Kama is the most significant tributary of the Volga. Its source is located on the Verkhnekamsk Upland near the small Udmurt village of Kuliga, 330 meters above sea level. The length of the river is 1805 km. According to one interpretation, the name of the river in translation from Udmurt - “kema” - means “long”. The river basin is also significant and is equal to 507 thousand sq. Km.
The most interesting influx
Starting in Udmurtia, it flows through the territory of several regions and republics, and as it unites the Kirov region, Perm Territory, Bashkiria and Tatarstan.
The Kama River throughout its course changes its direction several times. In the upper reaches it moves in a northwest direction, and then turns to the northeast. Near the village Loyno makes a sharp turn to the south. It becomes multi-water after the confluence with Pilva, and the left tributary of the Kama - Vishera - turns it into a wide, full-flowing river.
At the confluence with the Volga, where the Kuibyshev reservoir is now, the Kama flowed parallel to the longest river in Europe and was separated from it by a rocky ridge. This mouth is not present at present. The width of the Kuibyshev reservoir at the confluence of two large rivers reaches 40 km.
The river feeds mainly on snow, rain and groundwater. Freeze-up starts from the upper reaches of the river in early November and lasts until April. When freezing, a large volume of intra-ice is formed. In spring, ice drift can take place from several days to 15 days.
Kama Reservoir
The Kama River is blocked several times by dams, and three large bodies of water form in these places. The Kama reservoir arose at the confluence of the right tributary of Urolka. Its length is almost 350 kilometers, and its width reaches 14 kilometers, with the greatest depth - 30 meters. The dam of the Kama hydroelectric station is located in Perm.
The dam of the Votkinsk hydroelectric station forms the Votkinsk reservoir. With a length of 365 km, its width is 9 km, and the largest depth is 29 meters.
Near the city of Naberezhnye Chelny, the Kama River is blocked by another dam, which forms the Nizhnekamsk reservoir. Its width reaches 20 km, and its length is almost 185 km. The maximum depth is a mark of 22 meters.
The cascade of hydroelectric power stations created on the mighty Ural River almost 1.5 times reduced the speed of its flow. Even the shade of water has changed: it has become darker and significantly different from the Volga.
Human use of the river
The Kama River from the Kuibyshev reservoir - the confluence with the Volga - to the city of Solikamsk is navigable. 60 km upstream from this city is the village of Kerchevo, which was at one time the largest logging raid in the world. But he stopped his work in 1995.
From Perm, by water, you can get not only to Astrakhan or Nizhny Novgorod, but also to Moscow.
The Kama River, famous for the beauty of its picturesque banks, attracts many tourists who want to not only enjoy its splendor, but also to join the nature. Water, hiking, skiing and horseback riding routes are very popular. In the upper reaches, Kama is used for sport fishing. In this regard, the issue of reducing pollution of river waters by industrial effluents becomes very urgent.