The length of the Volga River on the map. Volga river

Volga - a river flowing in the European part of Russia on the territory of 11 regions and 4 republics. Refers to the pool.

In the upper reaches, the Volga River flows from the northwest to the southeast, further from the city of Kazan, the direction of the river changes to the south. Near Volgograd, the riverbed turns to the southwest.
The Volga River begins on the Valdai Hills from a spring in the village of Volgoverkhovye, Ostashkovsky District, Tver Region. The Volga Delta begins near the city of Volgograd, Vogograd Region. And 60 km from the city of Astrakhan Astrakhan region The Volga River flows into the Caspian Sea.

The Volga River is one of the largest rivers on Earth and the largest in Europe. It is in 16th place in length among the rivers of the world and in 4th place. The Volga is also the world's largest river flowing into an inland water body.

The name of the river "Volga" comes from the Old Slavonic word - vologa, moisture.

Settlements.
The Volga River is the central water artery of Russia. The river is located in the European part of the country.

The Volga River flows through the territory of many subjects of the Russian Federation: in the Tver region, in the Moscow region, in the Yaroslavl region, in the Kostroma region, in the Ivanovo region, in the Nizhny Novgorod region, in the Republic of Chuvashia, in the Republic of Mari El, in the Republic of Tatarstan, in the Ulyanovsk region , in the Samara region, in the Saratov region, in the Volgograd region, in the Astrakhan region, in the Republic of Kalmykia.

On the Volga River, from source to mouth, there are four millionaire cities:
— the city of Nizhny Novgorod — is the administrative center of the Nizhny Novgorod region of Russia and the largest city of the Volga Federal District. It is located in the middle of the East European Plain at the confluence of the Oka River with the Volga River. Oka divides Nizhny Novgorod into 2 parts: the upper part on the Dyatlovy Gory; lower part on the left bank of the Oka. Until 1990, the city was named Gorky in honor of the writer M. Gorky.

- the city of Kazan - the capital of the Republic of Tatarstan, a major port on the left bank of the Volga River. It is the largest scientific, educational, economically developed, cultural and sports center in Russia. The Kazan Kremlin is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

- the city of Samara - a city located in the middle Volga region of Russia. It is the administrative center of the Samara region, forming the municipality "city district of Samara". It is the sixth most populous city in Russia with a population of 1.17 million people as of 2012. Samara is a major transport, economic, scientific and educational center. The main industries are: oil refining, mechanical engineering and food industry.

— the city of Volgograd — a city located in the southeast of the European part of Russia, is the administrative center of the Volgograd region. It is located on the western bank of the Volga River in the lower reaches. Together with the cities of Volzhsky and Krasnoslobodsk located on the eastern coast, it is part of the Volgograd agglomeration. The population of the city is 1,018,739 people. Volgograd from 1589 to 1925 was called Tsaritsyn, and from 1925 to 1961 - Stalingrad.

Most big cities on the Volga: Rzhev, Tver, Dubna, Kimry, Kalyazin, Uglich, Myshkin, Rybinsk, Yaroslavl, Kostroma, Kineshma, Yuryevets, Kozmodemyansk, Cheboksary, Zvenigovo, Volzhsk, Tetyushi, Ulyanovsk, Novoulyanovsk, Sengiley, Togliatti, Zhigulevsk, Syzran, Khvalynsk , Balakovo, Volsk, Marx, Saratov, Engelsk, Kamyshin, Nikolaevsk, Akhtubinsk, Kharabali, Narimanov, Astrakhan, Kamyzyak.

The rest of the settlements located on the banks of the Volga River from its source to the mouth can be viewed

Routes (access roads).
Due to the fact that the banks of the Volga River are dotted with many settlements, there are many railway and road access roads to the river, so travelers and tourists usually do not have a question about how to get to the river.

The Volga River is connected to the Baltic Sea by the Volga-Baltic waterway, as well as the Vyshnevolotsk and Tikhvin systems. The Volga River is connected to the White Sea through the White Sea-Baltic Canal and through the Severodvinsk system. with black and Seas of Azov The Volga River is connected through the Volga-Don Canal.

There are also inland waterways along the Volga River: from the city of Rzhev to the Kolkhoznik pier (589 km); from the Kolkhoznik pier to the village of Krasnye Barrikada (2604 km), as well as a 40-km section in the river delta.

There are 1450 marinas and ports on the river. The largest of them from the source of the Volga to its mouth are in Selizharovo, in Rzhev, in Zubtsovo, in Staritsa, the Tver river port, in Konakovo, in Dubna, in Kimry, in Kalyazin, in Uglich, in Myshkin, in Rybinsk, in Tutaev , in Yaroslavl, in Kostroma, in the city of Ples, in Kineshma, in Chkalovsk, in the city of Gorodets, in Balakhin, in Nizhny Novgorod, in Kozmodemyansk, in Cheboksary, in Novocheboksarsk, in Zvenigovo, Volzhsk, the Kazan river port, the port of Bolgar, the port in Tetyushi, Ulyanovsk river port, in Novoulyanovsk, in Sengilei, in Togliatti, Samara river port, in Syzran, in Khvalynsk, in Balakovo, in Volsk, in Saratov, in Kamyshin, in Volgograd, in Narimanov, Astrakhan river port.

Automobile access roads to the Volga River can be viewed
Bridges built across the Volga River can be seen

Major tributaries and reservoirs.
The river system of the Volga basin includes 151 thousand. Watercourses are streams, rivers and temporary watercourses with a total length of 574,000 km. The Volga receives about 200 tributaries. There are more left tributaries and they are more abundant than the right ones. There are no significant tributaries after the city of Kamyshin (Volgograd region).

The largest tributaries of the Volga River are the Kama and Oka rivers.
— river - length 1805 km, basin area 507,000 km²; left tributary.
- - length 1498.6 km, basin area 245,000 km²; right tributary.

In addition to many tributaries, there are several reservoirs on the river:
- Upper Volga reservoir - length 85 km, width 6 km, area 183 km².
- Ivankovskoye reservoir - length about 120 km, width of the reservoir 2-5 km, area 327 km², volume 1.12 km³, maximum depth 19 m, average depth 4 m.
- Uglich reservoir - length 146 km, width 0.4-5 km, area 249 km², volume 1.24 km³, maximum depth 22 m, average depth 5 m.
- Rybinsk Reservoir - length 140 km, width 70 km, area 4580 km², volume 25.4 km³, maximum depth 25-30 m, average depth 5.5 m.
- Gorky reservoir - length 427 km, width 3 km, area 1590 km², volume 8.71 km³, maximum depth 22 m.
- Samara (Kuibyshev) reservoir - length 600 km, width up to 40 km, area 6.5 thousand km², volume 58 km³, maximum depth 41 m, average depth 8 m.
- Cheboksary reservoir - length 341 km, width 16 km, area 2190 km², volume 13.85 km³, maximum depth 35 m, average depth 6 m.
- Volgograd reservoir - length 540 km, width up to 17 km, area 3117 km², volume 31.5 km³, average depth 10.1 m.

More detailed information you can read about the tributaries of the Volga River

Relief and soils.
The Volga River is a typical flat river. The area of ​​the Volga basin occupies about 1/3 of the European part of Russia and extends along the Russian Plain from the Valdai and Central Russian Uplands in the west to the Urals in the east. Due to the very large length of the river, the composition of soils in the Volga basin is very diverse.

Vegetation.
The Upper Volga, from its source to the city of Nizhny Novgorod and the city of Kazan, is located in a forest zone. The middle part of the river to the city of Samara and the city of Saratov is located in the forest-steppe zone. The lower part of the river is located in the steppe zone up to the city of Volgograd, and a little to the south lies in the semi-desert zone.
Large forest areas are located in the upper reaches of the Volga, in the middle part and partly in the Lower Volga region, large areas of the territory are occupied by grain and industrial crops. Horticulture and melon growing are also developed.

hydrological regime.
The Volga is conditionally divided into three parts: the upper part of the Volga - from the source of the Volga River to the place where the Oka flows into it, the middle part of the Volga - from the confluence of the Oka (Nizhny Novgorod) to the confluence of the Kama River (Nizhnekamsk) and the lower part Volga - from the confluence of the Kama River to the mouth of the Volga.

