If I have no desire to go on vacation abroad, then I spend time in Russia. After the south of the country, that is, Crimea and the Caucasus, my favorite region is the Volga region. It occupies a vast territory from Lake Seliger to Astrakhan, so the climate and attractions are very diverse.
I noticed that Volgograd is the only hero city on the Volga. I’ve been wanting to visit it for a long time, and ended up going for the May holidays. I liked it in all respects:
And from Volgograd it’s worth going to the town of Uryupinsk. It is not located on the Volga, but has a reputation as the “capital” of our province.
Saratov seems to be the same age as Volgograd, but the population there is smaller. I spent only one day there. I liked the historical center of Saratov, including the local Arbat - Kirov Street with numerous monuments, for example, to the local accordion and the hero of the song! The latter is very interesting; I haven’t seen anything like this in other cities.
Among the attractions of Saratov I would note:
In my opinion, the largest regional center in Russia, the capital of our automobile industry! Togliatti has a very modern architectural appearance. It’s worth spending a day there, during which time you can actually visit three museums: an automobile plant, a local history museum, and a museum-park of the history of technology. Opposite Togliatti, on the other bank of the Volga is located national park"Samara Luka". It's also worth a visit.
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I love traveling around Russia, and the Volga region is one of the easiest regions to visit. History buffs will love it, because there are many interesting cities on the banks of the Volga.
Of the Russian cities on the banks of the largest river in the European part of the country, Yaroslavl is probably the oldest. It was founded in 1010 and recently celebrated its millennium. Even on the 1000-ruble banknote it has earned its place!
At the beginning of the 21st century, Kazan unexpectedly “grew old” and celebrated its millennium in 2005. In the 12th century, around the same time as Moscow, the city of Tver was founded. From major cities on the Volga are quite old Nizhny Novgorod and Kostroma, they appeared even before the Mongol-Tatar invasion.
I like to visit Ivanovo region. It’s not far from Moscow, the distances are short, tickets for night trains are cheap. From Ivanovo you can easily go to Ples, and from Kineshma to Yuryevets.
The first one is beautiful at any time of the year. Among its attractions I would note:
The majestic bell tower looks beautiful in the city of Yuryevets white. The city is low-rise, there are not enough jobs there, they have not yet been able to make a second Ples out of it. But there are a couple of rare museums - architects Vesnin and Andrei Tarkovsky. It's worth going there at least once for a few hours.
Many Germans once lived in the Saratov region and there was even a separate national republic.
It’s not surprising that a couple of cities there were named after the classics of socialism of the 19th century, whose work the whole country had recently studied.
In Marx, the monument to Ilyich in front of the Lutheran Cathedral and the majestic church look beautiful.
Engels is larger, there are many different industries there, for example, they make trolleybuses that travel in many cities. The city has a monument to his coat of arms (a bull with salt) and a rare long-range aviation museum.
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The Volga region, in my opinion, is one of the most accessible regions of Russia. It is easy to get there from the north, from the Caucasus, from Moscow and from the Urals. The region is historical, many cities were founded 800 or more years ago. There are several Kremlins and cities with a population of millions. I advise everyone to visit there.
It’s worth mentioning Tver right away. Almost all Russian carriages are made in this city; there is a monument to Mikhail Krug, the Saltykov-Shchedrin Museum and a good local history museum. Tver suffers greatly due to the fact that it is located between Moscow and St. Petersburg. Many local talents leave their native places because of this.
From Moscow you can easily get there by train and in a few hours of active walking you can explore the most interesting architectural monuments and several museums.
In addition to Tver, the following cities are worth visiting on the upper Volga:Astrakhan is located in the lower reaches of the Volga. A hot city, famous for its watermelons and the southernmost Kremlin in Russia. To the south there is only a fortress in Derbent. It’s worth visiting Astrakhan for watermelons and fishing. Local stores have an excellent selection of canned fish, black caviar, sturgeon and dried roach.
I visited Astrakhan and was surprised to find that trolleybuses in the city cost 10 rubles, but the museums are expensive! The regional local history course and the regional art course together cost 700 rubles. They have some Moscow prices. Not far from Astrakhan there is a miniature watermelon museum in Kamyzyak.
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I lived in Volgograd for a long time, this city is located on the mighty and great Volga River. I remember that as a child we always escaped the summer heat on Krasnooktyabrsky Beach, which was only twenty minutes on foot from my house.
