutions, tourist bases, etc. Auto and river communications are developed.
28. Kozlovka (1671) – pier. Industry: Kozlovsky Van Plant LLC, food and light industry enterprises, metal products plant. The city has many schools, scientific education. center of ChSU, music, art and sports schools; 4 libraries, a cinema and many museums; Kazan-Bogoroditskaya Church
29. Zelenodolsk is a small city (about 38 sq. km) in which the Zelenodolsk shipbuilding plant and 14 more industrial facilities are located. predpr. There is a large transport interchange and a ferry crossing across the Volga is nearby. There are many temples in the city that are open to tourists; there are museums and monuments. Sanatorium-preventorium "Dolphin" is open
30. Kazan is a metropolis for us. about 2 million people A unique place where the cultures of the Ancient West and East merged historically in harmony. Here, next to the Kazan Kremlin and its “leaning tower” Syuyumbike, there is an Orthodox church. Blagoveshchensky cathedral; Kul Sharif Mosque and Spasskaya Tower, etc. On the outskirts of the city is the Temple of the Five Religions, where an Orthodox church, a synagogue, a mosque, a pagoda and more than 15 other religious buildings stand nearby. There are many metro stations, new hotels and sports facilities, parks, and a number of universities have been opened. The city is often visited by tourists. There are numerous monuments and architectural monuments here. Kazan is a large industrial center, with more than 3,000 factories, factories and other enterprises operating here. Main field: aviation and mechanical engineering; defense products, people's goods consumption
    
    
31. Bolgar is a small ancient town where there are six Orthodox churches, the White Cathedral Mosque, the Bulgar Settlement, which includes the remains of a rampart and ditch of the 14th-15th centuries, mausoleums, chambers, and minarets. There are 3 museums. The grain receiving plant is working. and a bakery.
32. Tetyushi is an ancient town, main. in 1574-78 There are many museums and architectural monuments, as well as modern monuments; Tetyushinskaya Mosque (1992), Cathedral of the Life-Giving Trinity, watchtower. For tourists - the Pike Mountains natural park with Lake Labai and wild animals. Enterprise: Tetyushskaya Sewing Factory LLC, Khleb Production Association
33. Ulyanovsk - until 1924 - Simbirsk. The basis of the industry is the UAZ automobile plant, the UMZ engine plant, a number of other factories, furniture, confectionery and textile factories. Tourists are interested in the Lenin Museum, the Civil Aviation Museum, and the Provincial Gymnasium. There are more than 40 monuments in the city, including the Spoon Monument, the Letter E Monument, as well as monuments to many scientific and cultural figures.
34. Novoulyanovsk is a satellite city, main. in 1957. There are more than 7 large and medium-sized enterprises producing building materials in the city, including Ulyanovskcement CJSC, Tekhnokrom CJSC, etc., as well as the confectionery LLC Globus. There are mountains. And a children's library, a recreation center, a household service center. services, etc.
35. Sengilei is a cozy small interesting town, but without any attractions. Most of the factories (lamp factory, bakery factory, etc.) are now not working. Famous for its pancakes. Only here there is a unique Monument to Pancake.
    
    
36. Dimitrovgrad is a city of culture and industry. There are 11 libraries, a drama theater named after. Ostrovsky, a cinema, more than 5 cultural centers and galleries, a family museum. Temples: Transfiguration Cathedral, St. Nicholas Church, Church of St. George the Victorious. 5 large enterprises: JSC State Scientific Center RIAR, auto-aggregate DAAZ, etc.; build. Firm "Dimitrovgradstroy".
37. Tolyatti is the largest economy. and industrial center. Such giants as AvtoVAZ JSC (Lada), GM AvtoVAZ JV, more than 20 heavy and food industry enterprises, the Volzhskaya Thermal Power Plant and the Tolyatti Thermal Power Plant operate here. Attractions: The Eternal Flame in Victory Park, the Monument of Devotion (in honor of the German Shepherd), 3 museums, the Togliatti Gallery, the Wheel Theater.
38. Zhigulevsk - dist. all in. parts of the National Park "Samarskaya Luka" in the valley of the Zhiguli Mountains. Industrial: Zhigulevskaya HPP, branch of PJSC RusHydro, 8 enterprises. light, food and pharma. industry. Churches: Temple of Righteous John of Kronstadt, Church of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God.
39. Samara - populated. 1,169,720 people; largest economy, transport, scientific image. and cultural center. More than 145 large enterprises are located here. mechanical engineering and metalworking, aviation and space, food industry, 19 universities. Temples: Temple of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Lutheran Church of St. George. Attractions: Fortress of 1586, monument “Soyuz launch vehicle”, Zhigulevsky brewery (built in 1881), underground “Stalin’s Bunker”, a lot of architecture. buildings, museums, monuments.
40. Novokuybyshevsk is a large industrial, scientific, cultural and sports city. Center. There are about 30 plants and factories, about 20 universities, 100 sports. construction, cultural center of Novokuybyshevsk and 7 more religious institutions. Religion: 4 Orthodox churches, Orthodox St. Seraphim educational center "Sinai", communities of Baptists and Jehovah's Witnesses, Novokuybyshevskaya mosque.
41. Oktyabrsk is a small cozy town on the right bank. Here, 2 berths (for sand and for oil products) and a railway station transport the products of 4 factories and a garment factory. Note: Zaitov Cathedral Mosque (2008), Historical and local historian. museum, Monument to Labor Glory.
42. Syzran is a port city, a railway junction, and a large industrial complex. and scientific education center. Main directions: oil refining, petrochemical. and chem. industry, heavy, energy and transport engineering, light and food industries. 4 branches of universities were opened, incl. VVA them. prof. Zhukovsky and Yu. Gagarin, a number of middle-specialists. educational institutions. Historical-architect. monuments: Elias Church, Church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker and 3 more churches, ancient buildings and mansions, 2 museums, a drama theater, an arboretum.
    
