The Volga River is the longest in Europe and one of the most important waterways in Russia.It flows through the heart of the country, winding its way from the Valdai Hills to the Caspian Sea. This river has played a vital role in Russian history for centuries, serving as a means of transportation and trade as well as providing a source of irrigation and hydroelectric power.Today, it remains an essential part of the Russian economy, life, and culture. Read on to learn some interesting Volga River facts.Unique Facts About The Volga RiverHere are some unique facts about the mighty river of Russia.The Volga River is Europe’s longest river, flowing through Central Russia, Volgograd, Astrakhan, and other Russian cities before draining into the Caspian Sea.The Volga River is one of the world’s great rivers and the national river of Russia.The Volga has over 200 tributaries, including the Kama, Oka, Vetluga, and Sura. The Volga forms a delta when it reaches the Caspian Sea.Besides being the longest river, the Volga River is also Europe’s largest river on the basis of its watershed and discharge.The Volga river is 2,294 mi (3,692 km) long and flows only through the country of Russia.The Volga River primarily drains areas in Western Russia and has a total river basin area of 532,821 sq mi (752,443 sq km).The depth of the Volga River is estimated to be between 150-200 ft (45-60 m).More than half of Russia’s largest cities lie in the Volga basin.The Volga River flows from the west to the east, emerging from the Valdai Hills and flowing towards the Ural Mountains and the Caspian Sea.The Volga River is an important source of water for the Caspian Sea and its famous sturgeon fishery. The Beluga sturgeon is the largest fish in the Volga River.The route of the Volga river is divided into three parts. The first part is known as the upper Volga, the second part is called the middle Volga, and the last section is called the lower Volga.When the river flows from its origins in the Valdai Hills to its confluence with the Oka, it is known as the upper Volga.The river is called the Middle Volga from the point where the Oka River joins it to the point where it is joined by the Kama River.The last section of the Volga River, known as the lower Volga, runs from the junction of the Kama River to the Volga River mouth.The Volga River receives water from snow, rainwater, and underground water.The major Russian cities through which the Volga river flows are Astrakhan, Saratov, Volgograd, Samara, Kazan, Ulyanovsk, Nizhny Novgorod, Tver, and Yaroslavl.The Volga River basin has some of the largest reservoirs in the world. Historically, various reservoirs were built, such as the Ivankovo Reservoir, the Rybinsk Reservoir, the Cheboksary Reservoir, the Saratov Reservoir, the Kuybyshev Reservoir, and the Volgograd Reservoir.The Kuybyshev Reservoir on the Volga River is as big as the U.S. state of Connecticut.The Volga River holds a lot of importance for Russia in terms of transportation as its canals form three major navigable waterways that connect Russia’s capital city, Moscow, to the Black Sea, the Caspian Sea, the White Sea, the Sea of Azov, and the Baltic Sea.Apart from industries, many monasteries and shrines are also located on the Volga River banks.The Volga River valley is extremely fertile and is ideal for growing wheat.The Volga River is an important water source for farmers and industrial units.The Volga River valley is also a source of hydroelectric power and has a large number of precious mineral deposits, including petroleum.Since the Volga River basin supports almost 40% of the total Russian population, the locals consider it to be the lifeline of Russia and refer to it as ‘Mother Volga.‘The Volga River’s flow is controlled by several dams, which have become a major source of pollution in the river.The Volga Delta is a wetland area located at the mouth of the Volga River where it meets the Caspian Sea.Does the Volga River freeze?Did you know the Volga river is among the few rivers that freeze during the winter months? Yes, you read that right! Let us look at why the Volga and other rivers freeze during the winter.Since Russia is the largest country in the world, the winter temperatures differ significantly throughout the country. Generally speaking, Russia experiences extreme weather, from very hot or warm summers to very cold winters.During winter, several Russian regions record temperatures as low as -22 F (-30 C). Many Russian cities also face heavy snowfall and snowstorms.For a river to freeze, the temperature in an area should be less than 32 F (0 C) for many days. As the Volga valley falls in areas with such low temperatures, most of the river freezes for almost three months every year.Who discovered the Volga River?Since ancient times, the Volga River has been an essential supply of water and a mode of transportation. Here’s a quick rundown of the Volga River’s history.The Volga River was known to various Slavic tribes since the first millennium.The Greeks first discovered that the Volga River drained into the Caspian Sea.One of the most popular earliest records of the Volga River dates back to the 10th century, when the great Egyptian geographer, mathematician, and astronomer, Ptolemy, mentioned the lower part of the Volga River in one of his works and referred to it as ‘Rha.‘The river’s name, ‘Volga’ is derived from a Slavic term that means ‘wetness’ and ‘moisture.’ However, in Russian, the term ‘Volga’ means ‘holy.‘Many studies were conducted between the 1600s and 1800s to determine the length and flow of the Volga River.Besides members of the Slavic tribe, the Volga River basin was inhabited by other communities, including the Turkic, Germanic, and Persian tribes.The Russians conquered the area around the Volga River in the 16th century.The Volga River is so important that one of the bloodiest battles in human history, the Battle of Stalingrad, was fought between the Germans and Russians to gain control over this river during World War II.Historically, the Volga River played a crucial role in moving people from Asian countries to Europe.What lives in the Volga River?One of Russia’s most valuable natural resources is the Volga River, as it provides drinking water, irrigation, and hydroelectric power. The Volga also supports a diverse range of fish, birds, and other wildlife.The Volga River is also an excellent ground for fishing as it houses 127 different species of fish, like Volga lampreys, sazan, pike, catfish, whitefish, Crucian carp, vobla, and perch.It is also home to the beluga whale and other kinds of sturgeons.Since the Volga River basin inhabits a large number of different varieties of fish, Astrakhan, Russia has become a global center of the caviar industry.The Volga estuary is not only Europe’s largest estuary but also the only area in Russia where lotuses, pelicans, and flamingos can be found.Besides harboring a large variety of fish, the Volga delta also boasts of having as many as 278 plant species, of which 44 are water plants. Some plants that you can find in the Volga delta are willows, alders, chestnuts, and alders.Many mammals also reside in the Volga Delta. These include otters and beavers.The Volga Delta is an important breeding ground for several migratory birds, such as swans, ducks, flamingos, white-tailed eagles, herons, pelicans, and geese. It is estimated that around 600,000 birds belonging to more than 270 different species visit the delta every year for breeding.Unfortunately, due to pollution and other causes, these breeding areas are getting affected, endangering several plant and animal species residing in the area.
The Volga River is the longest in Europe and one of the most important waterways in Russia.
