Where does the Volga flow? Perhaps, almost any secondary school student can answer this question. However, this river plays such an important role in the life of a huge country that it is necessary to dwell on its characteristic features in much more detail.
Section 1. Where does the olga go? general description
If you look at the list of the largest and most full-flowing rivers in the world, then the Volga will be almost the very first point in it. It flows in the
European part of Russia, and its length is about 3.5 thousand kilometers.
Valdai Upland - the source of a mighty river. As you know, the Volga flows into the Caspian Sea, exchanging water resources with numerous rivers and springs throughout its length. The Volga basin area occupies 8% of the entire territory of the Russian Federation.
The Volga is divided into three parts: upper, middle and lower. The first starts from the source and extends to the mouth of the Oka, then the middle one, which ends at the place where the Kama River flows into the Volga . And the lower part ends with the Caspian Sea.
Water reserves in the river are replenished due to groundwater, rainfall and melting snow. In April, the time of spring flood begins, low water occurs in the summer, the period of floods falls in the fall, and in winter the river level reaches the lowest level. Water in the Volga begins to freeze in late November or early December.
Section 2. Where does the Volga flow? Interesting historical facts
The first mention of the Volga appeared in the 2nd century BC in the "Geography" of Ptolemy, where it has the name Ra, which translates as "generous". Itil is her name in the Middle Ages, and the chronicles of the Arabs call it the "river of Rus."
In the 13th century, the river gains fame thanks to the Volga trade route. The beginning of the Volga provides links with European states, and a direct route to the East opens through the Caspian Sea. Where the Volga flows into, the map will show quite accurately, however, not everyone knows that forests float along this river a long time ago, it is here that fishing begins to develop.
At the moment, in comparison with past centuries, its possibilities are simply limitless.
Fertile soils near the banks of the Volga have long been famous for fertility, and around the middle of the 19th century metallurgical and machine-building plants began to be built here. In the 20th century, the development of oil fields began in the lower part of the river. At the same time, hydroelectric power plants were being built on the Volga tributaries. And every year the river became harder and harder to replenish its resources.
Section 3. Where does the Volga flow? Features of flora and fauna
Due to its direct proximity to the Caspian Sea, the climate near the Volga is humid and warm, in the hot period the air temperature rises to + 40 °, but in the period of frost it drops to -25 °.
Over 44 species of fauna live in the river, among them there are also endangered specimens that are under protection. It affects a huge number of waterfowl. Near the coast mammals prefer to settle: foxes, hares and raccoon dogs.
More than 120 species of fish live in the river: carp, roach, bream, sturgeon and others. The local area has long been a favorite among fishermen. But if before the world catch of sturgeon was more than 50%, today the situation has changed dramatically.
The negative influence of civilization has not spared the mother river. A large number of hydroelectric power stations and reservoirs strongly pollute water, which adversely affects the state of local flora and fauna. In addition, the quality of the water itself in the river has deteriorated greatly.