Volga river

The Volga River is the largest in Europe and the third largest in Russia. The river originates in the Tver region on the Valdai Upland. Before Kazan, it carries its waters to the southeast, then turns to the south, and from Samara - to the south-west. In the Volgograd region, it changes direction again and flows to the southeast to the Caspian Sea, where the Volga River flows 60 km from Astrakhan.

The Volga flows through the densely populated regions of the European part of Russia, on the territory of which there are 4 republics and 11 regions. On its banks are concentrated many cities and settlements. On the river there are large cities, among which four millionaires: Nizhny Novgorod, Kazan, Samara, Volgograd.

Several reservoirs have been built on the Volga, the most famous of which are the Upper Volga, Rybinsk, Gorky, Kuibyshev, Volgograd. Thousands of rivers and streams carry their waters into the mighty Volga. Especially a lot of the left tributaries of the river. The largest rivers flowing into the Volga are the left tributary of the Kama and the right tributary of the Oka.

The Volga River flows through the vast territory of the Russian Plain with various natural and climatic zones. The area from the sources to Kazan is occupied by forests, then the forest-steppe extends to Saratov, the steppes predominate in the lower reaches and the semi-desert in the south.

Before flowing into the Caspian Sea, the river is divided into hundreds of branches. The mouth of the Volga River is a delta in the form of a triangle with many islands and channels, where the unique nature is preserved in its original form. In the delta is the Astrakhan Reserve, which has the status of a biosphere reserve. Here lives more than 250 species of birds, including 70 rare. During the flight to the nesting places in the reserve, the world's most rare white crane, the Siberian Crane, stops. Especially in the delta of wading birds, which nest in reed beds. There are 27 species of birds in the Red Book: an osprey, an Egyptian heron, a curly pelican, a white-tailed eagle and others. In the lower reaches of the Volga, there are about 50 species of fish, including sturgeon, beluga, stellate sturgeon, asp, carp, and zander. In the Astrakhan Reserve you can find plants listed in the Russian Red Book: lotus, white water lily, yellow egg- lily , water-nut.

The Volga River is not only a symbol of Russia, but also the main water artery, the basin of which is a large industrial zone of the country. Here, hydro and power plants, oil processing, machine building, chemical oil, gas, and coal mining enterprises were built. In addition, the river has developed passenger and cargo navigation.

During the navigation from May to September, the Volga River is a place for motor cruises, during which travelers can see many cities of the Volga region, each of which has its own unique history. This is Yaroslavl with numerous archaeological and architectural values, protected by UNESCO. Ancient Uglich with church monuments. Kostroma with the Ipatiev Monastery and the Museum of Wooden Architecture. A small quiet Plyos where the best canvases of Levitan were written. Volgograd with the Mamayev Kurgan, on which one of the highest statues in the world is installed - Motherland