The Volga is one of the most famous symbols of Russia, the largest river not only of the country, but of the entire planet. The life of the European part of the country is concentrated on the river, and all of Russia needs electric power and agricultural produce. Here you can relax, fish and constantly live, enjoying the magnificent nature.
Impressive scale
The length of this great river is more than 3.5 thousand kilometers. It supplies water to 4 million-plus cities, is blocked by four power plants, and has given the name to the whole region. The huge river has more than 200 tributaries, and its basin occupies a third of the European territory of Russia. It flows through forests, steppes, mountains and semi-deserts. On the map of the country it can be seen that the Volga River flows through 15 subjects of the federation. Plants and animals of the river are very diverse: these are water meadows, as well as a real miracle - lotus fields, which UNESCO considers a biosphere reserve. More than 500 species of plants grow in the Volga floodplain, which are distributed among 82 families.
Different parts of the river
Due to its huge length and different nature, the Volga River is conventionally divided into several parts. Plants and animal rivers are quite diverse.
On the Upper Volga, where the cities of Rzhev, Tver, Rybinsk, Yaroslavl, Kostroma and Nizhny Novgorod are located, 4 reservoirs are artificially created. All of them were formed during the construction of hydroelectric power plants: Ivankovskoye, Uglichskoye, Rybinskoye and Gorky reservoirs.
Middle Volga
In this part, the river overcomes the entire Volga Upland. Here 4 rivers flow into it, the largest of which is the Oka. Forms a large reservoir Cheboksary hydroelectric station. On the territory of the hill passes the Volga-Don watershed, one of the parts of which is the Volga River. Plants and animals of the river form the forest-steppe landscape of these places. This is the habitat of a brown bear, squirrels and martens, lynx and taiga polecat are found. Hunters are looking for grouse and capercaillie. The local forests resemble taiga, at every step you can see the mighty pine trees.
Lower Volga
In the lower reaches, the Kama flows into the Volga, and the river becomes unusually full-flowing. The Zhigulevskaya hydroelectric station is preceded by the Kuibyshev reservoir, further downstream you can see the Volgograd.
Below Astrakhan, a unique place begins - the delta, on which the state reserve, which is famous for the Volga River, is located. Plants and animals of the river are protected in this place. There are many fishing bases with year-round fishing. Here, they not only catch sturgeons and admire the blooming lotus, but also observe pelicans, Siberian Cranes and flamingos in the natural environment.
Water mode
The river receives water from an area of almost one and a half million kilometers. The regime of the Volga River depends, of course, on the climate. Melting snow and heavy rains affect it. The width of the river in some places reaches 2500 meters. Depth in shallow places does not fall below 2.5 meters. Here is such a characteristic of the Volga River. But it wasn’t always like this: before the construction of reservoirs that regulate the water level, it could be aground only 30 cm.
Ice is set in late November - early December, such a regime of the Volga River. Shipping began in early April, and ice breaking at Astrakhan in March. The river reaches the Caspian Sea in a calm and smooth flow.
Characteristic
In a kind of rating of the long rivers of the planet Volga takes 16th place, but in Europe it has no equal. Through the Volga-Don Canal, it connects the Black Sea with the Sea of Azov, and through the Baltic Way with the sea of the same name. The White Sea connects through the Severodvinsk River Network.
The slope of the water artery is small - only 256 meters throughout. The main characteristic of the river (Volga) is its water flow rate, which is only 1 meter per second. For an hour in different places the river overcomes from 2 to 6 kilometers. Such features allow all types of plants and animals to thrive.
The indicator of "comfort" of the river among living creatures is catfish. The usual weight of this fish is up to 400 kg (in other cases), but there are champions weighing up to one and a half tons.
Volga River: source and mouth
The majestic river begins with a small stream near the village with the talking name Volga-Upper. The village is located on the Valdai Hills, and a wooden chapel guards the brook.
The river flows smoothly along the Central Russian Upland, and makes a turn to the south near the Urals. Then it goes along the Caspian lowland and gives its waters to the sea of the same name. The Volga River is the country's central waterway.
The Volga River has over 150 thousand rivers and streams . The source and mouth of the river - these are real national treasures that nourish the moisture of the city and towns. Everything that people eat all over Russia grows on the Volga water.
So different fish
A whole poem can be written about this, as experienced fishermen do. Some species of fish live here permanently, while others come from the Caspian. Pike perch, bream, common carp, asp, ruff and bluefin, white-eye and roach, chub, perch and grayling are permanent inhabitants of the river. From the Caspian, sturgeon and beluga, whitefish and herring come here.
The diversity of the fish world is amazing. The smallest fish that lives here has a length of only 2.5 cm. This is a granular button, which is known mainly to ichthyologists. But on the Beluga, growing in length up to 4 meters, everyone knows. A lot of books and manuals have been written about what kind of fish is found in the Volga .
In the bays, overgrown with plants, where the quietest course, carp feels great. Astrakhan is inhabited by red species of fish that have glorified Russia all over the world. This is sterlet and stellate sturgeon, spike and the famous sturgeon. Volga herring and mirror carp are the best treat for locals and guests. For everyone, there are many fishing bases, where you can see with your own eyes what kind of fish is found in the Volga.
Ecological problems
The surface from which the Volga collects precipitation occupies 8% of the territory of the European part of Russia. Statistics confirm that the mouth of the Volga is assigned to the first ten rivers in terms of pollution. Actually, the whole life of these places is connected with the Volga, all the waste flows here. If the amount of industrial effluents can be reduced, then unorganized waste is a real scourge of the river. These are surpluses of chemical fertilizers and other aggressive substances washed away by rains.
What are they doing to protect the Volga river?
All who are familiar with the problems of the river, unanimously say that the greatest harm to all life brings turbines of power plants. They create frantic flows and pressure drops, disastrous for all living things. Plankton, tadpoles and everything else die than the river is alive.
By the way, this situation is typical not only for the Volga. This is a global problem affecting all the major rivers of developed countries. The issue of survival in turbine blades worries zoologists and engineers around the world. A lot of conferences and symposia are devoted to this.
Not so long ago, scientists from St. Petersburg have developed an innovative and simple way to save living things in turbine blades. Scientists have suggested injecting ordinary air bubbles at a certain pressure and in the right concentration. Balloons absorb excess pressure, centrifugal and centripetal forces. All small living things, passing through such a balanced air-water mixture, remain intact.
The method is invented, there is a patent, the technology is clear. But officials have embarked on an impenetrable wall, so far their indifference has not yet been overcome. One can only hope that common sense and the desire to live on a living river will still win.
Beautiful beaches
The banks of the Volga have inspired artists and poets of all ages. Many folk songs and poems about the great river are composed and written. The feat of Stalingrad is inextricably linked with the Volga. Since then, every Russian person knows that beyond the Volga there is no land for us. Songs, films, exhibitions, books - all this was given the name of the Russian river. Reserves and recreation places, cities, villages and towns - all this is also the Volga.
In fiction, she is inextricably linked with the Russian character. The souls of the river and man are similar: also generosity, breadth and kindness.
Today, the Volga shores are actively being developed: cottage villages with modern infrastructure are being built, having excellent views of the river.