    
43. Khvalynsk - (1556), an environmentally friendly city on the territory. National parka. It is famous for its huge number of rare plants, birds, amphibians, etc., protected by the state. Historical and archaeological establishments: Holy Cross Church, a beautiful mosque, a number of museums and ancient houses. Big industrial there are no enterprises.
44. Balakovo – main in 1762 Civilized, quickly developing. a city with a drama theatre, restaurants, a bowling club, etc. The Saratov hydroelectric power station, the Balakovo nuclear power plant, and about 10 enterprises are open here. chem. and food industry, 5 cult. institution, the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity and 8 more churches.
45. Volsk - founded as a fishing village, has preserved its historical buildings: old houses, estates, households, administration, educational buildings, such as the Volsky Museum of Local Lore (1812), Trinity Cathedral (1809), Mariinsky Women's Gymnasium ( 1907). Industry: JSC Volsky Fur. plant”, LLC “Volskmel”, a number of other plants.
46. Marks is a small town with 4 enterprises. food industry, LLC NPF "Mossar", OJSC "Volgodieselapparat". Historical monuments: Monument to Empress Catherine II, Memorial “In Memory of those killed in the Second World War”, several monuments in the City Park, owl attractions. Times, children's and sports grounds.
47. Saratov is a metropolis with a population of more than 1 million people. Large industrial, cultural image. center. City and regional admin. are located in buildings built In the XIX-XX centuries. The most beautiful building is the Holy Trinity Cathedral. SSU, 19 institutes, 3 colleges, about 10 libraries. The city has a number of museums and historical monuments. Industry: more than 40 enterprises heavy and light industry, such as OJSC Saratov Oil Refinery, OJSC Neftegazmash, etc.
48. Engels is a small but fairly developed industrial complex. center. There are more than 20 plants and factories here: Stankovita LLC, Engels Furniture Factory OJSC, etc., one of the largest air bases - Engels Aerospace Forces of Russia, Attractions: Monument to the steam locomotive of the L series, Landing site of Yu Gagarin , Monument - Bull, Palace of Culture, several museums. Of particular interest are the temples: Holy Trinity Church, Engels Cathedral Mosque, and 8 more temples.
    
    
49. Kamyshin is a city on the right bank. It has a number of large industrial enterprises: Kamyshin Glass Factory, Rotor Plant, and about 20 more enterprises. A drama theater, a local history museum, St. Nicholas Orthodox Cathedral, a number of monuments, and a gallery are open.
50. Nikolaevsk is a small town founded in 1747. There is no industry here, the population is employed in agricultural production. But those who are attracted by eco-tourism and culture come here. There is a cultural and leisure center “Istok”, several museums, a cultural center, and the Central District Library.
51. Dubovka is a city unique in its history. The remains of a mammoth and a site of ancient people of the Paleolithic era were discovered here. There are many historical and architectural monuments: “Oak Patriarch”, an ensemble of buildings of the 19th-20th centuries. etc., Assumption Cathedral, Church of the Holy Life-Giving Trinity, Church of the Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, several monuments of the teaching. WWII, etc. Economy: Bakery plant, meat processing plant and 5 other small enterprises.
52. Volzhsky is a beautiful green city with a large industrial complex. center. 14 enterprises are open here: CJSC CELS, Shveiprom, Sun and Wind LLC, Volzhskaya HPP; 4 universities, an art gallery, a local history museum, etc. Among the religious monuments, the most famous are the Temple of St. John the Evangelist, the Temple of Seraphim of Sarov; there are only about 10 temples.
53. Volgograd is a metropolis, a hero city of the Second World War. Here in 1942 the bloodiest battles took place, but the city survived, Paulus’s army was captured. Now there are many monuments dedicated to the Second World War, primarily Mamayev Kurgan. On the right bank there is a monument to Lenin, listed in the Guinness Red Book. Tourism is poorly developed, not looking at the monuments of the Battle of Stalingrad, Sarepta, fishing and the road to Elton. The city has 4 museums, many old buildings (1772-1820), the Church of St. Nicholas the Confessor, the Church of Paraskeva Friday. Metallurgy and mechanical engineering are well developed: the Barricades, Red October, Aluminum Plant and more than 10 plants predpr.
54. Krasnoslobodsk is a small town. There is only 1 factory here – a fish factory. There is an Experimental Station of the Institute of Plant Growing named after. N.I. Vavilova, several churches. The oldest is the Church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker - it is more than 100 years old; Monastery of Archangel Michael.
55. Akhtubinsk is a small town, the main enterprise. which is the State. Flight Test Center named after. Chkalova. In addition to it there is a meat processing plant, a bakery, and a pass. point "Bassol". Tourists are attracted here by fishing, memorials, monuments, and the local history museum. There are 2 temples: the Temple of the Archangel Michael and the Church of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God.
56. Narimanov is the youngest (1963) city with a local history museum and many sports sections and libraries. There is a monument to Lenin and several monuments to those killed in the Second World War. There is a shipbuilding plant "Lotos" and an oil terminal.
    
    
57. Astrakhan is the last city on the Volga, located at the beginning of the delta. The Astrakhan Nature Reserve, created in 1919, protects the delta and part of the Caspian Sea. There are many rare animals and plants, lotus fields. The famous city is the Astrakhan Kremlin (1562-1589) and the Assumption Cathedral (1699-1710). In addition to them, there are 6 more religious buildings, more than 20 churches, ancient mansions and farmsteads, including the Indian trading compound, 4 mosques: White, Black, Red and Persian; many monuments. 35 universities and more than 25 additional institutions have been opened. education, more than 80 preschools. institution The basis of the industry is OJSC Severnaya CHPP and LLC Southern Generating Company - TGC-8. There are 5 Stroymash factories; 2 chemical industry plants; in metallurgy – JSC Astrakhan Machine Tool Plant.”
    