The length of the Volga River from source to mouth is approximately 3530 km (even before the construction of reservoirs it was 3690 km long). The catchment area is 1,361,000 km². Water consumption near the city of Volgograd is 8060 m³/s. The height of the source is 228 meters above sea level. The height at the mouth is 28 meters below sea level. The slope of the river is 0.07 m/km. The total fall is 256 m. The average speed of the water flow in the channel is low - from 2 to 6 km/h. The average depth is 9 m, the depth in summer and in winter low water is about 3 m.
The river is fed by a little rain (10%), a little more groundwater (30%) and mostly snow (60% of annual flow) water. Spring flood in April-June. A low water level is observed in summer and in winter low water. There are autumn floods in the month of October as a result of prolonged rains.
The average annual water flow at the Upper Volga Dam is 29 m³/s, near the city of Tver - 182 m³/s, near the city of Yaroslavl - 1,110 m³/s, near the city of Nizhny Novgorod - 2,970 m³/s, near the city of Samara - 7,720 m³/s s, near the city of Volgograd - 8,060 m³/s. Below the city of Volgograd, the river loses about 2% of its water flow to evaporation.
The water temperature in the Volga River in July reaches 20-25 °C. The river near Astrakhan breaks from ice in mid-March. In the first half of April, the opening occurs on the upper Volga and below the city of Kamyshin, along the rest of the river, the river opens in mid-April. The Volga freezes in the upper and middle parts of the course at the end of November; in the lower part - in early December. The Volga remains free from freezing for about 200 days a year, and near Astrakhan for about 260 days. With the creation of reservoirs on the river, the thermal regime of the Volga changed: on the upper dams, the duration of ice phenomena increased, and on the lower ones it became shorter.
The bottom of the Volga is sandy, silty-sandy and silty, on the rifts the soil is cartilaginous or pebbly.

Ichthyofauna.
According to its diversity of fish, the Volga is considered one of the richest rivers in Russia. 76 species of fish and 47 subspecies live in its waters. Grayling is found in the upper reaches of the Volga. Carp, sterlet, bream, ide, zander, pike, burbot, bleak, perch, catfish, dace, ruff, blue bream, chub, roach, white-eye, podust, silver bream, asp, etc. are constantly found in the Volga. Of the anadromous fish that enter the river from the Caspian Sea: beluga, lamprey, sturgeon, stellate sturgeon, white salmon, thorn, Volga and common herring. Of the semi-anadromous fish, the river is inhabited by: bream, carp, pike perch, bersh, catfish, asp, sabrefish, etc. The smallest fish species in the Volga is a granular puhead, its length is only 2.5 cm. In appearance, it resembles a tadpole. And the largest fish of the Volga River is the beluga, its length can reach 4 meters.

Water quality.
The Volga River experiences a colossal anthropogenic load from numerous sources of pollution located along its banks, as well as directly in the mouth part.
Russia's great industrial potential is concentrated in the Volga basin, which is represented by gigantic chemical enterprises, oil refineries, large machine-building associations and thermal power plants. Cargo and passenger ships go along the Volga River and its tributaries. Hydrocarbon raw materials (coal, gas, oil) are being extracted in this territory. Hundreds and thousands of organizations have their own interests in the Volga region. Some of them are river pollutants.
The Volga accounts for more than a third of the country's total wastewater discharge. The operating treatment facilities provide effective water treatment for only 8% of polluted waters. A large amount of pollutants enters the Volga with water from the Oka and Kama rivers, as well as their tributaries. The largest volumes of polluted wastewater fall on such cities as: Yaroslavl, Nizhny Novgorod, Kazan, Saratov, Samara, Balakhna, Volgograd, Togliatti, Cherepovets, Ulyanovsk, Ivanovo, Naberezhnye Chelny.
Inorganic and organic pollutants include oil products, heavy metal compounds, pesticides (toxic chemicals), phenols, synthetic detergents, etc. These substances enter the water of the river with waste from industry, agricultural and domestic wastewater. Many of them in the aquatic environment either decompose very slowly or do not decompose at all.

Use, tourism and recreation.
The Volga River is used by people for a wide variety of purposes. First of all, it is of great economic importance as a transport highway. Bread, salt, fish, vegetables, oil, oil products, cement, gravel, coal, metal, etc. are supplied up the Volga; lumber, timber, mineral building materials and industrial materials are floated downstream.
Passenger transportation and excursions on motor ships are also carried out on the river.
The river is a source of water supply for agricultural facilities, as well as factories, factories and other industrial enterprises.
A number of dams and hydroelectric power plants have been built on the river to generate electricity for human needs.
Economic, amateur and sport fishing is carried out on the river. Many people use the Volga for travel and outdoor activities.

Reference Information.

Length: 3530 km.
Basin area: 1,361,000 km².
Basin: Caspian Sea.
Source: Valdai Hills
Location: Volgoverkhovye village, Ostashkovsky district, Tver region, Russia.
Coordinates: 57°15′7.51″ s. sh., 32°28′12.62″ E d.
Mouth: Caspian Sea.
Location: 60 km from the city of Astrakhan, Astrakhan region of Russia.
Coordinates: 45°53′14.98″ s. w., 48°31′1.3″ E d.

The Volga River is one of the most amazing water arteries of Russia created by nature. Its fullness, at times, is simply impressive - in some places, the opposite coast cannot be seen without binoculars. And the length from source to mouth is more than 3500 kilometers. It is the longest river in Europe. Traveling along the Volga is remembered for a long time. This impressed the inhabitants of ancient times and amazes modern inhabitants.

The beginning of the path of the Volga is the Valdai Upland, namely: the Ostashkovsky district of the Tver administrative district. Not far from the small village of Volgoverkhovye there are many springs and springs, one of which forms the source of the mighty water artery of the country. Near the spring there is a chapel, a bridge is equipped, passing through which, everyone can observe the birth of the Volga River. All the springs near the village form a small reservoir, from which flows a barely noticeable stream, having a width of no more than a meter. It should be noted that the Volga River originates at an altitude of 228 meters above sea level and flows in a northeasterly direction.

The stream, as the beginning of the Volga River, has a length of more than three kilometers. It passes through the lakes Small and Big Verkhity, after which it becomes like a small river. Further, the Volga River enters Lake Sterzh, which has a total water area of ​​18 sq. km. Sterzh, like other lakes, is an integral part of the first reservoir in the cascade - the Upper Volga.
Geographers tacitly divided the river basin into several massive parts: the Upper, Middle and Lower Volga. After 200 kilometers from the beginning of a small stream, already on the sound Volga River, there is an ancient Russian city of Rzhev. Next big city with a population of almost half a million inhabitants, Tver stands in the way of water movement, where the Ivankovskoye reservoir with a total length of 120 km has been artificially created. Next come the Uglich and Rybinsk reservoirs. The city of Rybinsk can be considered the extreme northern point of the reservoir, after which the channel of the Volga River changes direction to the southeast.

A hundred years ago, overcoming many obstacles in the form of hills and lowlands, the river did not differ from many other waters in its wide channel. With the development of technological progress, these virgin places were swallowed up by the Gorky reservoir, which stretched for 430 kilometers. Such well-known administrative centers of Russia as Rybinsk, Yaroslavl and Kostroma are located along its banks. The man-made sea itself is formed by the Nizhny Novgorod hydroelectric power station, located a little higher than Nizhny Novgorod.

In Nizhny Novgorod, the Volga meets its largest right tributary, the Oka. Its length to the confluence of the rivers is 1500 km. It is here that the Middle Volga originates.

Saturated with the waters of the Oka, the Volga becomes a river of a completely different plan. This is already a powerful, full-flowing river with its own character. Here the channel gently turns to the east. Flowing along the Volga Upland, the Cheboksary hydroelectric power station blocks its path, forming a man-made lake of the same name with a length of 340 kilometers and a width of about 16 km. Further, the current shifts to the southeast, and near Kazan it turns south. By the way, Kazan, the capital of the Republic of Tatarstan, is one of the oldest settlements in the Russian Federation. And the Kazan Kremlin is included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

After the confluence with the Kama, the Volga, like a river, turns into the most full-flowing, deep and powerful. Although, according to all the laws of hydrology, it would be more correct to consider the Kama as the main river, and the Volga as its tributary, since the Kama is much older and more full-flowing, and its drainage does not decrease at any time of the year. However, in view of the historically established traditions, the Russian geographers decided to make an exception and consider the Volga as the main river, and the Kama as a tributary.

After uniting with the Kama, the waters of the river constantly rush to the south. Here is the world's third largest artificial reservoir - Kuibyshev. In some places, the width of the reservoir reaches forty kilometers, and the length is 500 km. Leaving Ulyanovsk behind, near Togliatti and Samara, the Volga forms a large bend, bypassing the Togliatti mountains. Further, the Volga flows past Samara and Saratov with the same names of reservoirs.

In the Volgograd region, a river delta is formed, the length of which is 160 kilometers. This is the most voluminous river mouth in the European part of Russia. It has almost half a thousand different branches, canals and channels flowing into the Caspian Sea.

