What is the history of the Volga River?

What is the history of the Volga River?

Europe’s longest river, the Volga remains a big influence in Russian history. It is a region where the cradle of Indo-European culture began more than 7,000 years ago. Throughout medieval times, the river served as a major waterway establishing trade as well as a new settlement.

What is Volga known for?

At the Caspian Sea the Volga is an important source of water for the sea and its famous sturgeon fishery. The Beluga sturgeon is the largest fish found in the Volga. But the water that flows into the Caspian has been used many times upstream by the factories and the farmers.

What is the problem with the Volga River?

Forests along the river are being cut, affecting runoff. Smaller rivers feeding the Volga are drying up. Like the Mississippi, there are looming problems with decreasing water levels and stagnant, tainted reservoirs. Trash is the bane of the Volga shoreline.

Is the Volga River only in Russia?

The river flows entirely through Russia, including four of the countries ten largest cities. Its historic, cultural, and economic importance makes it one of the world’s greatest rivers. Historically, the Volga River was the meeting point of the Eurasian Civilization.

How old is the Volga River?

Why is Volga River important?

It drains most of Western Russia and its many large reservoirs provide important irrigation and hydroelectric power. The Moscow-Volga Canal, the Volga-Don Canal, and the Mariinsk Canal system form navigable waterways connecting Moscow to the White Sea, the Baltic Sea, the Caspian Sea, the Sea of Azov and the Black Sea.

Do people swim in the Volga River?

Swim across the Volga River! On July 28-29, 2018 the Stada Volga Swim will take place in Russia. The race also happens to be the biggest race in Russia and is located in the city of Nizhny Novgorod (formerly Gorky). The river is different every year and every day, participants swim a different race every year!

Can you swim in the Volga River?

The Volga, Samara The sandy banks of the Volga in World Cup host city, Samara, is probably the best inland beach Russia has to offer. Wheelchair access at various points makes this beach enjoyable and accessible for all.

What country is the Volga River in?

Russia
Volga River, Russian Volga, ancient (Greek) Ra or (Tatar) Itil or Etil, river of Europe, the continent’s longest, and the principal waterway of western Russia and the historic cradle of the Russian state.

What is the mouth of the Volga River?

Caspian Sea
Volga River/Mouths

Rising in the Valdai Hills northwest of Moscow, the Volga discharges into the Caspian Sea, some 2,193 miles (3,530 kilometres) to the south. It drops slowly and majestically from its source 748 feet (228 metres) above sea level to its mouth 92 feet below sea level.

How polluted is the Volga River?

The pollution in the Volga River is traumatising, 40,000 cubic yards of the river is mixed in with raw sewage carelessly dumped into the Volga every year. The River contains 45% of Russian industries waste along with 3,000 factories dumping 10 billion cubic yards of contaminated waste.

Is the Volga river polluted?

Where does the Volga River start and end?

Situated in Russia, it flows through Central Russia to Southern Russia and into the Caspian Sea. The Volga has a length of 3,531 km (2,194 mi), and a catchment area of 1,360,000 km 2 (530,000 sq mi). It is also Europe’s largest river in terms of discharge and of drainage basin.

Why is the Volga so important?

Janet Hartley explores the river’s roles, myths and meanings. It is impossible to imagine Russia or her history without the Volga, Russia’s — and Europe’s — longest river along whose shores so many of the country’s more pivotal political, economic, and cultural events have taken place.

Why is the Volga River called the blood of Russia?

The phrase is symbolic of how important this river is to the people in Russia. People in Russia also believe that this river is the blood of life for their country. There are more than 40% of the Russian population living near the Volga River and around the tributaries.

What ethnic groups lived on the Volga River?

Many different ethnicities lived on the Volga river. Numerous were the Eastern Slavic Vyatchi tribes which took a decisive role in the development of modern Russians. Among the first recorded people along the upper Volga were also the Finno-Ugric people Mari (Мари) and their west ethnic group named Merya (Мäрӹ).