    

To be fair, it should be noted that we missed one city, Mologa.

Previously it was located on the map with Yaroslavl, at the place where the Mologa River merged with the Volga. Due to the construction of the hydroelectric power station (Rybinskaya) in April 1941, 7,000 people were resettled to other areas. At that time, the country faced an important task - electrification.

If you missed anything, please note it in the comments.

If a person pronounces elementary truths with the air of an expert, then, as a rule, he is answered ironically: “The Volga flows into the Caspian Sea.” This phrase is from a story by the great writer A.P. Chekhov's "Literature Teacher" became a popular one. Meanwhile, there has been debate in the scientific community for a long time. Contrary to generally accepted dogma, some geographers, hydrologists and local historians believe that the Kama River flows into the Caspian Sea.

Both rivers are wonderful in their own way. Both flow through the European part of Russia. Both are full and powerful.

According to the official version, the length of the Volga is more than 3.5 thousand kilometers. It receives precipitation falling over an area of ​​1 million 360 thousand kilometers of the earth's surface; on average, every year the great Russian river brings 254 km³ of water into the Caspian Sea. The Volga basin includes about 151 thousand rivers and streams.

If we talk about the Kama, its official length is more than 1.8 thousand kilometers. The drainage basin area of ​​this river exceeds 507 thousand kilometers, and the average annual flow is estimated by experts at 117 km³ of water. Almost 75 thousand tributaries flow into the Kama.

That is, this river gives the Volga almost half of its water wealth. Moreover, in the lower reaches the Kama flows into the Kuibyshev Reservoir, breaking into branches. The width of its channel in some places reaches 1 km 200 m. It is no coincidence that the name of this hydrological object comes from the Udmurt word “kam”, which is translated as “big”.

A local historian from the city of Naberezhnye Chelny, chairman of the board of the Nizhnyaya Kama society, Anatoly Grigorievich Dubrovsky, is one of the specialists who does not agree with the established dogma that it is the Volga that flows into the Caspian Sea. The portal “World Encyclopedia of Travel” published an article by a local historian “Kama or Volga: who defeated whom?” In it, the author defends the primacy of his native river.

The fact is that from the point of view of geology, the Kama is indeed older than the Volga. Numerous studies of the silt deposits of these two rivers have shown that until 11.7 thousand years ago, during the Pleistocene era of the current Cenozoic era, it was the Kama that flowed into the ancient waters of the Caspian Sea. And the Volga was just one of the tributaries of the Don.

The last ice age, which ended about 9.6 thousand years ago, seriously changed the landscape of Eastern Europe. When the ice melted, the hydrographic network went through reformatting. The river, starting on the Valdai Hills, connected with the Kama, and the common waters flowed along its ancient bed - straight into the Caspian Sea.

Local historian A.G. Dubrovsky gives another argument in favor of his theory: at the confluence of the two rivers, the Volga turns almost 90 degrees (at a right angle), while the Kama does not change the direction of its movement.

The reason for the supremacy of the Volga, from the point of view of official science, is associated by many experts with the established historical tradition, because the image of the great Russian river played its unifying role in the formation of our statehood.

However, this is far from the only case when a river, which according to hydrology is the main one, is forced to yield to its inflow for various economic, cultural and demographic reasons. This situation has developed, for example, in pairs: Yenisei and Angara, Mississippi and Missouri, Ob and Irtysh.

Some medieval authors and cartographers also believed that it was the Kama that flowed into the Caspian Sea. In particular, Arab travelers shared this opinion. This point of view is reflected in the works of the famous scholar Abu al-Idrisi (Abu Abdullah Muhammad ibn Muhammad al-Idrisi), who in 1154 completed work on the text of the Tabula Rogeriana (Book of Roger). The scientist spent 18 years compiling his own commentary on the world map, commissioned by King Roger II of Sicily. The full title of this text: “Nuzhat al-mushtaq fi-khtirak al-afaq” can be translated as “The joy of one who passionately desires to cross the world.”

The Arab geographical tradition, which recognizes the primacy of the Kama, influenced the ideas of scientists of medieval Western Europe. For example, the German philologist Friedrich Lubker (Friedrich Heinrich Christian Lubker) compiled the “Real Dictionary of Classical Antiquities,” which was published in 1855. In this edition, the author wrote: “Ra, Rha, a river in Asian Sarmatia, flowing from two sources in the land of the Hyperboreans, and at the connection of both branches (now the Volga and Kama) flows into the Caspian Sea, changing the direction of its flow several times.”

That is, Pa (Rha) is not only the Volga, according to medieval Western scientists, but the result of the connection of the two above-mentioned rivers.

Some Russian travelers and geographers also recognized the primacy of the Kama in this dispute. Among them was an adjunct of the Imperial Academy of Sciences Nikolai Petrovich Rychkov, who in 1769-1770 traveled the lands of Perm, Vyatka, Ufa, Kazan and Orenburg provinces. He outlined his impressions in the book “Journal or daily notes of Captain Rychkov’s travels through different provinces of the Russian state.”

An adjunct of the Academy of Sciences wrote: “Many knowledgeable people assured me that the Kama River is much more capable of moving huge ships than the Volga, because it does not have such shoals as are found in the Volga waters... Indeed, the Kama is great, but not only in length - in terms of its catchment area , in its significance for nature and man.”

Memoirist Philip Philipovich Vigel traveled along the Kama in 1805, being a participant in the famous embassy of Count Yu.A. Golovkin to China. In his memories of this journey, F.F. Wigel called the Kama majestic, pointing out that it can rightfully be considered “the best river in European Russia” in terms of its navigable conditions.