On the way, such a river as the Volga passes through the lands of four republics and 11 administrative districts of the Russian Federation and partly through the Atyaur region of Kazakhstan. 3500 kilometers of unique landscapes, rare flora and fauna, historical and cultural sites. No wonder they say that the Volga is the most beautiful river in Russia.

Hydrological regime of the Volga river

The river is fed in three ways. The main flow of water into the Volga (up to 60%) occurs as a result of snowmelt. Groundwater and rainwater recharge account for 60 and 30 percent of the total fluid intake, respectively. Due to this feeding habit, the river is characterized by low water content in the summer months and spring floods. There are cases when the Volga River in the Novgorod region became so shallow that navigation practically froze. Previously, annual water level fluctuations reached 14-16 meters in the middle reaches of the river, but with the construction of a cascade of reservoirs, the fluctuations have decreased. However, in inclement and windy weather, waves up to 2 meters high occur in the waters of the reservoirs.

Before the construction of artificial reservoirs, up to 25 million tons of sedimentary soils were carried out of the Volga per year. At the present time, this figure has halved. Such human activity has led to a change in the ecosystem of the river and the thermal regime of the reservoir. Now the duration of ice phenomena in the lower reaches of the river has decreased, and at the headwaters it has become longer.

Wildlife on the Volga River

Due to various natural features, the river is replete with numerous representatives of flora and fauna, including species listed in the Red Book. Although recently the ecological situation leaves much to be desired, on the Volga River you can meet a huge number of waterfowl: various types of ducks, dives, swans, and even flamingos in the delta. In general, the Volga delta, like rivers, is the largest nesting place for birds, more than 260 species are represented. Beavers, otters, raccoons and other fur-bearing animals are not rare here. But the main wealth of the reservoir is the ichthyofauna.

Since ancient times, the Volga has been considered a river rich in fish resources. And in our time, fishing on the Volga is very popular with many lovers of this activity. There are 76 species and 47 subspecies of various fish in the river. Permanent inhabitants are: catfish, crucian carp, carp, perch, sterlet, roach, bream, crucian carp, blue bream and many others. Of the anadromous species, there are: sturgeon, stellate sturgeon, spike, beluga, whose black caviar is known throughout the world, as well as the Volga and common herring. Such an abundance of species composition allows commercial fishing throughout the river from source to mouth. And the size of some species is impressive. The length of the smallest granular fish does not exceed 2.5 cm. The largest fish that is found in the Volga River Delta, the beluga, can grow up to 4 meters in length and weigh about 1 ton.

Due to the considerable length of the riverbed, the soil cover of the Volga basin is very diverse. But for the most part, these are fertile chernozems and soddy-podzolic soils, as evidenced by abundant vegetation.

Navigation on the Volga River

The Volga River is not only a large body of water in the European part of Russia, but also an important transport artery of the country. And although recently little attention has been paid to water transport, a fairly large amount of cargo, both local and international, is transported along the Volga. This was largely facilitated by the creation of many artificial channels that provide a connection between the river and the seas:

Black and Azov Sea - Volga-Don Canal;
Baltic Sea - Vyshnevolotsk and Tikhvin canal systems;
White Sea - Severodvinsk and Belomorkanal.

Thus, the flow of cargo ships along the Volga does not dry out. The only obstacle can be only the period of freezing.

Volga river in history

It is believed that one of the first mentions of the Volga was made in the 5th century BC in the treatises of the ancient Greek philosopher and historian Herodotus. In describing the military campaign of the Persians led by King Darius against the Scythian tribes, the historian points out that the army of Darius, pursuing the tribes beyond the Tanais or Don river in the modern presentation, stopped on the banks of the Oar River. It is this name that scientists identify with the Volga River.

There was not much information about the river in ancient times. So Diodorus Siculus gave the name to the river - Araks, and Ptolemy argued that the Volga had two mouths that flow into different seas: the Caspian and the Black. Roman philosophers gave it a name - Ra, which means "generous", the Mongol-Tatar tribes called it Rau, Idel, Iuil, and in the Arab primary sources the Volga is called Atelya (great). Many philologists claim that the modern name arose from the Baltic word - "valka", which means "flowing stream". Another group of scientists is inclined to believe that the root of the word Volga comes from the Old Slavonic word "moisture". The well-known Russian chronicle "The Tale of Bygone Years" also affects the Volga. It clearly traces the path of the river - where it originates and where it flows.

The heyday of trade in Rus' coincided with the time when the Volga River was under the rule of Ivan the Terrible. It was then that a huge number of caravans with goods from the east walked along the river surface. Fabrics, silver, metals, jewelry were delivered to the capital by Arab merchants. Expensive furs, honey, wax and much more were brought back. Trade along the banks of the river is actively developing, cities and villages are growing.

The Volga acquired special strategic importance in the 19th century. At that time, a large river fleet appeared on the river. Mass transportations of grain and salt, ore and fish, and other raw materials are carried out. Over time, in addition to sailing and rowing ships, steamboats appeared. But the Volga river is not navigable in all areas. In some places, the passage of ships was difficult. This is how a manual method of transporting boats, barges, etc. arose. People harnessed themselves to a special harness and, using ropes, pulled the ship along the river. It was very hard and thankless work. During the period of active cargo flow, more than 300 thousand people worked in the water area. Such people were called barge haulers. Russian artist Ilya Ivanovich Repin was able to accurately convey the entire terrible and tragic fate of hired workers in his painting Barge Haulers on the Volga.

The Volga river and wars did not bypass. During the years of the Civil War, and then the Great Patriotic War, the Volga remained a strategic object that controlled access to grain, oil and other vital resources. The turning point in World War II is the Battle of Stalingrad, which took place on the banks of the long-suffering river.

The post-war period is characterized by strong economic growth of the country. Numerous hydroelectric power plants are being built at a rapid pace with the formation of reservoirs. The value of the Volga as a river of strategic and economic importance has increased several times. New jobs have been created, cities are being actively rebuilt, and the flow of freight water transport is growing inexorably.

Legends and folklore about the Volga River

People have long settled along the banks of rivers, and the Volga was no exception. Water and the availability of food make riverbeds attractive for habitation. Our ancestors firmly believed that each, even a small river, has a spirit or guardian. And such large and full-flowing rivers as the Volga could have several of them. According to legends and traditions, the Upper Volga has a guardian who appeared before eyewitnesses in the form of a little girl. The little girl never cries and has saved drowning children many times.

The legends of the Middle Volga claim that the spirit of the river is a young beautiful girl. She is often referred to as a nurse or intercessor. It used to be believed that the color of the water on the Volga largely depends on the mood of the keeper of the river. The darker the water, the worse the mood of the keeper and nothing good can be expected.
In the lower reaches of the river, an old man with a large gray beard and one bast shoes watches over the order. Why in one? The answer to this question has not reached our days. But they say that the old man appears only in front of those who are pure in soul and indicate places full of fish, and people with a “black heart” are pulled under water, where they remain forever.

The mention of mermaids on the Volga River is also not uncommon. But each region has its own characteristics. In one, mermaids are completely harmless and cute creatures, and in the other, they are vicious and very dangerous.

Not only legends about river inhabitants have survived to this day. The Volga River is sung in many folk songs. Many works have been written about the river, feature films and documentaries have been shot. What is the well-known old film "Volga-Volga" worth to everyone. Yes, and modern authors do not disdain to pay tribute to the river.

Facts and figures about the Volga River

It is impossible to describe the Volga only in words as a river, which is one of the largest in the European part of our planet. The language of dry numbers will say more.

The length is 3500 kilometers. However, it should be borne in mind that before the construction of the cascade of man-made lakes, the length of the Volga was 110 kilometers longer.
The mouth of the river consists of almost 500 independent canals, branches, rivers, branches and channels.
On average, the speed of the current in the channel of the Volga River is 3-6 km/h.
In order for water to reach the sea from the source, on average, 37 days must pass.
The river system of the Volga basin consists of 150 thousand different rivers, streams, tributaries and other watercourses.
The mouth of the river is located 28 meters below sea level.

Excursion along the Volga - a lot of impressions

Naturally, talking about all the delights of a mighty water stream or at least once seeing the beauty of the Volga River with your own eyes are incompatible things.

Traveling along the river is not difficult at all. From the current developed infrastructure and small remoteness of settlements from each other, it will not be difficult to organize a tour of the expanses of water.
Where to stay? A large number of recreation centers located almost along the entire coast of the river, hotels in district and regional centers are happy to accept both groups of tourists and single travelers. Rescued and locals- in almost every village you can stop for a stay, hear local legends and taste rural delicacies.

What to see? There are many museums in the cities, churches in the villages, and the picturesque nature of the Volga and the surroundings of the river will not let you get bored throughout the trip. And for avid fishermen, fishing on the Volga will be a real break from city worries and fuss.