Since I already mentioned this locality, then I’ll tell you about him first. It stands on the left bank of the Volga, in its lower reaches. In general, it is not recommended to swim on the side where the city is located; it is better to go across the bridge to the right bank. There are better beaches and cleaner water. Well, Volgograd itself is a large populated area, its area is almost 860 square kilometers, it is only half the size of St. Petersburg. According to official data, more than a million people live here. Every year, hundreds of thousands of tourists flock here like moths, they are attracted by the rich history of the city and the picturesque places in the area. Of course, the most familiar landmark here is the famous “Mamaev Kurgan”. The best way to approach it is from Second Longitudinal and go down from top to bottom.
And for me personally this is Kazan.
I had a chance to visit here four years ago. It is amazing beautiful city. It was located precisely on the left bank of Mother Volga. It is also worth mentioning that the city has a large port. Top beaches on the Volga in Kazan:
I liked it most on the Riviera beach. The environment here is 100% comfortable, there is even an entertainment area. You can rent a sun lounger or umbrella. Overall, five out of five points. Well, the city itself is worthy of attention, there are many interesting sights. What I liked most was the local Kremlin.
I also cannot help but mention Sviyazhsk, although it is not a city, but a village, but it also stands on the Volga and is simply extraordinarily beautiful here. From Kazan you can get to it by small boat or train. This place is perfect for just sitting on the banks of the Volga and relaxing. It is very quiet and peaceful here, so be sure to visit the amazing Sviyazhsk.
The Volga ranks first among the longest Russian rivers and 16th position among the longest rivers of our planet. The big river takes its headwaters on the Valdai Hills and flows into the Caspian Sea. It is fed by snow, groundwater and storm flows. In modern times, more than 40% is concentrated in it industrial production and more than 50% of agricultural production in the Russian Federation. The Volga has a calm current. The banks of the river serve as a wonderful place for recreation, and the water is home to more than 70 species of fish. Many of these widow fish are commercial fish.
The length of the largest river is more than 3,500 km, and before they began to build reservoirs on it, it was more than 3,600 km. The water artery of Russia passes through many regions of the country. Tver, Moscow, Yaroslavl, Kostroma, Ivanovo, Nizhny Novgorod, Samara, Saratov, Volgograd, Astrakhan regions, as well as the republics of Chuvashia, Mari El, Tatarstan, are located on the banks of the water element. The upper flow is directed from the western part to the east, and the lower flow from the northern part to the south. It ends in the Caspian Sea.
(The source of the Volga on the Volgoverkhovye)
The powerful water element takes its origins from a small stream groundwater, namely in the village of Volgoverkhovye. The village is located at a mountain height, more than 200 meters above sea level. Many tourists are attracted by the small chapel, which is built on the spot where the river originates. Travelers love to share their impressions and say that they stepped across such a mighty river.
(Such a small but fast stream becomes a wide river with a long history)
Gradually, a small stream gains strength due to more than 100,000 tributaries, consisting of large and small rivers. Overcoming kilometers, the Volga transforms into a huge river.
(The mouth of the Volga in Astrakhan region divided by many branches)
In the city of Astrakhan, the mouth of the Volga is formed, which is divided by many branches, among which the largest are Bakhtemir, Bolda, Buzan. Southern city on 11 islands of the upper coastal part of the river. A unique nature reserve was built at the confluence of the Volga. Rare species flora and fauna are under state protection. The Astrakhan Nature Reserve attracts many travelers and amazes its guests with picturesque places.
(The magnificent confluence of the Oka and Volga)
The Volga can be roughly divided into three sections. The upper section begins at the source of the Volga and stretches to the end of the Oka. The middle part starts from the mouth of the Oka and ends at the mouth of the Kama. The lower section starts from the mouth of the Kama and ends at the mouth of the Volga. The upper reaches have large streams such as the Darkness, Unzha and Mologa. The middle reaches include Sura, Vetluga and Sviyaga. The lower reaches consist of Samara, Eruslan and Sok. The total number of tributaries is more than 500, as well as multiple channels and not big rivers.
(The confluence of the Kama River with the Volga forms the magnificent Kama estuary, Mount Lobach)
Among some scientists there is an opinion that the Kama River was the main river, and the Volga served as its tributary. Many studies show that the life activity of the Kama exceeds the Volga by several million years. In 1983, the Cheboksary reservoir was launched, and the Volga was reincarnated into many flowing lakes. And the Kama continues to be fed by the tributaries of small rivers.