Writer Evgraf Alekseevich Verderevsky in his book “From Trans-Urals to Transcaucasia. Humorous, Sentimental and Practical Letters from the Road,” which was published in 1857, also spoke on this topic. He stated: “...I also found the remark about the Kama, reported to me just now by one of the skippers, to be true: not the Volga, but the Kama should be called the nurse and mother of Russian rivers, because, according to the general observation, only the Kama waters support and fill the Volga basin drying up and shallowing at the end of June.”

“An Illustrated Guide to the Volga and its tributaries Oka and Kama” (N. Andreev, 2nd ed., Moscow, 1915) indicated: “The academic dispute about whether the Kama flows into the Volga or, conversely, the Volga into the Kama, is insoluble and this issue is destined to remain forever unresolved...”

If we consider the dispute between two rivers from the point of view of hydrology, without taking into account various economic, socio-cultural, and historical factors, then the Kama can be considered the main one. In this case, experts take into account such indicators as the full flow and length of the river, the number of its tributaries, the area of ​​the basin, the geological age of the valley, the width of the channel, flow speed and depth.

The most important criterion when determining the main river and its tributaries is the full flow: a smaller flow is considered to flow into a more powerful hydrological body. And according to this indicator, Kama is confidently in the lead. At the confluence of two rivers, the Kama water flow is 4 thousand 300 cubic meters per second, while the Volga is noticeably less full-flowing, its figure is only 3 thousand 100 cubic meters per second.

The Kama benefits because the Ural rivers carry their waters into it, abundantly replenished by the melting of mountain glaciers and regular precipitation. The Volga becomes shallow after the end of the spring flood.

The only indicator in which the Kama is inferior to the Volga is the area of ​​the water intake basin; at the confluence, the great Russian river collects precipitation from a larger area. Perhaps this is why official geographical science gives the palm to Mother Volga.

Chekhov's classic phrase “The Volga flows into the Caspian Sea” has become an example of a banal statement. In fact, the answer to the question of where the Volga flows is not as obvious as it seems. It lies in such fields of science as hydrography, toponymy, geography, etc.

Great River

The ancient Volga appeared on Earth about 23 million years ago. Most likely, the date of birth of the great river is even more ancient - studies show that the Volga had smaller predecessors, not of such significant size.

The Volga is the largest river in the European part of the Eurasian continent. Its length is about 3,530 km. Unlike many other rivers connected to the World Ocean, the Volga flows into a large inland body of water that does not have direct access to the open ocean. This unique formation is called the Caspian Sea.

Ancient Volga

During the birth of the Volga, the movement of tectonic plates began, which led to the emergence of the Central Russian Upland and the Valdai Mountains. The tectonic process was accompanied by the incision of numerous ancient river channels into the base rocks of the plate. At that time, the beginning of the Volga River appeared.

And where does the Volga flow in those distant times? Geological data confirm that the Ancient Caspian Sea was much wider in those days, and moreover, it had open access to the world's oceans. Then, as now, the Caspian received the waves of the ancient Volga and all its tributaries.

At that time the river bed was a little more different than it is now. It arose in the deepest part of a large trench that stretched from modern Kazan to Volgograd. It was he who became the first channel of the paleo-Volga.

Later, processes that arose as a result of the onset of the Ice Age smoothed out the relief features. The area was gradually filled with sedimentary rocks. The Volga continued its development, flowing along an already flat plain. In the geography of the Volga channel of that time, familiar coastal reliefs had already appeared. And the area where the Volga flows has acquired modern contours.

Estuary and tributaries of the Volga

Quite a lot of scientific papers have been written about where the Volga begins and where it flows. In the process of its development, the Volga grew with numerous tributaries and repeatedly changed the location of its delta, but this great river left its source unchanged.

The Valdai Upland is the cradle of many large rivers. Rivers such as the Dnieper, Lovat, Western Dvina, Msta and many smaller water arteries originate here. The largest water artery in Europe was no exception. The first part of the answer to the question - where the Volga begins and where it flows - lies here, in these Russian mountains. The Volga carries its waters from the Valdai Hills. The place where the river originates is in the Tver region and is called the Volgino Verkhovye.

But there are small problems with the place where the Volga flows into the Caspian Sea. The fact is that many researchers disagree with the standard answer to the school problem about where the Volga begins and where it flows. The well-known spring in Valdai is far from the only source of the great Volga; it is quite possible that it has many more sources, and some of them are underground.

Tributaries of the Volga

As for the tributaries, the Volga has a lot of them. The largest of them are Mologa, Samara, Ob, Kama, Eruslan and many others. Of all the above, the widest and deepest tributary is the Kama River. It merges with the Volga very close to the shores of the Caspian Sea. So, maybe the Volga flows into the Kama, and not into the sea?

Signs of river confluence

Hydrobiologists use several indicators to determine which river is the main one and which is its tributary. At the confluence of the waters of both rivers, scientists determine their water content, drainage area, structural features of the river system, the length of both rivers from source to confluence, river flow indicators and several others.

In terms of water content, these two rivers are almost equal to each other. The average annual flow of the Volga is 3750 m 3 /sec, and that of the Kama - 3800 m 3 /sec. In terms of catchment area, the Volga is ahead of its rival - 260.9 thousand km 2 versus 251.7 thousand km 2. The height of the Volga basin is lower than that of the Kama basin, since the tributaries of the Kama originate in the Ural Mountains. The Kama Valley is older than the Volga Valley - it was formed in the first half of the Quaternary period, even before the Great Glaciation. At that time, the Kama discharged its waters into the Vychegda. After the end of the Ice Age, the Upper Volga, which previously flowed into the Don, began to flow into the Kama. The Lower Volga today is a natural continuation not of the Volga, but of the Kama Valley.

Hydrography of the Middle Ages

Arab medieval geographers called the Volga by its own name - Itil. They connected the ancient origins of Itil precisely with the Kama. And they paid no less attention to Kama than to her blue rival.