The Volga is a truly amazing river. See for yourself when you come here to travel or just relax.

Oceans, lakes and rivers

The Volga River is a mighty water stream that carries its waters through the European territory of Russia and flows into the Caspian Sea. The total length from source to mouth is 3692 km. It is customary not to take into account individual sections of reservoirs. Therefore, officially the length of the Volga is 3530 km. It is considered the longest in Europe. And the area of ​​the water basin is 1 million 380 thousand square meters. km. This is a third of the European part of Russia.

The source of the Volga

The river begins its journey on the Valdai Upland. This is the Ostashkovsky district of the Tver region. On the outskirts of the village of Volgoverkhovye, several springs gush out of the ground. One of them is considered the source of the great river. The spring is surrounded by a chapel, which can be reached by a bridge. All springs flow into a small reservoir. A stream flows out of it, reaching a width of no more than 1 meter and a depth of 25-30 cm. The height above sea level in this place is 228 meters.

The stream is 3.2 km long. It flows into the lake Small Verkhity. It flows out of it and flows into the next lake Bolshie Verkhity. Here the brook expands and turns into a rivulet that flows into Lake Sterzh. It is 12 km long and 1.5 km wide. The average depth is 5 meters, and the maximum reaches 8 meters. The total area of ​​the lake is 18 sq. km. The lake is part of the Upper Volga reservoir, which stretches for 85 km. After the reservoir, the Upper Volga begins.

Great Russian river Volga

Waterway of the great Russian river

The river is conditionally divided into three large sections. These are the Upper, Middle and Lower Volga. The first major city on the path of the water flow is Rzhev. From the source to it 200 km. The next major settlement is the ancient Russian city of Tver with a population of over 400 thousand people. Here is the Ivankovskoe reservoir, the length of which is 120 km. Next is the Uglich reservoir with a length of 146 km. To the north of the city of Rybinsk is the Rybinsk Reservoir. This is the most north point great river. Further, it no longer flows to the northeast, but turns to the southeast.

The water stream once carried its waters here along a narrow valley. He crossed a series of uplands and lowlands. Now these places have turned into the Gorky reservoir. On its banks are the cities of Rybinsk, Yaroslavl, Kostroma, Kineshma. Above Nizhny Novgorod is the regional administrative center Gorodets. Here, the Nizhny Novgorod hydroelectric power station was built, forming the Gorky reservoir, stretching for 427 km.

The Middle Volga begins after the reunion with the Oka. This is the largest right tributary. Its length is 1499 km. It flows into the great Russian river in Nizhny Novgorod. This is one of the largest cities in Russia.

Volga on the map

Having taken in the waters of the Oka, the Volga River becomes wider and rushes to the east. It flows along the northern part of the Volga Upland. Near Cheboksary, the Cheboksary hydroelectric power station blocks its way and forms the Cheboksary reservoir. Its length is 341 km, width is 16 km. After that, the course of the river shifts to the southeast, and near the city of Kazan it turns south.

The Volga becomes a truly powerful river after the Kama flows into it. This is the largest left tributary. Its length is 1805 km. Kama surpasses the Volga in all respects. But for some reason, it is not she who flows into the Caspian Sea. This is due to historically established names and traditions.

After reuniting with the Kama, the lower course of the great Russian river begins. It is steadily moving south towards the Caspian Sea. On its banks there are such cities as Ulyanovsk, Tolyatti, Samara, Saratov, Volgograd. Near Togliatti and Samara, the river forms a bend (Samarskaya Luka), directed to the east. In this place, the water flow goes around the Togliatti mountains. Upstream is the largest Kuibyshev reservoir on the river. In terms of its area, it is considered the 3rd in the world. Its length reaches 500 km, and its width is 40 km.

River pier in Saratov

Downstream of Samara is the Saratov reservoir, reaching a length of 341 km. It is formed by a dam built near the town of Balakovo.

From Samara to Volgograd, the river flows southwest. Above Volgograd, the left arm separates from the main water stream. It is called Akhtuba. The hand of the sleeve is 537 km. Between Volgograd and the beginning of Akhtuba, the Volzhskaya hydroelectric power station was built. It forms the Volgograd reservoir. Its length is 540 km, and its width reaches 17 km.

Volga Delta

The delta of the great Russian river begins in the Volgograd region. Its length is about 160 km, width reaches 40 km.. Included in the delta are almost 500 canals and small rivers. This is the largest estuary in Europe. The Bakhtemir branch forms the navigable Volga-Caspian canal. The Kigach River, which is one of the branches, flows through the territory of Kazakhstan. These places contain unique flora and fauna. Here you can meet pelicans, flamingos, as well as such a plant as a lotus.

Such ships sail along the Volga

Shipping

The Volga River underwent significant transformations during the Soviet era. Many dams were built on it, taking into account navigation. Therefore, the vessels easily get from the Caspian Sea to the northern regions of the country.

Communication with the Black Sea and the Don is carried out through the Volga-Don Canal. Communication with the northern lakes (Ladoga, Onega), St. Petersburg and the Baltic Sea is carried out through the Volga-Baltic waterway. The great river is connected with Moscow by the Moscow Canal.

The river is considered navigable from the city of Rzhev to the delta. It carries a wide variety of industrial goods. These are oil, coal, timber, food. During the 3 winter months, the water stream freezes over most of its path.

The Volga has a very rich history. Many important political events are inextricably linked with it. The economic significance of the water flow is also incommensurable. It is the most important artery that unites many regions into a single whole. On its banks are the largest industrial and administrative centers. There are as many as 4 millionaire cities alone. These are Kazan, Volgograd, Samara and Nizhny Novgorod. Therefore, the mighty waters are rightly called the great Russian river.

Igor Tomshin

Mouth of the Volga River

The Volga is one of the largest rivers: Europe. Among the rivers of Russia, it occupies the sixth place, yielding in terms of catchment area only to the Siberian giant rivers - the Ob, Yenisei, Lena, Amur and Irtysh. It originates on the Valdai Hills, where the source is taken as a key, fastened with a wooden frame near the village of Volgine. The source mark is 225 m above sea level. The Volga flows into the Caspian Sea. The length of the river is 3690 km, the basin area is 1380000 km2.

The mouth lies 28 m below sea level. Total fall - 256 m.

The Volga flows through the territory of the following constituent entities of the Russian Federation (from source to mouth): Tver Region, Moscow Region, Yaroslavl Region, Kostroma Region, Ivanovo Region, Nizhny Novgorod Region, Chuvashia, Mari El, Tatarstan, Ulyanovsk region, Samara region, Saratov region, Volgograd region, Astrakhan region, Kalmykia.
There are four millionaire cities on the Volga (from source to mouth): Nizhny Novgorod, Kazan, Samara, Volgograd.

The Volga is divided into three parts (elements): the upper Volga - starts from the very source to the mouth of the Oka River, the middle Volga - from the confluence of the Oka up to the mouth of the Kama River, and the lower Volga - from the confluence of the Kama to the very mouth.

At the source, in the upper reaches, on the Valdai Upland, the river passes through small lakes - Big and Small Verkhity and further, through large lakes - Sterzh, Peno, Vselug and Voglo (Upper Volga reservoir).

The channel of the Volga is winding, but the general direction of the flow is east. At Kazan, approaching almost the very foothills of the Urals, the river turns sharply to the south. The Volga becomes a truly mighty river only after the Kama flows into it. At Samara, the Volga breaks through a whole chain of hills and forms the so-called Samara bow. Not far from Volgograd, the Volga approaches another mighty river - the Don. Here the river again makes a turn and flows in a southeasterly direction until it flows into the Caspian Sea. At the mouth of the Volga, it breaks up into hundreds of branches, which, before flowing into the Caspian, diverge like a fan and form a vast delta with an area of ​​19,000 sq.

sq. km. The Caspian Sea is an inland body of water, or a giant lake. The mirror of its waters is located 28 m below the level of the World Ocean.

Delta - the shape of the mouth of the river with channels into which the main channel is divided.

The Volga Delta is the largest river delta in Europe. It begins at the place of separation from the Volga channel of the Buzan branch (46 km north of Astrakhan) and has up to 500 branches, channels and small rivers. The main branches are Bakhtemir, Kamyzyak, Staraya Volga, Bolda, Buzan, Akhtuba, Kigach (of which Akhtuba is navigable). They form systems of smaller streams (up to 30-40 m wide and with a water flow rate of less than 50 cubic meters per second), which form the basis of the channel network.
Due to the lowering of the level of the Caspian Sea, the area of ​​the delta has increased ninefold over the past 130 years.