(Volga along the city of Yaroslavl)
Some of Russia's most powerful cities are located on the banks of the Volga: Nizhny Novgorod, Kazan, Samara and Volgograd. Administrative centers are economic, cultural, sports, industrial centers for Russian Federation. Also no less important are the large cities on the river: Astrakhan, Saratov, Kharabali, Kineshma and many others. There are many settlements along the river's route. Railroad and road routes have been created, so not a single tourist has any problems with the question of how to get to the mighty Volga. More than 1,400 marinas and industrial ports are located on its shores.
City dwellers and rural populations use the Volga for a variety of purposes. Main function The river is its economic role. Industrial materials, food and other necessary goods that improve people's livelihoods are transported along the river. The Volga is also the main source of water supply for urban and rural populations. It also serves as a favorite place for active rest, tourism and fishing thanks to enough clean water and the colorful nature that surrounds its shores.
Russia's favorite symbol is the powerful mother - the Volga River. She inspired and inspires hundreds of poets, singers and artists to create real masterpieces. It was about this river that songs and poems were composed for centuries, which completely glorified and continue to glorify it. The Volga is also clearly depicted in paintings by world artists. The Volozhsk theme is regularly interpreted in a rich creative range and genre diversity. Hundreds of works by many nameless creators have survived to this day, depicting a variety of fragments of the great Volga River.
The first mentions of the Volga River date back to ancient times, when it was called “Ra”. In later times, already in Arabic sources, the river was called Atel (Etel, Itil), which translated means “great river” or “river of rivers.” This is exactly what the Byzantine Theophanes and subsequent chroniclers called it in the chronicles.
The current name "Volga" has several versions of its origin. The most likely version seems to be that the name has Baltic roots. According to the Latvian valka, which means “overgrown river”, the Volga got its name. This is exactly what the river looks like in its upper reaches, where the Balts lived in ancient times. According to another version, the name of the river comes from the word valkea (Finno-Ugric), which means “white” or from the ancient Slavic “vologa” (moisture).
Since ancient times, the Volga has not lost any of its greatness. Today it is the largest river in Russia and ranks 16th in the world among the longest rivers. Before the construction of the cascade of reservoirs, the length of the river was 3690 km; today this figure has been reduced to 3530 km. At the same time, shipping navigation is carried out over 3500 km. In navigation, the Canal plays an important role. Moscow, which acts as a link between the capital and the great Russian river.
The Volga is connected to the following seas:
The waters of the Volga originate in the Valdai Upland region - in the spring of the village of Volgo-Verkhovye, which is located in the Tver region. The height of the source above sea level is 228 meters. Then the river carries its waters throughout Central Russia into the Caspian Sea. The height of the river's fall is small, because the mouth of the river is only 28 meters below sea level. Thus, along its entire length the river descends 256 meters, and its slope is 0.07%. average speed The river flow is relatively low - from 2 to 6 km/h (less than 1 m/s).
The Volga is fed mainly by meltwater, which accounts for 60% of the annual flow. 30% of the runoff comes from groundwater(they support the river in winter) and only 10% bring rain (mainly in summer period). Along its entire length, 200 tributaries flow into the Volga. But already at the latitude of Saratov water pool The river narrows, after which from the city of Kamyshin the Volga flows to the Caspian Sea without support from other tributaries.
The Volga from April to June is characterized by high spring floods, which last on average 72 days. The maximum level of water rise in the river is observed in the first half of May, when it spills over the floodplain area for 10 kilometers or more. And in the lower reaches, in the Volga-Akhtuba floodplain, the width of the spill in some places reaches 30 km.
Summer is characterized by a stable low-water period, which lasts from mid-June to early October. Rains in October bring with them an autumn flood, after which a period of low-water winter low water begins, when the Volga is fed only by groundwater.
It should also be noted that after the construction of a whole cascade of reservoirs and regulation of flow, fluctuations in water levels became much less significant.
The Volga freezes in its upper and middle reaches usually at the end of November. On the lower reaches, ice appears in early December.
Ice drift on the Volga in the upper reaches, as well as in the area from Astrakhan to Kamyshin, occurs in the first half of April. In the area near Astrakhan, the river usually opens in mid-March.
Near Astrakhan, the river remains ice-free for almost 260 days a year, while in other areas this time is about 200 days. During open water the river is actively used for ship navigation.
The main part of the river's catchment area is in the forest zone, located from the very sources to Nizhny Novgorod. The middle part of the river flows through the forest-steppe zone, and the lower part flows through semi-deserts.