So where is the beginning of the Volga River and where does this water artery flow? All other things being equal, along with hydrographic ones, historical traditions are also taken into account. Established ideas and studies of toponymy allow us to assert that the Kama is a tributary of the Volga River. More precisely, it flows into the Kuibyshev Reservoir, located at the confluence of two rival rivers. And to the question of where the Volga flows, one can answer: into the waters of the Caspian Sea, but it should be remembered that this answer is dictated more by historical tradition than by real hydrographic indicators.

Despite the fact that there are many different beautiful rivers in Russia, nevertheless, the Volga is the most valuable for it, the population of the country calls it majestic, based on the fact that the Volga is like the queen of all Russian rivers. Scientists geologists determine from sediments in the earth's crust that over the immeasurably long history of the Earth, significant areas of the present Volga region have more than once turned into the seabed. One of the seas slowly retreated to the south about twenty million years ago, and then the Volga River flowed in its wake. The Volga began not in Valdai, but near the Ural Mountains. It seemed to cut a corner, taking the direction towards Zhiguli from there, and then carried the waters much further to the east than now. Movements of the earth's crust, the formation of new hills and depressions, sharp fluctuations in the level of the Caspian Sea and other reasons forced the Volga River to change direction.

Origin of the river's name

From the facts of ancient history it is known that the then famous Greek scientist named Ptolemy in his “Geography” called the Volga River by the name “Ra”. Despite the fact that he lived far from the Volga, on the coast of Africa, in the city of Alexandria, rumors about this great river reached there too. This was in the 2nd century AD. Later, in the Middle Ages, the Volga was known as Itil.

According to one version, the Volga acquired its modern name from the ancient Mari name of the river Volgydo, or which translated meant “bright”. According to another version, the name of the Volga comes from the Finno-Ugric word Volkea, meaning “light” or “white”. There is also a version that the name Volga comes from the name Bulga, associated with the Volga Bulgarians who lived on its banks. But the Bulgarians themselves (the ancestors of modern Tatars) called the reuk “Itil”, a word that means “river” (there is, however, another version that the meanings of the hydronyms Volga and Itil then did not coincide with modern ones), it is believed that the most likely origin of the ethnonym “Volga” "from the Proto-Slavic word meaning volgly - vologa - moisture, thus the possible meaning of the name Volga is as “water” or “moisture”, so to speak, “big water” is also suitable, due to the enormous size of the river. The Slavic version of the origin of the name is evidenced by the presence of the Vlga rivers in the Czech Republic and Vilga in Poland.

Source of the Volga

The source of the Volga is a spring near the village of Volgoverkhovye in the Tver region. In the upper reaches, within the Valdai Upland, the Volga passes through small lakes - Maloe and Bolshoye Verkhity, then through a system of large lakes known as the Upper Volga lakes: Sterzh, Vselug, Peno and Volgo, united into the Upper Volga Reservoir.

Geographical location of the river

The Volga originates on the Valdai Hills (at an altitude of 229 m) and flows into the Caspian Sea. The length of the Volga is 3530 kilometers. The mouth lies 28 m below sea level. The total fall is 256 m. The Volga is the world's largest river of internal flow, that is, not flowing into the world ocean. The source of the Volga is a spring near the village of Volgoverkhovye in the Tver region. In the upper reaches, within the Valdai Upland, the Volga passes through small lakes - Maloe and Bolshoye Verkhity, then through a system of large lakes known as the Upper Volga lakes: Sterzh, Vselug, Peno and Volgo, united into the so-called Upper Volga reservoir.

The river can be divided into three main parts:

Upper Volga, the largest tributaries of the Upper Volga are Selizharovka, Tma, Tvertsa, Mologa, Sheksna and Unzha. After the Volga passed through the system of Verkhnevolzhsky lakes in 1843, a dam (Verkhnevolzhsky Beishlot) was built to regulate water flow and maintain navigable depths during low water periods. Between the cities of Tver and Rybinsk on the Volga, the Ivankovo ​​Reservoir (the so-called Moscow Sea) with a dam and a hydroelectric power station near the city of Dubna, the Uglich Reservoir (HPP near Uglich), and the Rybinsk Reservoir (HPP near Rybinsk) were created. In the Rybinsk-Yaroslavl region and below Kostroma, the river flows in a narrow valley among high banks, crossing the Uglich-Danilovskaya and Galich-Chukhloma uplands. Further, the Volga flows along the Unzhenskaya and Balakhninskaya lowlands. Near Gorodets (above Nizhny Novgorod), the Volga, blocked by the dam of the Gorky hydroelectric station, forms the Gorky reservoir.

The middle Volga, in the middle reaches, below the confluence of the Oka, the Volga becomes even more full-flowing. It flows along the northern edge of the Volga Upland. The right bank of the river is high, the left is low. The Cheboksary Hydroelectric Power Station was built near Cheboksary, above the dam of which the Cheboksary Reservoir is located. The largest tributaries of the Volga in its middle reaches are the Oka, Sura, Vetluga and Sviyaga.

The Lower Volga, where in the lower reaches, after the confluence of the Kama, the Volga becomes a mighty river. It flows here along the Volga Upland. Near Togliatti, above the Samara Luka, which is formed by the Volga, skirting the Zhigulevsky Mountains, the Zhigulevskaya Hydroelectric Power Station dam was built; Above the dam lies the Kuibyshev Reservoir. On the Volga near the city of Balakovo, the Saratov hydroelectric power station dam was erected. The Lower Volga receives relatively small tributaries - Sok, Samara, Bolshoi Irgiz, Eruslan. 21 km above Volgograd, the left branch, Akhtuba (length 537 km), separates from the Volga, which flows parallel to the main channel. The vast space between the Volga and Akhtuba, crossed by numerous channels and old rivers, is called the Volga-Akhtuba floodplain; The width of the floods within this floodplain previously reached 20-30 km. The Volzhskaya Hydroelectric Power Station was built on the Volga between the beginning of Akhtuba and Volgograd; Above the dam lies the Volgograd Reservoir.