At the mouth of the Volga is the city of Astrakhan. Astrakhan is the southernmost of the Volga cities. In the past - the capital of the Astrakhan Tatar Khanate. In 1717, Peter I made Astrakhan the capital of the Astrakhan province. Its attraction is the five-domed Assumption Cathedral, built in the times of Peter the Great with a white Kremlin built of stone from Saray, the capital city of the Golden Horde, which stood on Akhtuba.

The modern city is a city of sailors, shipbuilders, fishermen. The city is located on 11 islands in the upper part of the Volga Delta.

The Volga is in dire need of protection. Therefore, a reserve was created at the confluence of the Volga into the sea. The unique flora and fauna of the delta (sturgeons, lotus, flamingos, Siberian Cranes, pelicans) have been under state protection since 1919 as the Astrakhan Nature Reserve (nominated by Russia for inclusion in the World Heritage List).

The mouth of the Volga near Astrakhan (Caspian Sea)

Education

Volga is the source. Volga - source and mouth. Volga river basin

The Volga is one of the most important rivers in the world. It carries its waters through the European part of Russia and flows into the Caspian Sea. The industrial significance of the river is great, 8 hydroelectric power stations have been built on it, navigation and fishing are well developed. In the 1980s, a bridge was built across the Volga, which is considered the longest in Russia. Its total length from source to mouth is about 3600 km. But due to the fact that it is not customary to take into account those places that relate to reservoirs, the official length of the Volga River is 3530 km. Among all the water streams in Europe, it is the longest. It contains such large cities as Volgograd, Samara, Nizhny Novgorod, Kazan. That part of Russia, which is adjacent to the central artery of the country, is called the Volga region. Slightly more than 1 million km2 makes up the river basin. Volgaz occupies a third of the European part of the Russian Federation.

Briefly about the river

The Volga is fed by snow, ground and rain waters. It is characterized by spring floods and autumn floods, as well as low water in summer and winter.

The Volga River freezes, the source and mouth of which are covered with ice almost simultaneously, in October-November, and in March-April it begins to thaw.

Previously, back in ancient times, it was called Ra. Already in the Middle Ages there were references to the Volga under the name of Itil. The current name of the water stream comes from the word in the Proto-Slavic language, which is translated into Russian as “moisture”. There are also other versions of the origin of the name of the Volga, but so far it is impossible to confirm or refute them.

The source of the Volga

The Volga, whose source originates in the Tver region, begins at an altitude of 230 m. In the village of Volgoverkhovye there are several springs that were combined into a reservoir. One of them is the beginning of the river. In its upper reaches, it flows through small lakes, and after a few meters it passes through the Upper Volga (Peno, Vselug, Volgo and Sterzh), on this moment combined into a reservoir.

A tiny swamp, which hardly attracts tourists with its appearance, is the source of the Volga. A map, even the most accurate, will not have specific data on the beginning of the water flow.

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Mouth of the Volga

The mouth of the Volga is the Caspian Sea. It is divided into hundreds of branches, due to which a wide delta is formed, the area of ​​\u200b\u200bwhich is about 19,000 km2.

Due to the large amount of water resources, this area is the richest in plants and animals. The fact that the mouth of the river ranks first in the world in terms of the number of sturgeon already speaks volumes. This river has a sufficient influence on climatic conditions, which have a beneficial effect on the flora and fauna, as well as on humans. The nature of this area fascinates and helps to have a good time. Fishing here is best from April to November. The weather and the number of fish species will never allow you to return empty-handed.

Vegetable world

The following types of plants grow in the waters of the Volga:

• amphibians (susak, reed, cattail, lotus);
• water immersed (naiad, hornwort, elodea, buttercup);
• aquatic with floating leaves (water lily, duckweed, pondweed, walnut);
• algae (hari, cladophora, hara).

The largest number of plants is represented at the mouth of the Volga. The most common are sedge, wormwood, pondweed, spurge, saltwort, astragalus. Wormwood, sorrel, reed grass and bedstraw grow in large quantities in the meadows.

The delta of the river called the Volga, the source of which is also not very rich in plants, has 500 different species. Sedge, spurge, marshmallow, wormwood and mint are not uncommon here. You can find thickets of blackberries and reeds. Meadows grow on the banks of the water stream. The forest is located in stripes. The most common trees are willows, ash and poplars.

Animal world

The Volga is rich in fish. It is inhabited by many aquatic animals that differ from each other in the way of existence. In total, there are about 70 species, of which 40 are commercial. One of the smallest fish in the pool is the puhead, whose length does not exceed 3 cm. It can even be confused with a tadpole. But the largest is the beluga. Its dimensions can reach 4 m. It is a legendary fish: it can live up to 100 years and weigh more than 1 ton. The most important are roach, catfish, pike, sterlet, carp, pike perch, sturgeon, bream. Such wealth not only provides products to nearby areas, but is also successfully exported to other countries.

Sterlet, pike, bream, carp, catfish, ruff, perch, burbot, asp - all these representatives of fish live in the introductory stream, and the Volga River is considered to be their permanent place of residence. Istok, unfortunately, cannot boast of such a rich diversity. In places where the water flow is calm and has a shallow depth, the southern stickleback lives - the only representative of sticklebacks. And in those areas where the Volga has the most vegetation, you can meet carp, preferring still waters. Stellate sturgeon, herring, sturgeon, lamprey, beluga enter the river from the Caspian Sea. Since ancient times, the river has been considered the best for fishing.

You can also meet frogs, birds, insects and snakes. Dalmatian pelicans, pheasants, egrets, swans and white-tailed eagles are very often located on the banks. All these representatives are quite rare and are listed in the Red Book. There are many protected areas on the banks of the Volga, they help to protect rare species animals from extinction. Geese, ducks, teals and mallards nest here. Wild boars live in the Volga delta, and saigas live in the nearby steppes. Very often on the seashore you can meet Caspian seals, which are quite freely located near the water.

Significance of the Volga for Russia

The Volga, whose source is located in a village in the Tver region, flows throughout Russia. With its waterway, the river connects with the Baltic, Azov, Black and White seas, as well as the Tikhvin and Vyshnevolotsk systems. Large forests can be found in the Volga basin, as well as rich adjacent fields sown with various industrial and grain crops. The lands in these areas are fertile, which contributed to the development of horticulture and melon growing. It should be clarified that there are gas and oil deposits in the Volga-Ural zone, and salt deposits near Solikamsk and the Volga region.

It is impossible to argue with the fact that the Volga has a long and rich history. She is a participant in many important political events. And it also plays a huge economic role, being the main water artery of Russia, thereby uniting several regions into one. It has administrative and industrial centers, several millionaire cities. That is why this water stream is called the great Russian river.

The Volga River is the longest in Europe compared to other water bodies. It originates from a small underground stream located near the village of Volgoverkhovye and flows into the Caspian Sea. Its path passes through a system of small and large lakes, called the Upper Volga reservoir. The mouth and source of the Volga River conditionally divide the reservoir into several constituent parts.

Historical data

The Volga has long been called the queen of Russian rivers. The first mention of it is found in the writings of the ancient Greek scientists Herodotus, Ptolemy and Marcellinus, who noted the strength and power of a natural object. The people of the Arab countries said that the Volga is a great river. The same thoughts are present in the Russian chronicle "The Tale of Bygone Years".

In the days of Ancient Rus', the Volga River played an important role for the state, as it contributed to the development economic relations with other countries. Trade with Europe and Asia was carried out through the main waterway, establishing a connection between north and south. The great trade route originated from the shores Baltic Sea and along the system of rivers reached the Volga and the Caspian. Fabrics, clothes, furs, wax, honey, pottery, metal and wood products were transported along it. This continued until the time of the Mongol yoke, after which devastation ensued.

After the formation of the Golden Horde, trade relations between the peoples of northeastern Europe and southern Asia resumed. The Volga trade route reached its peak in the 17th century, turning into the main road of Russia. The reservoir was used for both internal and external transportation.

Volga in wartime and now

With the development of railway transport, the importance of the water economic route decreased, but the Volga continued to be a transport route due to the development of port infrastructure. AT civil war In 1917, the river was an important strategic facility providing the army with food and oil.

She played an important role during the Second World War. Many legendary battles have gone down in history, the largest of them being the Battle of Stalingrad.

During the years of Soviet power, a hydroelectric power station was built on the river, and it became a source of electricity.

Today, the Volga is often called the "economic axis of the Volga region." There are 67 Russian cities on its banks. In the upper reaches of the water stream, large forests are spread out, gardens and crop areas stretch down. Near the river basin there are huge deposits of oil, ore, peat, natural gas. In some places potash and table salt are mined.