Volga map
According to the classification accepted today, the Volga in its course is divided into three parts:
As for the Lower Volga, some adjustments should be made. After the construction of the Zhigulevskaya hydroelectric power station just above Samara and the structures Kuibyshev Reservoir, the current border between the middle and lower sections of the river runs exactly at the level of the dam.
In its upper course, the river made its way through the system of Upper Volga lakes. Between Rybinsk and Tver, 3 reservoirs are of interest to fishermen: Rybinsk (the famous “rybinka”), Ivankovskoe (the so-called “Moscow Sea”) and the Uglich Reservoir. Even further down its course, past Yaroslavl and to Kostroma, the river bed runs along a narrow valley with high banks. Then, slightly higher than Nizhny Novgorod, there is the Gorky Hydroelectric Power Station dam, which forms the Gorky Reservoir of the same name. The most significant contribution to the Upper Volga is made by such tributaries as: Unzha, Selizharovka, Mologa and Tvertsa.
Beyond Nizhny Novgorod the Middle Volga begins. Here the width of the river increases by more than 2 times - the Volga becomes full-flowing, reaching a width of 600 m to 2+ km. After the construction of the Cheboksary hydroelectric power station of the same name, an extended reservoir was formed near the city of Cheboksary. The area of the reservoir is 2190 square km. The largest tributaries of the Middle Volga are the rivers: Oka, Sviyaga, Vetluga and Sura.
The Lower Volga begins immediately after the confluence of the Kama River. Here the river can truly be called powerful in all respects. The Lower Volga carries its deep streams along the Volga Upland. Near the city of Tolyatti on the Volga, the most large reservoir– Kuibyshevskoe, where in 2011 there was a disaster with the notorious motor ship Bulgaria. The reservoir of the Volzhskaya Hydroelectric Power Station named after Lenin is propped up. Even further downstream, near the city of Balakovo, the Saratov hydroelectric power station was built. The tributaries of the Lower Volga are no longer so rich in water, these are the rivers: Samara, Eruslan, Sok, Bolshoy Irgiz.
Below the city of Volzhsky, a left branch called Akhtuba separates from the great Russian river. After the construction of the Volzhskaya hydroelectric power station, the beginning of Akhtuba became a 6 km canal extending from the main Volga. Today, the length of Akhtuba is 537 km, the river carries its waters to the northeast parallel to the mother channel, then approaching it, then moving away again. Together with the Volga, Akhtuba forms the famous Volga-Akhtuba floodplain - a real fishing eldorado. The floodplain area is pierced by numerous channels, full of flooded lakes and unusually rich in all kinds of fish. The width of the Volga-Akhtuba floodplain ranges from 10 to 30 km on average.
Through the territory of the Astrakhan region, the Volga travels a distance of 550 km, carrying its waters along the Caspian lowland. At the 3038th kilometer of its path, the Volga River splits into 3 branches: Krivaya Bolda, Gorodskoy and Trusovsky. And on the section from 3039 to 3053 km along the Gorodskaya and Trusovsky branches, the city of Astrakhan is located.
Below Astrakhan, the river turns southwest and splits into numerous branches that form a delta.
The Volga Delta first begins to form at the place where one of the branches called Buzan separates from the main channel. This place is located above Astrakhan. In general, the Volga delta has over 510 branches, small channels and eriks. The delta is located on total area 19 thousand square kilometers. The width between the western and eastern branches of the delta reaches 170 km. In the generally accepted classification, the Volga delta consists of three parts: upper, middle and lower. The upper and middle delta zones consist of small islands separated by channels (eriks) ranging from 7 to 18 meters wide. The lower part of the Volga delta consists of very branched channel channels, which turn into the so-called. Caspian peals, famous for their lotus fields.
Due to the decrease in the level of the Caspian Sea over the past 130 years, the area of the Volga delta is also growing. During this time it increased more than 9 times.
Today the Volga delta is the largest in Europe, but is famous primarily for its rich fish stocks.
Note that plant and animal world The delta is under protection - the Astrakhan Nature Reserve is located here. Therefore, recreational fishing in these places is regulated and is not allowed everywhere.
Since the 30s of the last century, electricity began to be produced on the river using hydroelectric power stations. Since then, 9 hydroelectric power stations with their own reservoirs have been built on the Volga. At the moment, the river basin is home to approximately 45% of industry and half of all Agriculture Russia. The Volga basin produces over 20% of all fish for the Russian food industry.