The Volga Delta begins at the point where Akhtuba separates from its channel (in the Volgograd area) and is one of the largest in Russia. There are up to 500 branches, channels and small rivers in the delta. The main branches are Bakhtemir, Kamyzyak, Old Volga, Bolda, Buzan, Akhtuba (of which Bakhtemir is maintained in navigable condition, forming the Volga-Caspian Canal).

Territorial division of the river

Geographically, the Volga basin includes Astrakhan, Volgograd, Saratov, Samara, Ulyanovsk, Nizhny Novgorod, Yaroslavl, Ivanovo, Kostroma, Moscow, Smolensk, Tver, Vladimir, Kaluga, Orel, Ryazan, Vologda, Kirov, Penza, Tambov regions, Perm Territory, Udmurtia, Mari El, Mordovia, Chuvashia, Tatarstan, Bashkortostan, Kalmykia, Komi, Moscow, and some others.

The Volga is connected to the Baltic Sea by the Volga-Baltic waterway, the Vyshnevolotsk and Tikhvin systems; with the White Sea - through the Severodvinsk system and through the White Sea-Baltic Canal; with the Azov and Black Seas - through the Volga-Don Canal.

The Volga River is mainly fed by external meltwater. Rains, which fall mainly in summer, and groundwater, from which the river lives in winter, play a lesser role in its nutrition. In accordance with this, the annual level of the river is distinguished by: high and prolonged spring floods, fairly stable summer low water and low winter low water. The duration of the flood is on average 72 days. The maximum water rise usually occurs in the first half of May, half a month after the spring ice drift. From the beginning of June to October - November, summer low water sets in. Thus, most of the navigation period when the Volga River is ice-free (on average 200 days) coincides with a period of low low water levels (2 - 3 m).

History of the Volga River

It is believed that the first mention of the Volga is found in the works of the ancient Greek historian Herodotus (5th century BC). In the story about the campaign of the Persian king Darius against the Scythians, Herodotus reports that Darius, pursuing the Scythians across the Tanais (Don) River, stopped at the Oar River. They are trying to identify the Oar River with the Volga, although Herodotus also reported that the Oar flows into Maeotis (the Sea of ​​Azov). Sometimes they also see the Volga in another river, which was mentioned in the 1st century. BC e. reported Diodorus Siculus.

At first the Scythians lived in very small numbers near the Araks River and were despised for their ignominy. But even in ancient times, under the control of one warlike king distinguished by his strategic abilities, they acquired a country in the mountains up to the Caucasus, and in the lowlands of the coast of the Ocean and Lake Meotia - and other areas up to the Tanais River.

In written ancient Roman sources of the 2nd-4th centuries, the Volga is geographically identified as the river Ra - generous, in Arabic sources of the 9th century it is called Atel - the river of rivers, the great river. In the earliest ancient Russian chronicle, “The Tale of Bygone Years,” it is said: “From that Volokovo forest the Volga will flow to the east and flow... into the Khvalisskoye Sea.” Volokovsky Forest is the ancient name of the Valdai Hills. Khvalissky was the name given to the Caspian Sea.

The geographical position of the Volga and its large tributaries determined its importance as a trade route between East and West by the 8th century. It was along the Volga route that the flow of Arab silver poured into the Scandinavian countries. Fabrics and metals were exported from the Arab Caliphate; slaves, furs, wax, and honey were exported from the Slavic lands. In the 9th-10th centuries, a significant role in trade was played by such centers as the Khazar Itil at the mouth, the Bulgar Bulgar in the Middle Volga, the Russian Rostov, Suzdal, Murom in the Upper Volga region. Since the 11th century, trade has weakened, and in the 13th century, the Mongol-Tatar invasion disrupted economic ties, except for the upper Volga basin, where Novgorod, Tver and the cities of Vladimir-Suzdal Rus' played an active role. Since the 15th century, the importance of the trade route has been restored, and the role of such centers as Kazan, Nizhny Novgorod, and Astrakhan has grown. The conquest of the Kazan and Astrakhan khanates by Ivan the Terrible in the mid-16th century led to the unification of the entire Volga river system in Russian hands, which contributed to the flourishing of Volga trade in the 17th century. New large cities are emerging - Samara, Saratov, Tsaritsyn; Yaroslavl, Kostroma, and Nizhny Novgorod play a major role. Large caravans of ships (up to 500) sail along the Volga. In the 18th century, the main trade routes moved to the West, and the economic development of the lower Volga was hampered by weak population and raids by nomads. The Volga basin in the 17th-18th centuries was the main area of ​​action for the rebel peasants and Cossacks during the peasant wars under the leadership of S.T. Razin and E.I. Pugacheva.

In the 19th century, there was a significant development of the Volga trade route after the Mariinsky river system connected the Volga and Neva basins (1808); A large river fleet appeared (in 1820 - the first steamship), a huge army of barge haulers (up to 300 thousand people) worked on the Volga. Large shipments of bread, salt, fish, and later oil and cotton are carried out.

The development of the Civil War of 1917-22 in Russia is largely connected with the establishment in 1918 of the power of the Committee of the Constituent Assembly in a number of cities of the Volga region. The restoration of Bolshevik control over the Volga is considered an important turning point in the Civil War, as control over the Volga provided access to grain resources and Baku oil. An important role in the Civil War was played by the defense of Tsaritsyn, in which J.V. Stalin played an active role, which was the reason for renaming Tsaritsyn to Stalingrad.

During the years of socialist construction, in connection with the industrialization of the entire country, the importance of the Volga Route increased. Since the late 30s of the 20th century, the Volga has also begun to be used as a source of hydropower. During the Great Patriotic War of 1941-45, the largest Battle of Stalingrad took place on the Volga, which preserved the name of the Volga in the history of the liberation of the region. In the post-war period, the economic role of the Volga increased significantly, especially after the creation of a number of large reservoirs and hydroelectric power stations.