Hydrological regime

The Volga is fed by snow, ground and rain waters summer season. The natural annual regime is characterized by four main periods:

• High spring flood resulting from the melting of snow on the lowlands, lasts an average of 72 days. The maximum water rise occurs in the first half of May and reaches 7–11 m.
• Steady summer low water, when the water level in the river does not exceed 2-3 m.
• autumn rain floods, typical for October. The depth of the reservoir at this time ranges from 3 to 15 m, depending on the region.
• Low winter low water at which a low water level is observed, not higher than 2–3 m.

Sections of the river

Geographically, the water flow is divided into three sections:

• Upper Volga originates from the source and extends through the forest to Nizhny Novgorod. In this place it is characterized by a fast current and has high hilly banks.
• Middle Volga keeps the path through the steppe zone from the Oka to the Kama, adhering to the right edge of the Volga Upland. Here it becomes full-flowing, with different banks.
• Lower Volga moves along the forest-steppe and semi-desert zone to the Caspian Sea, capturing the territories of the Volga and East European plains, as well as the Caspian lowland.

The bottom of the river is different: sandy, muddy, rocky, overgrown with shell rock. In some places there is pebbly and gritty soil. Climatic conditions change along the river. In the upper reaches, the average temperature in summer reaches +20 0 C, in winter it reaches -17 0 C. The large length contributes to the fact that the reservoir is covered with ice in different parts in cold weather:

• In the upper and middle reaches The Volga freezes over in November.
• In the bottom- in December.

Reservoirs have a great influence on the natural hydrological regime of a reservoir. They change many natural processes on the river, including the wastewater of the Volga, substances dissolved in it, and biological heat.

Source and mouth of the river

The source of the queen of Russian rivers is the village of Volgoverkhovye, Tver region. Here, at an altitude of 228 m above sea level, there are several springs, one of which gives rise to the Volga.

In the region of the Valdai Upland, the water flow captures small and large lakes of the Upper Volga reservoir.

The mouth of the Volga is located in the Astrakhan region and forms a wide delta due to the large number of branches that flow into the Caspian Sea. The area of ​​the delta is the largest in Europe - 19 thousand m 2. This area is famous for the rich natural resources, therefore attracts the attention of many tourists and biologists. There is a large number of animals, plants and fish here, which since 1919 have been protected by the state in the Astrakhan Reserve. This is one of the first large natural objects in Russia, created by the Russian ornithologist V. A. Khlebnikov.

The climate at the mouth of the Volga is sharply continental, a little mild due to the fact that the Caspian Sea is nearby. The temperature in summer here rises to +40 0 C, in winter it drops to -14 0 C. There is almost no snow in this area.

Ecological situation

Since the middle of the last century, the Volga has been used as a source of electricity. It has designed and built eight hydroelectric power plants and nine reservoirs. Over time, industrial and agricultural enterprises were built. All this contributed to the deterioration of the ecological situation in the region.

Experts believe that the water resources of the river are subjected to heavy loads, which are 8 times higher than the average norm for the country. In addition, the most polluted cities of Russia are located on the banks of the reservoir.

Ecologists are seriously alarmed by the current situation. Scientific research data confirm that the water quality of a natural object is far from perfect in a number of indicators.

According to scientists, the environmental problems of the reservoir are due to such factors:

• activities of industrial enterprises;
• storm drains with waste oil products;
• the presence of a large number of dams that have changed the natural regime of the river;
• water pollution due to the bloom and death of blue-green algae;
• active navigation, sunken and abandoned ships with fuel residues.

The solution to environmental problems can be government programs aimed at cleaning up the river from waste products and at modernizing or replacing treatment facilities.

In July 2014, kayaker, geographer and Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society of Britain, Mark Kalch successfully completed the third leg of his Seven Rivers, Seven Continents expedition. We publish a detailed report on the course of the "European" stage of the expedition.

As part of the "Seven Rivers, Seven Continents" project, Mark Kalch carries out solo rafting on the seven longest rivers in the world on each of the continents.

The main goal of the project is to tell about the history of the largest rivers on the planet and show the life flowing around them, to try to tell about the relationship between man and the river in modern and historical contexts, to demonstrate the contrast between large urban areas and sparsely populated areas.

Project stages

1. Amazon ( South America) - 6927 km. The stage was passed in 2007/2008.

2. Missouri with a tributary of the Mississippi (North America) - 6420 km. The stage was completed in 2012.

3. Volga - 3530 km. The stage was completed in 2014.

4. Nile (Africa) - 6671 km.

5. Yangtze (Asia) - 5980 km.

6. Murray (with a tributary of the Darling) (Australia) - 3750 km.

7. Onyx River (Antarctica) - 30 km.

After 5 hours of intense car travel along the Leningrad highway from Moscow, I get to my destination - the village of Volgoverkhovye, located about 400 km from the capital. It is here, in the middle of the green hills of the Valdai Upland, that the Volga River originates.

It is worth noting that, unlike the sources of the Amazon and Missouri-Mississippi rivers, along which I had rafted before, getting to the source of the Volga turned out to be a breeze. A small temple, an imposing church and a scattering of houses serve as an excellent landmark. What can I say, there is even a souvenir shop here!

What makes the Volga similar to other large rivers is that its source also looks rather modest - a small reservoir resembling a tiny pond. You might think that only a pleasant walk awaits ahead.

The source channel is located in a small, swampy valley. Just a few weeks ago, this reservoir was completely covered with ice. I walk along the shore, go down into the channel and go with the flow. I previously left my heavy kayak loaded with things on the edge of a small lake a few kilometers from the source. After several not very pleasant hours, spent waist-deep in melt water, I get out of the dense, wet forest and head to the nearest village. My kayak is waiting for me there.

The locals gave me hot tea to drink and fed me to satiety with sandwiches with meat and pickles. We said goodbye, I pulled the kayak to the water's edge, quickly repacked my things and hit the road. The clouds parted, and the sun began to shine unusually brightly. Now the expedition has begun!

A few hours later, I pass along the banks strewn with houses. It ranges from Soviet-era wooden village houses (and much older) to huge, luxurious country estates with their own (absolutely unnecessary) lighthouses, pirate-style boathouses, marble columns, fire bowls and gazebos, like in Ibiza. Amazing contrast.

During the first few days, cold heavy winds and downpours alternated with bright sunshine. For me, every long journey starts the same way - two weeks of adaptation. This is a transitional period during which you wean yourself from comfort, warmth and cleanliness. In general, for me the expedition is just a long vacation, and therefore I do not complain. Easy life. Stay dry, eat, drink, stay fit. It's pretty simple.

Downstream from the village of Selishche, I get to the first dam. It is small and guarded by a private security firm. The guards have tattoos on their knuckles, old wrinkled uniforms, and a cigarette in their mouths... I don't know what to expect. I show my official letter from the Russian Geographical Society with a bunch of seals, and the guys decide to help me. I was going to lead the kayak across the dam on a cart, but they insisted that the three of us carry it. A few hundred meters we drag my heavy boat, and here I am again on the water. Sort of. The first few kilometers after the dam are quite rocky, the water level is not high. You have to practically push the kayak downstream with your hands. It's damn hard. The river in this place flows through a dense pine forest, and its width is only about 20 meters.

With the rays of the sun, the Volga is transformed. Rain makes the picture a little less pleasant.

I approach the city of Staritsa - I need to replenish food supplies. Two young guys on bicycles look down at me from the high bank of the river. I use my best Russian and ask them where the store is. No answer. "Shop?" I repeat. Oh, yes, somewhere there, they point and wave their hand towards the city. Not very reassuring. Nearby is a huge steel bridge across the river. Below him are several trucks. I figure that here I could leave the kayak and go to the city.

I approach the trucks and see that one of them is full of kayaks! Class! A group of young people are going home after a 4-day rafting trip down the Volga and its tributaries. I am immediately invited to drink tea and eat. I am also not allowed to make a sortie into the city. Instead, the guys collect bags of food for me: cheese, sausage, bread, cookies, tea, pasta, tuna, corn, apples, cucumbers, milk and juice. Their trip was over, they were returning to Moscow. Extraordinary kindness! When I returned to the water again, the clouds dispersed and the sun came out.

After 8 days I am in Tver. My first chance to upload a couple of photos, write and post some articles. I spent 2 days in Tver, replenished my supplies and managed to get lost in the first major city.

After Tver, the number of people I met became more and more. Everyone received me extremely warmly. I did not expect. On every trip you meet nice people, but on the Volga, it seemed that absolutely everyone smiled at me.

A few days later I reached the second dam near Dubna. This time it was a solid hydroelectric power station with a sluice for the passage of ships. On the right was the Moscow Canal. If I wanted to, I could get to the center of Moscow! But my target was a couple of thousand miles south.