The logging industry is developed in the Upper Volga basin, and grain crops are grown in the Middle and Lower Volga regions. Horticulture and vegetable farming are also developed along the middle and lower reaches of the river.
The Volga-Ural region is rich in deposits natural gas and oil. Potassium salt deposits are located near the city of Solikamsk. The famous Lake Baskunchak on the Lower Volga is famous not only for its healing mud, but also for its deposits of table salt.
Upstream, ships transport petroleum products, coal, gravel materials, cement, metal, salt and food products. Timber, industrial raw materials, lumber and finished products are supplied downstream.
In the mid-90s of the last century, due to the economic decline in the country, water tourism on the Volga lost its popularity. The situation was normalized only at the beginning of this century. But it prevents you from developing tourism business outdated material and technical base. Motor ships that were built back in the Soviet times(60-90 years of the last century). Water tourist routes along the Volga quite a lot. From Moscow alone, ships sail on more than 20 different routes.
The Volga is the largest river in Europe and one of the largest rivers in the world. Its basin occupies more than a third of the Russian Plain and, as Tvardovsky wrote, “half of Russia looked into it.” The Volga is the mother of Russian rivers; the history and culture of our country are connected with it.
“Volga Mother River”, “a national beauty, like a deep sea, like the Motherland, free, wide, deep, strong!” Sung in songs and poems, the Volga is the symbol and soul of Russia.
Until now, the origin of the name of the Volga River remains a mystery. At what time and what people gave it its name?
How the name of the river has changed over time:
Origin of the river name:
In the 16th century, after the annexation of Kazan and Astrakhan, water roads to the Urals and the Caspian Sea opened before Russia. The Volga became the main waterway along which caravans of 500-600 plows transported a wide variety of goods.
Strug is a flat-bottomed sailing and rowing vessel that served in the 11th century. XVIII centuries for transporting people and goods. Usually its length was 20-45 meters and width - 4-10 meters.
Later, the Volgars learned to build so-called barks; in windy weather they sailed, and in calm weather they were pulled by barge haulers.
The first steamship was built in 1816 at a factory in the village of Pozhva, located on the river of the same name, a tributary of the Kama. The shipping company began to develop especially successfully after the abolition of serfdom in Russia.
To transport oil, the Volgars built oil-loading sailboats, and then the world's first iron oil-loading barges, Elena and Elizaveta, were built. The method of transporting oil in bulk has become widespread throughout the world and is called the “Russian method”.
Volga shipbuilders overtook craftsmen from countries Western Europe- it was on the Volga that a comfortable passenger ship was launched, which has survived to this day without significant changes.
At the beginning of the 20th century, internal combustion engines were installed for the first time on the Vandal oil tanker, running on oil instead of kerosene. The motor ship "Sarmat" was also improved, and soon the world's first towing motor ship "Mysl" entered the Volga. In 1910, the world's first wheeled passenger motor ship, the Ural, was built at the Kolomensky Plant, and the following year the famous screw motor ship, Borodino, was launched.
Eight hydroelectric power stations were built on the Volga, part of the Volga-Kama cascade of hydraulic structures. The total capacity of the Volzhsky hydroelectric power stations is 10 GW (10 million kW), and the average annual electricity generation is more than 40 billion kW/h.
Historically, hydroelectric power plants were named after nearby cities,some of which are located a little further downstream. The reservoir formed by this power plant and located above received its name from the name of the power plant. Therefore, Kazan is located on the Kuibyshev reservoir, Samara (formerly Kuibyshev) is on the Saratov reservoir, and Saratov is on the Volgograd reservoir.
With the construction of hydroelectric power stations and the formation of reservoirs, the Volga became deep-water, which allows passenger ships to pass through it, as well as most cargo ships from the Caspian Sea to the northern regions of the country.
A silent reproach stands in the water, in the center of the Uglich reservoir, the flooded bell tower of St. Nicholas Cathedral in the city of Kalyazin. During the construction of the Kuibyshev Reservoir, it was completely moved from the flood zone to a new location, Stavropol-on-Volga, now the city of Togliatti.
The towns of Sknyatin and Korcheva, Balagansk and many other towns, villages and hamlets were flooded.
In addition, after the construction of the Volgograd hydroelectric power station, sturgeon fish do not rise above the dam, which has led to a multiple decrease in their catch. The dam cut off 80% of the spawning grounds of Russian sturgeon and, despite the creation of special fish lifts and artificial breeding of this type of fish, the number of sturgeon is falling catastrophically.