Natural world of the Volga

In the Upper Volga basin there are large forest areas; in the Middle and partly in the Lower Volga region, large areas are occupied by grain and industrial crops. Melon growing and gardening are developed. The Volga-Ural region has rich oil and gas deposits. Near Solikamsk there are large deposits of potassium salts. In the Lower Volga region (Lake Baskunchak, Elton) - table salt.

In terms of fish diversity, the Volga is one of the richest rivers. The Volga River basin is home to 76 different species of fish and 47 subspecies of fish. The following fish enter the Volga from the Caspian Sea: lamprey, beluga, sturgeon, stellate sturgeon, thorn, white fish, anadromous Volga herring or common herring; semi-anadromous: carp, bream, pike perch, roach, etc. The following fish constantly live in the Volga: sterlet, carp, bream, pike perch, ide, pike, burbot, catfish, perch, ruff, asp. Beluga is the most legendary fish of the Caspian basin. Its age reaches 100 years, and its weight is 1.5 tons. At the beginning of the century, belugas weighing over a ton lived in the Volga; the weight of caviar in females was up to 15% of the total body weight. Red fish is the glory of the Astrakhan region. Five species of sturgeon fish live here - Russian sturgeon, stellate sturgeon, beluga, thorn and sterlet. The first four species are anadromous, and sterlet is a freshwater fish. Farms also breed a hybrid of beluga and sterlet - bester. Herring-like fish are represented by Caspian shad, common sprat and blackback and Volga herring.

Among the salmon-like fish, the whitefish is found, the only representative of the pike-like fish is the pike. The carp fish of the lower reaches of the Volga include bream, carp, roach, rudd, gold and silver crucian carp, asp, silver bream, gudgeon, grass carp, white and bighead carp.

Perch fish in the Volga are represented by river perch, ruffe, as well as pike perch and bersh. In the stagnant shallow freshwater reservoirs of the lower Volga, the only representative of the stickleback order, the southern stickleback, is found everywhere.

The influence of the Volga in creativity

In the figurative perception of the essence of the Russian people, the Volga plays an exceptional and central role; it is the root and core of the entire Russian people, a figurative ideal. It is always animated, human qualities are attributed to it, and the ideal Russian person must correspond to the image of this river. The Volga is not found very often in literature and art, but truly cult works are associated with its image. In the culture of the 19th and early 20th centuries, the most “folk” representatives of culture are associated with the Volga: N.A. Nekrasov, Maxim Gorky, F.I. Chaliapin. Soviet art made full use of the image of the Volga created by the democratic art of pre-revolutionary Russia. The Volga is identified with the Motherland; it is a symbol of freedom, space, breadth and greatness of the spirit of Soviet people. The central role in the construction of this image was played by the film “Volga-Volga” and the song “The Volga Flows” performed by Lyudmila Zykina.

Volga Delta

The Volga Delta is the place where the first biosphere reserve in Russia was created in 1919. Five years ago, another federal state nature reserve appeared in the Astrakhan region - Bogdinsko-Baskunchaksky. We understand that nature reserves constantly face many problems, the solution of which cannot be postponed, therefore the financing of their activities is largely the responsibility of the regional budget. Astrakhan residents are proud that last year Maly Zhemchuzhny Island received the status of a federal natural monument. This is one of the most valuable natural reserves of the Northern Caspian Sea. In addition, 800 thousand hectares of the delta have the status of a wetland of international importance. In our region there are four state natural reserves of regional significance.

The Volga Delta is recognized as the most environmentally friendly delta in Europe. Our task, despite the fact that the territory for economic use is highly valued here, is to expand the boundaries of natural reserves. Now, for example, the idea of ​​​​creating so-called biosphere testing grounds in the region is being explored. We are one of the first to do this in Russia. 300 thousand hectares of the Northern Caspian Sea and the Volga delta are to be reserved for them. In these spaces, mostly water, modern methods of economic activity will be tested that will not harm the unique environment. We are for openness of environmental information and always promptly respond to any signals about emergencies and problems.

The largest river valley in Europe, the Volga-Akhtuba floodplain and the Volga River delta, as well as the surrounding desert, have always attracted the attention of botanists. The first studies mainly concerned the species composition of the flora. At different times, the region was visited by: P. S. Pallas, K. K. Klaus, E. A. Eversmann, I. K. Pachosky, A. Ya Gordyagin and many other outstanding travelers and botanists. At the end of the 20s of this century, more attention began to be paid to floodplain habitats. To one of the first researchers of the vegetation cover of the Lower Volga valley - S. I. Korzhinsky (in 1888) - the floristic composition of its meadows and swamps initially seemed rather monotonous, but later these ideas began to change.A. G. Ramensky (in 1931) noted a change in the composition of herbaceous communities of the Volga-Akhtuba floodplain and delta as they moved downstream of the river.

Story

Until the 30s. In the twentieth century, the Volga was practically used only as a transport route and a fishing basin. The main organic disadvantages of the Volga trade route for many centuries were the lack of water connections with the World Ocean and the stepwise nature of the depths. They once tried to overcome the first disadvantage by organizing portages. But only very small vessels could be transported across watersheds. Peter I organized work to connect the Volga with the Don and the Baltic Sea. However, due to the lack of equipment corresponding to the scale of the work, the efforts expended to connect the Volga with the Don were not crowned with success. The fate of the work on the Upper Volga was different. In 1703 they began and in 1709 completed the construction of the Vyshnevolotsk system. Through the rivers Tvertsa, Tsna, Meta, Volkhov, Lake Ladoga and Niva, cargo transported along the Volga gained access to the Baltic Sea. The limited capacity of this water system forced us to look for other ways to develop water connections between the Volga basin and the Baltic.

