The word "reach" was almost certainly heard at least once in our lives by each of us. But not everyone knows its exact meaning, although they represent it in general terms. So what is reach? What is the exact meaning of this term? This will be discussed in detail in the article.
On the river, the lake
In fact, the word "reach" has several meanings. The first of them is a flat section of the river, relatively calm and wide. It is understood that it is located away from river obstacles, such as rapids, so the current in this place will be slower than in other areas.
So, what is the reach on the river in this case? This is a flat area of the water surface of the river. But this word can also be called a deeper part of the lake than the others - the lake reach. Here is how Ushakov's Explanatory Dictionary explains this term:
Ples - a wide body of water on a river or lake, between the islands.
Ozhegov's Explanatory Dictionary supports this view:
Ples, m. 1. Wide body of water between islands, rifts, bends. River p. Ozerny p. 2. A deep section of the riverbed, homogeneous in its shipping qualities (special). II adj. plesovy, th, th.
Thus, we can conclude that the general meaning of the word "reach" in relation to a river or lake is a more even and deep section with a calm course, limited by obstacles. It can be marked not only by stony obstacles - bends (sharp turns) can also act as limiters.
According to the Maritime Dictionary of K. I. Samoilov, the term “reach” can also mean a river knee that deviated from its direct direction, and in addition, the coastal part after changing the river bed or blocked it with land. Thus, this word in relation to rivers, canals or lakes has several meanings.
Bef
But non-man-made objects can also act as obstacles. So, the word reach, or downstream, refers in hydrotechnics to sections between adjacent dams, locks, differing in water level. At the same time, the one located upstream will be called the upper, and lower, respectively, lower. In such cases, the reservoir often acts as the upper reach (photo can be seen below).
The system of dams and locks allows in this case to make navigable those parts of the river where, due to insufficient depth, passage of vessels was initially difficult.
Here is what the reach is in this case, it’s also a reach: different levels of the river or canal. This is another meaning of the term.
Small village
This is not all the meanings of this short but capacious word. Ples - the name of a small town in the Ivanovo region, as part of the Volga region. It is located on the right bank of the Volga, in the hills.
This settlement is one of the main tourist centers of the region. Only about two thousand people live here, and there are no industrial enterprises at all. But the history of this place is ancient and glorious. So, in the famous “Novgorod Chronicle” mention of it dates back to another 1141 year. Here at one time was the Pleskaya fortress, which was destroyed and rebuilt several times. The hillfort on the mountain called Sobornaya, where the fortress was located, together with the preserved earthen rampart 1410 meters long, is an architectural monument. In addition to this attraction, the city has preserved ancient temples, including wooden ones. Some of them are already more than 300 years old: this is the Assumption Cathedral (1698), the Resurrection Church (1699).
In the early 80's. XX century a state historical-architectural and art museum-reserve was created here, which includes, among others, the Isaac Levitan House-Museum. The artist has been to the city several times and immortalized his views on his canvases. Festivals are regularly held in the city: musical, animation, fashion festival, “Mirror” named after Andrei Tarkovsky. Beautiful nature also attracts many tourists.
This is what the word Ples means in this case. Photos of the city with this unusual name can be seen below.
Currently, this settlement, which once had linen factories, malt factories and breweries, forges and warehouses, which was located at the crossroads of transport routes, is a small, calm town where people from all over Russia come with pleasure to vacation. Tens and even hundreds of thousands of tourists a year can come here. But, despite this, Ples in the Ivanovo region, according to those who have been there, remains just as clean and beautiful.
Small train station
But this is not all the meanings of the word. It is also called the small internal station of the Volga Railway in the Saratov Region, between Zhulidovo and Mokrous stations. Its location can be seen on the map below.
A passenger train runs through Ples station twice a day, connecting Saratov and the urban village of Ozinki in the Saratov region. Another purpose of the station is the reception, delivery and departure of goods that are loaded with whole wagons.
Here what Ples in this case is the name of a small station of the Volga railway on the line Urbakh - Ershov.
Instead of a conclusion
Thus, the word "reach", like so many words in the Russian language, has several meanings. It is not used too often in speech, but to understand what it means will be useful to everyone, and not just philologists, geographers, historians, or specialists in hydraulic structures.