The Volga is essentially no longer a river, but a chain of nine reservoirs, but despite this last years There are difficulties with navigation in the area of the city of Gorodets. On a 40-kilometer section from this city to Nizhny Novgorod, the depths on the ship's route are less than 2.5 meters. In this regard, transport vessels are forced either to be underloaded or to reload to other modes of transport, which leads to large economic losses.
Traveling along the Volga is one of the most popular types of recreation. During the cruise on the ship you will get acquainted with Russian cities, their history and culture, learn a lot of interesting things about the republics and regions located on the banks of the Volga and, of course, see amazingly beautiful places.
Along the banks of the river there are four million-plus cities: Kazan and Nizhny Novgorod, Samara and Volgograd. During the trip you will get acquainted with the ancient cities of the Golden Ring of Russia - Kostroma and Uglich, as well as the pearl of ancient Russian cities - Yaroslavl.
The width of the river varies from a trickle in the upper reaches to immense size in the middle and lower reaches. Forests give way to steppes, and winding sections of the path give way to expanses of water.
Almost all Volga cities have travel agencies that organize cruises from this particular city or from the nearest city.
Tourists are offered both short routes (so-called weekend routes lasting 2-3 days), for example Kazan - Samara - Kazan or Nizhny Novgorod - Yaroslavl - Nizhny Novgorod, and longer ones.
Most of the ships depart from Moscow. But since Moscow is not located on the Volga, all cruises from the capital begin with a trip along the Moscow Canal, then they pass along the Volga.
Weekend cruises from Moscow:
It is worth noting that on such cruises you can only see a small section of the Upper Volga. You can get acquainted with almost the entire Volga in, perhaps, the longest cruise Moscow - Astrakhan - Moscow lasting 20-22 days. There are also one-way cruises, for example, Moscow - Astrakhan with return by train or plane. Along this route you can see almost the entire Volga and visit all the major cities on the Great Russian River.
The most popular cities and green parking lots (listed starting from the upper Volga):
The river's waterway begins on the Valdai Hills. Here, on the outskirts of the village of Volgoverkhovye, Tver Region, several springs gush out of the ground, one of which is fenced with a chapel - this is the beginning of the great Russian river. The springs flow into a reservoir, from which flows a small stream no more than a meter wide and 25-30 cm deep. The height above sea level in this place is 228 meters.
This stream, almost 3.2 km long, flows into Lake Malye Verkhity, then passes through lakes Bolshiye Verkhity and Sterzh. The last lake is part of the Verkhnevolzhskoe reservoir, after which the Upper Volga begins.
From the source of the river to the first city on its banks, Rzhev, is 200 km, then Tver is located and the Ivankovskoe reservoir begins, also called the Moscow Sea. Next come the Uglich and Rybinsk reservoirs, after which the Volga turns and flows not to the northeast, but to the southeast.
On the dam of the Rybinsk Reservoir there is a sculptural composition “Volga”, dedicated to the builders of the hydraulic structure. The height of the monument including the pedestal is 28 meters. The sculpture depicts a woman greeting passing ships. In her hand she holds a scroll with drawings, below is a picture of a soaring seagull. The inscription on the pedestal: “Communism is Soviet authority plus electrification of the entire country.”
Initially, it was planned to install the sculptural composition “Worker and Peasant” by Vera Mukhina on the side of the reservoir, but since construction works By that time it had not yet been completed; it was installed on a temporary site next to VDNKh.
Above, the largest left tributary and in many of its parameters superior to the Volga.
According to some geodetic indicators, it can be considered that the Volga is a tributary of the Kama, and not vice versa. At the confluence of these rivers, the Kama carries 4300 cubic meters water per second, and the Volga - only 3100!
The area from the mouth of the Kama to the mouth of the river itself is considered the Lower Volga. Cities such as Ulyanovsk and Tolyatti, Samara and Saratov, Volgograd and Astrakhan are located here.
The largest reservoir on the Volga was built in the area of the city of Tolyatti, where the Kuibyshev hydroelectric power station and the Kuibyshev reservoir, whose length is 500 km and width - 40 km, are located.
Moving south, in the Samara region, the Volga goes around the Zhiguli Mountains and forms a bend, the so-called Samara Luka. This is unique and very a nice place, full of mysteries and attracting both tourists and scientists.