There I met a new friend - Ilya. A huge man, he works as a security guard at the dam. He had a day off, the day before he and his friends celebrated his wife's birthday. Instead of loading my kayak onto a cart, Ilya insisted that we carry it. Oh my God! That was really hard. I think both of us were helped by our national pride. I am an Australian and he is a proud Russian. We stopped several times to rest. Ilya smoked a cigarette and treated me to vodka, which he carried in an army flask on his belt. When, after five such stops, we reached the river, I felt quite relaxed! It was the first fight with vodka on my way.

Days followed each other. Either hot or rainy, they were necessarily accompanied by pleasant meetings. During my resupply trips in towns and cities, there was always someone available to guard my kayak. In the villages, this was not necessary.

Russians love the Volga! On weekdays and especially on weekends, people come to the river with tents, relax, fish, swim and ride boats and boats. Even when it seemed to me that I was completely alone, around the corner suddenly there was a cluster of tents and people. It's nice to see that people interact with this huge river not only for industrial and commercial purposes.

On average, crossing each dam took an hour: I moored at the concrete wall, unpacked the cart, loaded the kayak onto it, hauled it over railroad tracks, busy roads, dry brush, down steep hills, packed the cart, launched into the water and again launched into path. Transitions are not very exciting.

After each dam, a segment with a rather strong current began. It was a strange feeling: after weeks spent in the middle of the water, which seems like one long lake, you are suddenly swept away by a raging current.

In Yaroslavl, I was a guest of the Ministry of Emergency Situations. Their task is to ensure the safety of everyone on the river: from sunbathers to fishermen on boats, cruise ships and tankers, which are becoming increasingly popular. On Saturday afternoon, some of the young lifeguards volunteer to patrol the crowded beach with a pair of giant binoculars. Not an easy job.

Every time it was not easy for me to leave the parking lot, part with people. I really wanted to stay, just sit, drink tea, eat, laugh. It is extremely pleasant to communicate with Russians. The Russians I met were full of life and very friendly. The absolute opposite of the information that I was brainwashed from birth about life behind the Iron Curtain, gloominess, anger towards the West.

A month after the start of my rafting down the Volga, my journey gave me another pleasant surprise. The beauty of the river, the goodwill of its people - it was hard to believe. But there was more!

Near the city of Kineshma, I struggled with a headwind for a very long time, and somehow I managed to do it. Just beyond the bridge I saw a huge wooden raft. Is it possible? I swam closer to take a look. It was a huge Kon-Tiki hybrid (a cork raft built by Thor Heyerdahl to cross the Pacific) with a wooden hull and three giant, inflated PVC pontoons. About ten people gathered around the raft. I had to find out what it was!

The raft was called "Rus". It was a boat to travel the world! Piloted by only three crew members, the raft traveled to the Arctic, the Barents Sea, Greenland, Canada, the Black Sea and, of course, the Volga. I was greeted with tea, beer and goulash for lunch. When the TV crew arrived, I had the honor of helping to launch the 3-ton ship and assist in raising the mast. What a boat it was! I spent the whole day with them, and when the sun began to set, I set off to swim a couple more hours downstream.

Gradually, I learned more and more that the Russians were not the type of people to sit still. Over the course of several weeks, I met sailors storming the ocean, canoeists rafting down turbulent rivers, skydivers and cyclists circumnavigating the world—all on the banks of the same river.

Gradually, the Volga became wider. Powerful winds raised strong waves that crashed against the steep banks and concrete city embankments. The river was restless. I had to paddle non-stop to avoid capsizing.

At some moments, I was no longer so sure that the Volga is a river. It was very wide with huge bays and coves. One evening, when the sun was still high enough for me to paddle, I met a group of kite surfers. For me, a strong wind is a nightmare, but for them it is the most best time. 10 kites took off and rushed over the water. Like a brother in arms, I stopped to say hello, and I was immediately dragged to their camp and fed a late dinner: vodka, tea, dried fish and beer. By the way, some of them were going to the city store. I went with them and stocked up on pasta, sugar, sardines and chocolate bars. Fine!

Again the dam, again the transition. The current calmed down, and I paddled along the calm river. Ahead was a big city - Nizhny Novgorod. Throughout the route, I passed by large cities. Tankers, cruise ships and smaller boats sailed past me - it always takes longer than expected to maneuver in such conditions. The Oka River joins the Volga right in the center of Nizhny. Since my water transport was the slowest, I tried not to disturb anyone. Jet skis and expensive boats with girls in bikinis on board flew by. The city itself was clearly divided into the old part and the modern. The stunning Novgorod Kremlin perched on a green slope, while modern apartment buildings loomed in front and behind it. Almost at the exit of the city, I noticed cable car across the river. The cabin carried passengers on a picturesque walk from Nizhny Novgorod to the town of Bor, on the left bank of the Volga. As I sailed by, I wished I had more time to spare. Gradually, the number of days until my visa expires starts to worry me.

And again the current slows down, and the river becomes wider. The Volga continues to amaze with its beauty. Where are all the factories and industrial enterprises that pollute its waters? If they are, they were very well hidden from view.

In the city of Cheboksary, river sandy beaches filled with vacationers. Families, children, girls in bathing suits, young hooligans are dissected in cars, old people are immersed in conversations with each other. Again jet skis and boats rush along the river. I moor at the cement pier. Again my friends from the Ministry of Emergency Situations helped me. I trudge up the steep hill to the store to restock. Dmitry, who works at the Ministry of Emergency Situations, offers me to stay in one of their premises. I am only a few miles from the dam and would like to cross it today. I thank Dmitry for the offer and go further.

A dilemma accompanies me in all my travels. I have two main goals: to get from the source to the sea and collect as many impressions, photos, stories related to the river as possible. And it is very difficult to find a balance between these two tasks. Do your best to complete the first, but do not forget about the second. I'm always reluctant to turn down offers to stay the night, chat, all for the sake of swimming a few more miles. But failing the first task and not getting to the mouth of the river, to the sea, is the end for me. You have to make this difficult choice.

I am comforted by the thought that I will have at least a few days in Kazan to gain strength, replenish supplies and get to know the city. I have friends in Kazan, and it so happened that I spent four days at hastily organized press conferences, appeared on television and went sightseeing. I made new friends and new town who won my heart.

A couple of times people stopped me and said they saw me on TV. I became a local celebrity.

In the course of my journey, I encountered some really difficult weather conditions several times. Storms, creeping up from the side of low mountains stretching along the Volga, heavy rains, wind, thunder, lightning - it looked exciting, but it made me pretty nervous. I was often able to cross dangerous sections in just a couple of minutes before the waves were rising and the water was covered with white foam. What was it - the right calculation or just luck?

When the Volga merged with another river - the Kama, the water began to boil, and the left bank disappeared from sight. A strong west wind was blowing. The coast was solid rocks. Where the cliffs broke off, the shore was covered with dense vegetation. As night approached, the search for a parking spot became more urgent. I turned to the other side. There was a serious struggle with wind and waves, but there, at least, I had a better chance of finding a place to sleep.

The right bank is now out of sight. The water stretched for 40 km from coast to coast. Overcoming huge waves, rolling off them, I thought that I might have made a mistake. But it was too late to change anything, and I pressed on.

By the time I got to the shore and decided to set up camp near the old factory in Ulyanovsk, it was already dark. As I approached the shore, I heard a voice. A man waved at me and shouted something. As a result, I spent that night not in a tent near the old factory, but at the dacha, where I learned what a Russian bathhouse is with a birch broom and jogging to the Volga. They had a grand dinner, I made new friends, we talked about the Volga, about what Russia and the West have in common. The river did it again.

After breakfast of scrambled eggs and bacon, I left. The hardest day of my entire trip has begun. The weather forecast said that the day would be quite windy. From the city limits to the next stop is almost 25 kilometers of open water. If in a straight line. If you go along the coast, it turns out 35 km. The previous week had been very difficult, and I already imagined what difficulties the river could give me. In the end, I walked 7 hours. I didn't miss a single stroke, not a single stroke of the oar.

The river gods must have decided that more than a week of unbearable weather would be my fare. A few days after my "fun" crossing, I pulled the kayak out onto a long rocky beach with crystal clear waters. There was no wind all day. The low hills were dotted with groves and villages. We found a dry place for the camp overlooking the expanses of the Volga. These moments more than outweighed the inconvenience of rain and wind.

