An unusual and difficult to pronounce the name of the Volga tributary - the river Kotorosl. For many centuries, the city of Yaroslavl has stood on its shores.
About the rivers Ustye and Veksa
There are two rivers in the Yaroslavl region: Ustye and Veksa. The first begins in the swamps with a small stream. Collecting along its path 153 km long the water of its tributaries, it turns into a winding, shallow (up to two meters), but fast river. The modern definition of the word "mouth" is a section of a stream flowing into the sea, lake, other river, that is, the final path. But in the Old Russian language the source or headwaters were also called that. So, this river has been flowing in the Yaroslavl area since ancient times.
Veksa flows from Lake Nero and runs an independent river only 7 km. She has no tributaries, the flow rate is very small. In Russia, rivers flowing from lakes were often called streams; the Finno-Finnish variant was called vuoksi.
Where rivers connect
Near the village of Nikolo-Perevoz, two rivers connect their waters. Most often in this case, one of them is considered an influx of the other (larger) and gets its name, increasing the main stream. In our case, the new channel became known as the Kotorosl River. Moreover, it is proposed to consider the seven-kilometer Veksa channel as part of Kotorosli, that is, as if it itself originates in the waters of Lake Nero.
New river
From the village of Nikolo-Perevoz, standing simultaneously on three rivers, Kotorosl flows 126 kilometers to the confluence with the Volga. Thanks to its parents, it begins with a fairly wide (30 meters) and calm river. Obviously, the terrain and water of the Veksa quench the typed flow rate of the Ustya. Throughout its entire length, including in the territory of Yaroslavl, the water flow is slow and forms numerous horseshoe-shaped bends. After the confluence of several tributaries, the Kotorosl River expands to 60 meters.
In the XIX century, it was an important transport route connecting Rostov the Great with the Volga and with many other cities and countries. But it was used actively only in the spring, and in the summer, shipping was laden with bridges and dams. In these places, many mills and factories worked. In winter, large vessels got up at the mouth of Kotorosli in anticipation of navigation along the Volga.
The modern river attracts fishermen, tourists and vacationers. On its shores are pensions and rest homes, in the settlements there are places for swimming.
Name history
Modern Kotorosl was formerly called Kotorost. I wonder why? The most popular is this option. "Wandering" in Old Russian means "arguing." And there are plenty of reasons to argue with the two source rivers. What name should be called a new channel, if its length is less than the length of one of the rivers that formed it? But the second river connects the new stream with Lake Nero, on the banks of which Rostov the Great lies. In the dispute, not only a new river was born, but also its name.
Kotorosl and Yaroslavl
The arrow of the Volga and Kotorosl rivers is the place where the city of Yaroslavl arose. It is believed that it was founded in 1010 by the Rostov prince Yaroslav the Wise. The new fortress was supposed to protect the water approaches to Rostov, trade routes. The chopped city, growing, turned into a large settlement with many temples, monasteries, trade and craft settlements.
The whole history of the existence and development of Yaroslavl is connected with the development along Kotorosli, which divides the modern city into two parts. A small section of the embankment from Strelka in the XI century stretched to the Spassky Monastery, and then to the Church of St. Nicholas the Wet in the XIX century. The modern embankment ends at the Tolbukhinsky bridge and stretches for 3 km.
Researchers say that during pagan times, one of the temple with idol gods was located on the site of the Spassky Monastery. The baptism of local residents took place in the waters of the Kotorosl River in this place. The tradition of cutting Jordan in ice on the feast of the Epiphany at the monastery walls is explained by this event.
The most active development of the embankment was in the 16th century, when Yaroslavl became one of the largest cities in the Moscow state. On the shore of Kotorosli, the road from Moscow to Yaroslavl was divided into three directions: Vologda, the Middle Volga region and the Ladoga area.
Prosperous Yaroslavl people chose these places for the construction of beautiful and rich houses. Many centuries ago, the Spassky Monastery with stone walls and buildings instead of wooden ones adorns the banks of the Kotorosl River. Yaroslavl is famous for its other temples and cathedrals, many of which were built along the river. Sloboda, previously inhabited by ordinary people, has long entered the territory of the modern city.
One of the favorite places of the townspeople was the park of the 1000th anniversary of Yaroslavl and the embankment along the river. Here you can take a leisurely walk among the trees and flowers, admire the fountains and sculptural compositions, sit on benches. For outdoor activities there are special areas, the center "Millennium".
Where in Yaroslavl the Kotorosl and Volga rivers formed Strelka, numerous city events are held annually, fountains work, and beautiful flower gardens are broken.