Downstream is the Saratov Reservoir, 341 km long, formed by a dam built near the city of Balakovo.
From Saratov to Volgograd the river flows in a southeast direction. Above Volgograd, a branch separates from it - the Akhtuba, which flows parallel and, together with the Volga, forms a famous fishing region - the Volga-Akhtuba floodplain.
Above Volgograd, the Volgograd Hydroelectric Power Station and the Volgograd Reservoir were built, the length of which is 540 km and the width is 17 km.
Below the hero city, the delta begins, the largest in Europe, with a width of 40 km and a length of 160 km. This is a unique area, which includes more than 500 branches, small rivers and channels, where rare animals such as pelicans and flamingos are found, and lotus grows. Over the past 130 years, the level of the Caspian Sea has decreased and the delta area has increased significantly. Now this unique territory is recognized as a protected area and taken under state protection.
Although today the Volga is not the main highway of Russia due to the development of other modes of transport, its role remains very important. Hydroelectric power stations continue to operate and make a significant contribution to the country's energy production. The main Russian river remains an important recreational area - along the banks there are sanatoriums and recreation centers, as well as numerous summer cottages. Landscapes never cease to amaze tourists who go to
The beautiful Mother Volga is glorified in many works of famous writers and poets; many wonderful Russian folk songs have been written about her. This amazing river delights not only with its spacious blue waters and fabulous banks. Almost all Russian cities on the Volga and villages attract attention for their amazing story, majesty and beauty.
The largest river in Europe is the Volga. Throughout its course, various settlements have been built since ancient times. Cities located on the Volga are quite significant in all respects both for their regions and for the country as a whole.
The length of the river before the creation of reservoirs and a cascade of hydroelectric power stations was 3690 km, today it is 3530 km. According to some unspecified data, the length of the Volga has become much shorter - 3430 km. In the general list of the length of all Russian rivers, the Volga ranks sixth, and 16th among all rivers on Earth.
A territory of 1 million 360 thousand km² is occupied by the area of its basin, which is about a third of the entire European part of Russia.
This amazing river begins on the Valdai Hills near the village of Volgo-Verkhovye (Tver region). The Volga flows from the west from the Valdai and Central Russian Uplands to the Urals in the east (European part of the Russian Federation).
Near the basin of the largest river there are many big cities. On the Volga, sailing along it, you can see many amazing natural landscapes with cities and villages that fit perfectly into them. Moreover, each has its own unique history, its own cultural values and unique attractions.
1. The Upper Volga represents the territory from the source of the river to the place where the Oka River flows (Nizhny Novgorod).
2. From the place where the Oka flows into the Volga to the place where the Kama flows into it - the territory of the Middle Volga.
3. The Lower Volga covers the zone from the confluence of the Kama to the Caspian Sea itself. Now (after the construction of the Kuibyshev reservoir) the border between the Lower and Middle Volga is the Zhigulevskaya Hydroelectric Power Station (area of the cities of Tolyatti and Zhigulevsk).
Let's look at some Largest cities located on the Volga, worthy of attention in terms of history and attractions.
This ancient city on the Volga has a population of more than 590 thousand people.
Almost the entire historical center of Yaroslavl, protected by UNESCO, is a tourist attraction.
In total there are 785 cultural and historical monuments. In one of them, the amazing Spaso-Preobrazhensky Monastery, a historical collection of ancient manuscripts and books has been preserved.
In the 16th century, the state treasury was moved to Yaroslavl. There is also a large state museum-reserve (historical, architectural and artistic) with a rich collection of icons.
This settlement, like other cities on the Volga River, has a rich historical heritage of ancient times. It is impossible to describe it in full.
Samara is located between the mouths of the Samara and Sok rivers, in the very place where they flow into the Volga. The city's population is more than 1,100 thousand people. During Soviet times, the city was called Kuibyshev.
The very first mentions of the city in historical chronicles date back to 1361.
The most interesting sights: Stalin's bunker, built in less than a year in 1942; legendary Revolution Square ( oldest street cities); bell tower of the women's Iversky Monastery (building of 1850, 70 meters high).
It should be noted that the above-mentioned bell tower stood for about 80 years without repair. Only in the 90s of the last century this historical building was reconstructed.
Many cities on the Volga also have similar historical buildings that have survived to this day.
On the right bank of the Volgograd reservoir is the beautiful city of Saratov. The date of its foundation is 1590, when a guard fortress was built on this site.