From Tolyatti to Samara, the river continues to show itself in all its glory. One day I saw hundreds of sailing boats and catamarans, kite surfers, paragliders, cyclists, tourists, fishermen and people taking everything from what nature has arranged right in their yard - the Volga River. It was amazing to watch this. Samara stands on the left bank of the river. On the opposite bank, the inhabitants of Samara set up camps for recreation. On weekends, they cross the Volga in taxi boats, bus boats and their own boats to spend a couple of days on the coast, relax and have parties. I could hardly find a free area to pitch my little tent. Finally, I found a place and started setting up the tent. When I finished, a few guys came up to me and said hello. I answered in Russian, and they, of course, immediately realized that I was not Russian. When they heard that I was an Australian and I was kayaking all along the Volga, they literally dragged me to their camp where the party was taking place. The World Cup was on TV, Russian electronic music played loudly from the speakers (it all worked from a generator), and vodka flowed like a river. That night I danced, sang, laughed and talked with wonderful people. By that time, the warm welcome that I received during my rafting had become something incredible. How can everything always be so good? How can everyone you meet be so friendly? I have never encountered anything like it in all my travels.

I left Samara early in the morning, trying to convince myself that I didn't have a hangover from the previous night. Self-hypnosis helped a little.

In the city of Syzran, the river makes a sharp turn to the south. Inside the bend is a labyrinth of wetlands and small islands. Instead of staying out on the open water, I decided to look into this twisted paradise. Birds were calling, fishermen were sitting in boats. Signs posted stated that this was a protected area for birds. The place was wilder than any I've been to before. Trees, vines and bushes were reluctant to give even a little space, too little to put up a tent. Fortunately, I found a fishing camp on the island and settled on a deserted but well-groomed shore with cut grass.

Another dam in Balakovo. The crossing took 80 minutes. I had to drag the cart through a bunch of railway tracks, break through the bushes through the mud, and here is a guard post in front of me. I dragged the kayak to the security officer, who had a machine gun around his neck, and to his friend in civilian clothes. They did not notice me, and I had to somehow draw attention to myself. They looked at me with surprise, and I tried to explain to them in my already tolerable Russian the purpose of my journey. I also showed them a letter from the Russian Geographical Society, where it was written who I was. It has already turned into a "miracle letter". His official appearance and a bunch of seals worked wonders. The guard stepped onto the busy road that crossed the dam and waved his baton. The cars moving in both directions stopped and he took me across the road. I thanked the guard and made some kind of apologetic gesture for the drivers who had stopped to let me through.

A couple of days later I was walking past Saratov. One of the days was a day off, so life along the river was in full swing. Unfortunately, according to the forecast, I had two very windy days ahead of me. Even a route along small canals would not have made the task much easier. Every kilometer was difficult. A ramp was set up near the city where skateboard competitions were held, along small beaches there were a bunch of taxi boats transporting people back and forth, to small islands, to camps here and there outside the city. The river continues to rage because of the wind. He pushes my kayak from all sides. It is very difficult to keep it, and even when hundreds of people are looking at you.

The next few days I paddled as hard as I could under a perfectly blue sky, and along the river, on rocky cliffs, houses nestled. Again invitations, again treats and again vodka. This alloy, sometimes so difficult, sometimes turns into a dream alloy.

Over the next few days, I walked along a wide and straight section of the Volga. Sometimes I felt like I was on a treadmill. The high rocky shores have changed a bit. A pleasant change was the parking lot for the purchase of products. I made a stop in an old village where 9 out of 10 houses seemed abandoned. While looking for water, I met my grandmother on one of the streets. The village had several wells on the main street, most of which were not functioning. But one, fortunately, was in order. The old woman and I approached him at the same time, she also came for water. I let her go, but she refused. Very awkward. I needed her help with the well. We chatted a little in Russian about the Volga and walked along the road together.

While I was fetching water, a large boat pulled up to the shore, not far from my kayak, and six men had a barbecue. I had a hard day behind me, rowing 7 hours and looking forward to a long rest. This was not destined to happen - I was invited to a barbecue.

A few hours later, I was able to break away from my new friends. I slowly rowed for an hour and a half, the alcohol had its effect, and I decided that enough for today. What a day it was!

Volgograd is visible on the horizon. The ninth and last dam separates me from the city, where during the Second World War the Battle of Stalingrad claimed the lives of two million people. An hour and fifteen minutes of pushing the cart and I'm back on the water.

I make an attempt to talk to people on the boat, but they are already far beyond the line of simple intoxication. I end up spending the night in a floating cafe. On board I am greeted with wide smiles, and, as always, I am fed and watered to the fullest.

The current remains strong even a few days after I passed Volgograd. Not that it would be unusual for the river, but on the Volga it is a pleasant surprise.

Villages on the river are less and less common, the same applies to fishermen and vacationers. For two days in a row, a thunderstorm takes me by surprise. Far away, on the tops of steep rocky shores, small towns can be seen. A large thundercloud is forming behind me, lightning is flashing, and I can see it moving in my direction. When a thunderstorm starts, you want to hide under the "skirt" of the kayak. As if that would make me a less attractive target for lightning.

I found a place for the camp on huge river islands. Most of the time I was alone, but sometimes I had neighbors. One Sunday afternoon I set up camp upstream from Astrakhan. I ended up spending the whole day chatting with people relaxing by the river. The entire beach is packed with swimmers and tourists. Everywhere jet skis, boats.

The final leg of the journey to the Caspian Sea contained some difficulties. To enter the Volga delta, you need to have permission from the FSB. I have permission. I applied 60 days ago and received a letter a month later that the permit was ready. Unfortunately, the FSB office is open from Monday to Friday, and they are closed on weekends. Should I wait until Monday for another day and a half to receive the paper or rely on the fact that I already know the permit number? Before Astrakhan, I heard many stories that passage through the main channel of the delta is prohibited, with or without permission. In any case, going there without documents in hand meant looking for trouble.

The sun was setting below the horizon, the Volga was flooded with gold. I ate dinner looking at the river and tried to decide what to do next. It would be a big problem to be stopped by the authorities for some kind of infraction just a few miles from the target. I reviewed my documents collected for permission again. I have listed all the towns and villages that I will pass by on my way to the Caspian Sea. All of them were located along the main canal. What problems can there be? And I decided to go through the main channel.

New town. Strong winds, a wide stretch of river and heavy traffic - boats are everywhere. Immediately after Astrakhan I pass by small beaches. The atmosphere of the holiday reigns on the river again. Windsurfers scurry back and forth between the big ships, the river police check recreational boats for life jackets and registration.

I get invited to barbecues all the time. During the day, I stopped a couple of times to say hello, but immediately said goodbye to move on. There was a smile on my face. Russian hospitality is something.

The current was still quite strong. Branches appeared on the left - channels. As the river delta became wider, so did the number of canals, winding towards the sea by the thousands.

I spent my last evening on the Volga modestly. I moored near a small wharf, next to which there was an equally small shipyard. Two village houses in the middle of freshly cut grass. Without taking off my life jacket and special jacket, I went to the smaller one. Inside was Alec, a huge man resembling a bear. He is a caretaker. At first he was quite rude, but when I explained to him in more detail about my trip, he gladly offered me to set up camp on his site.

By seven in the morning I was already on the water. I kept wondering when would a patrol boat come around the corner and prematurely end my journey?

I passed by small villages that lay on the huge islands of the delta. You can get to them by taking a short trip on a steamboat. Near some of them, large ships were anchored, sailors worked on board. Did they see me? The closer I got to the Caspian Sea, the stronger my anxiety became.

Despite this, I continued to move along the main channel. The sea was ahead. According to my maps, this area was uninhabited, but from time to time I saw abandoned fish processing plants, destroyed houses and lampposts.

I pass by a half-sunken house. It looks abandoned. Suddenly a big dog runs out, followed by an old man and a younger man. I paddle up to them and we chat a little. They live in the depths of the delta, many kilometers from the nearest locality, in a house that is only half on the ground. They looked like some of the happiest people I have ever met. They showed me where to turn to get to the town of Vyshka. There my journey must end.

Having strayed in the labyrinths of narrow water channels, surrounded by dense vegetation, reminiscent of the jungle, I finally get to open water. Was it already the sea?

There were some islands a mile to the south of me, but apart from them, you can say that I went out into the Caspian Sea. And half a mile to the right was the city of Vyshka. The name and point on the map that I have dreamed of for many months. I slowly walked towards him.

After 3,700 kilometers and 71 days, my rafting down the Volga, the longest river in Europe, from its source to the sea, was completed. The river I was floating on was so beautiful that it seemed unreal. Picturesque lakes, pine forests, hills, rocky cliffs, open dusty steppes, huge cities and small villages. It was amazing. But the Volga people made my rafting really special. From beginning to end, the Russian people accepted me, showed such care and hospitality that I had never encountered as a traveler. When I got to my end goal, I was really sad that it was all over. But my time on the Volga came to an end, it was time to go home.