1. The Volga river is one of the longest rivers on the planet. Its length is about 2,293 miles (3,690 km) long. It is the longest in comparison with other European rivers.
2. The Volga is considered the National River of Russian Federation. It flows in the Western part of the country.
3. The Volga’s delta is the largest in Europe and stands at the eighth position in the world ranking. The river flows into the Caspian Sea and feeds the sea with the most water. Its delta locates in the Caspian Depression in Astrakhan Oblast.
4. The river is important not only for transportation but it is also a major source of electricity and irrigation. There are several water reservoirs along the Volga river that enables the existence of several hydropower stations. In turn, those stations generate enough power to provide electricity to the nearby cities.
5. The construction of reservoirs decreased The Volga’s length about 99.4 miles (160km).
6. Many scientists believe that the Volga appeared five million years ago.
7. One of the oldest Russian cities Uglich locates along the Volga river. It was built in the year 937.
8. The main water source of the Volga river is snow. 60% of all the water in the river appears every season due to the melted snow, 30% comes from groundwater and 10% of the water “comes” into the river during rain.
9. The largest city in Russia, Moscow, gets about 90% of its water from the Volga River through the Moscow canal.
10. Some historians recognize the Volga River as the birthplace of the USSR. Although the revolution began on the territory of St. Petersburg, the consolidation of power occurred precisely in the territories adjacent to the river.
11. During the Great Patriotic War, the Volga served as a frontier through which the German troops could not pass. 1 million the Soviet troops died defending the river.
FACTS ABOUT THE VOLGA RIVER: 12-27
12. The river is in a danger of pollution. Some of the largest cities of Russia are in the Volga basin, which means everyday life and industrial activities can pollute the biosphere of the great river. For instance, fish mutation and quick algae reproduction are some of the pieces of evidence.
13. The oldest railway bridge called the Syzran Bridge, which is still in operation today crosses the Volga. It is also called Alexander Railway Bridge for the honor of Alexander II. It was built in 1880, and the last reconstruction was carried out in 2004.
14. In total, more than fifty bridges for various purposes, ranging from pedestrian to railroad bridges, cross the river.
15. In 1972, the territory of the Tver region, where the source of the Volga was found, has been recognized as nature conservation.
16. The largest inhabitant of the river is Beluga. The fish enter the river for spawning. The rest of the time, they remain in the Caspian Sea.
17. The Volga is a habitat of pelicans and flamingos, and lotuses grow on some places of the river.
18. The Volga is a “river of rivers”. It feeds about a thousand other water bodies with its water.
19. In ancient times, through the Volga, Arabs shipped silver to the territory of Scandinavia, which, in turn, sent its goods, fabrics, and metals to other countries.
20. The Volga is a habitat for a large number of different types of fish. Apart from the beluga, there are perch, pike-perch, catfish, roach, Ide, and others.
21. About a third of all garbage dumped in the country’s waters is dumped into the Volga.
22. The waters of the Volga river freeze in the upper and middle parts since the end of November, the lower part of the river is also covered with ice by the beginning of December.
23. Nearly one and a half thousand ports and piers are located on the Volga.
24. The Volga river takes its origin from the Valdai Hills
25. Consistently, the Volga river pours around 250 cubic kilometers of water into the Caspian Sea. In any case, the level of this Sea declines steadily.
26. The name “Volga” was derived from the Slavic word “Vlaga” which means “Moisture”.
27. Some hydrologists do not consider the Volga an actual river, but a flowing lake or cascade of reservoirs.
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