The population of Saratov is more than 830 thousand people.
Sights: “Saratov Arbat” is located on Kirov Avenue; monument to flying cranes (Sokolova Gora); Nikitin Brothers Circus; Conservatory named after L.V. Sobinova; monument in honor of Yu.A. Gagarin (Cosmonauts embankment); national village (national houses of all peoples of the Saratov region).
In this unusual village you can not only find yourself in the atmosphere cultural heritage Dagestan, Uzbekistan, Tatarstan, etc., but also try dishes of various national cuisines.
Which city on the Volga had several names? From 1589 to 1925, Volgograd was called Tsaritsyn, and then until 1961 - Stalingrad. The city's population is more than 1 million people. The hero city is the largest historical and cultural center of the region.
A majestic memorial monument (symbol of the Motherland) was erected in it in honor of the famous Battle of Stalingrad.
At the confluence of two large rivers, the Volga and Oka, the ancient city of Nizhny Novgorod is located. It is not only one of the oldest cities in Russia on the Volga, but also one of the largest. Its population is more than 1200 thousand people.
The date of foundation of the city is calculated from the founding of the Novgorod fortress of the Nizovsky land (hence its name) - this is 1221. This fortress is the main attraction of Nizhny Novgorod.
Church of the Sovereign Icon Mother of God is located not far (7.5 kilometers) from Sennaya Square.
Kazan is a city that relatively recently celebrated its millennium (2005), although the exact year of its founding is not entirely known. It is located on the banks of the Volga River at the confluence of the Kazanka River. The city is the capital of the Republic of Tatarstan, and is very often called the “third capital of Russia.” The population is more than 1,100 thousand people.
Almost all cities on the Volga have preserved unique historical ensembles in their architecture, perfectly combined with modern buildings.
The most important attraction of Kazan is located in historical center city: the Kremlin with the Kul Sharif mosque and the Syuyumbike tower.
They fit perfectly into the numerous ancient historical ensembles of the city. modern buildings: cultural center “Pyramid”, state circus, modern hotels, etc.
Also in Kazan the following attractions are very memorable and beautiful: a fabulous-looking children's puppet show, the pedestrian cultural street of Bauman (similar to Arbat in Moscow), beautiful embankments, on one of which there is a wedding palace in the shape of a bowl, etc.
This city, by its location, is the last of the regional centers located on the banks of the Volga. It is inhabited by more than 500 thousand people.
On the site of Astrakhan in the 8th-10th centuries there was the city of Itil, which at that time was the capital of the ancient Khazar Khaganate.
Here you can see the Kremlin, famous for its unprecedented beauty, built at the beginning of the 17th century.
Along the banks of the great Volga River there are also smaller cities, which are historical and architectural monuments.
Tolyatti is the second largest city in the Samara region in terms of population. It was founded in 1737. Population: more than 720 thousand people.
The city of Syzran is also located in the Samara region near the Saratov reservoir. It was founded by Grigory Kozlovsky in 1683. Population: more than 170 thousand people.
The administrative and cultural center of the Kostroma region is Kostroma. The date of its foundation is 1152. Population: more than 260 thousand people.
Tver (formerly Kalinin) is located at the confluence of the Tvertsa and Tmaka rivers into the Volga. The city was founded in 1135. Population: more than 400 thousand people.
The capital of Chuvashia is Cheboksary. Population: more than 450 thousand people.
The city of Mologa was once located not far from Yaroslavl, at the confluence of the Mologa and Volga rivers. It was located on a flat hill and stretched along the right bank of the Mologa and along the left bank of the Volga.
Its population was more than 7,000 people.
During the Soviet Union in 1935, a government decree was adopted on the construction of a hydroelectric power station (Rybinskaya). According to the project, the area of the reservoir was to be 2.5 thousand. square meters, and the height of the surface of its waters above sea level is 98 m. The elevation of the city is 98-101 m.
However, in 1937 the famous five year plans those times forced us to revise the project to increase the power of the hydroelectric station. In this regard, it was decided to raise the water level to 102 meters. As a result, the area of flooded areas almost doubled.
In April 1941, after the resettlement of people, the filling of the reservoir began. The ancient and original city of Mologa (800 years old), which was once an appanage principality with numerous villages, never became.
The flooded city on the Volga is a victim of the country's electrification.
The amazing nature of the Volga basin, beautiful cities with unique historical architectural and cultural attractions attract the attention of a huge number of tourists to travel to these places.