In 1810, the Mariinsk water system came into operation, connecting the Volga with the Baltic through the rivers Sheksna, Vyterga, Lake Onega, and the river. Svir, Lake Ladoga and Neva, and in 1811 - the Tikhvin water system, which did the same through the rivers Mologa, Chagodoma, Syas and the Ladoga Canal.

In 1828, the construction of the Württemberg (North Dvina) system was completed, connecting the Volga basin through the Shekenu River, the Toporninsky Canal, lakes Siverskoye and Kubenskoye with the river. Sukhona, Northern Dvina and White Sea. In the first half of the 19th century. Work began to actively develop to overcome another major drawback of the Volga transport route - the stepped depths.

Along with shipping, fishing has been of great importance in the Volga basin since ancient times. The Volga has always been abundant in aquatic, semi-anadromous and migratory fish. Sharp fluctuations in catches in the Volga basin were also noted in those times when the influence of human economic activity was practically insignificant. Mills were built on small tributaries of the Volga even in pre-Petrine times. During the time of Peter I, water energy began to be used for metallurgical plants created in the Urals.

At the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th centuries. It became clear that the exceptionally favorable position of the Volga in the very center of the European part of Russia, the richest land, water and mineral resources, the enormous fish wealth of the Volga basin, the presence of qualified workers in industrial areas - Moscow, Ivanovo, Nizhny Novgorod, Ural - cannot be used in completely without developing an adequate energy base.

Significance of the Volga River

Nowadays, the river plays a significant role in the Russian economy, since a large number of hydroelectric power stations are located on it, and the river itself is necessary for various maritime cargo transportation, which is now successfully carried out.

In addition, the Volga is the main artery of the country, supplying it with water resources; it is also worth adding that many reservoirs have been created on the Volga. And for local residents of the village located near the Volga River, it gives them the opportunity to feel like tourists, swimming along the river, and just admire the beautiful landscape, taking one more look at it.

There is no such density of tourist facilities as in the Bakhchisarai region anywhere in the world! Mountains and sea, rare landscapes and cave cities, lakes and waterfalls, secrets of nature and mysteries of history. Discovery and the spirit of adventure... Mountain tourism here is not at all difficult, but any trail delights with clean springs and lakes.

Adygea, Crimea. Mountains, waterfalls, herbs of alpine meadows, healing mountain air, absolute silence, snowfields in the middle of summer, the murmuring of mountain streams and rivers, stunning landscapes, songs around the fires, the spirit of romance and adventure, the wind of freedom await you! And at the end of the route are the gentle waves of the Black Sea.

The Volga River is one of the greatest rivers in Russia and the longest and deepest in Europe.

The length of the river is 3530 km, and at the same time it is the longest among Russian rivers.

Many events in the history of our country are connected with the Volga.

Geographical characteristics

The Volga is the central water artery of the country and flows through its European part through the East European (Russian) Plain. This is the world's largest river flowing into an inland body of water. The area of ​​the delta formed by the Volga is 19,000 square meters. km.

The great river originates from a small source of groundwater, located near the village of Volgoverkhovye and located at an altitude of 229 meters above sea level.

A small stream, receiving about 150,000 tributaries, including about 200 small and large rivers, gains power and strength and turns into a mighty river that flows into the Caspian Sea.

The fall of the river along its entire length does not exceed 250 meters, and the area of ​​the basin is 1360 thousand square meters. km. The Volga River basin extends from the Urals on the eastern side to the Central Russian and Valdai Uplands in the west.

Hydrological regime

The reservoir receives its main nutrition from melted spring waters.

Summer rains and groundwater, which feed the river in winter, play a slightly lesser role in its nutrition.

In connection with these features, three periods are distinguished in the annual river level: long and high spring floods, stable summer low water and low winter low water. The flood period averages 72 days.

The maximum rise in water is usually observed in the first half of May, that is, approximately two weeks after the spring ice drift. From June to October-November, summer low water is established, coinciding with the navigation period. It is at this time, when the river is free of ice, that navigation is possible. The Volga is one of the most important waterways in Russia.
Three sections of the river are conventionally distinguished:

• Upper Volga - from the source to Nizhny Novgorod (the mouth of the Oka).
• Middle Volga - from the mouth of the Oka to the mouth of the Kama.
• Lower Volga - from the mouth of the Kama to the Caspian Sea.

The Upper Volga extends mainly in the forest zone, flowing through large forests, while the route of the middle part of the river runs through the forest-steppe belt. The Lower Volga makes its way in the steppe and semi-desert zones. The bottom of the Volga in different places can be sandy or muddy, and muddy-sandy areas are often found. On the rifts the soil is mostly pebbly or gristly.

The maximum temperature of the river at the peak of summer reaches 20–25 degrees; in winter, the river along its entire length is covered with ice: the upper and middle parts freeze until the end of November, the lower Volga - at the beginning of December. The appearance of reservoirs on the river entailed a change in the thermal regime of the Volga. Thus, on the upper dams the period of ice captivity increased, and on the lower dams it decreased.

Nature of the Volga basin

The Volga floodplain is complex and varied. Its flora and fauna are most diverse in the area of ​​the lower Volga, at the mouth of the reservoir, the unique natural complex of which is represented by 1,500 species of insects, almost 50 species of fish, more than 900 species of plants, 3 species of amphibians, 33 of mammals, 250 of birds, 10 of reptiles.

That is why the unique Astrakhan Biosphere Reserve was founded in the Volga delta, many rare animals, birds and fish of which are listed in the Red Book of the Russian Federation, as well as in the International Red Book.

White-tailed eagle, pelican, great egret, and mute swan are found here. In the thickets along the banks of the Volga you can see wild boar, seals are preserved on the seashore, and saigas are preserved on the steppe plains. One of the world's largest bird migration corridors runs through the Volga delta.