On the territory of Russia, in its European part, one of the largest rivers on the entire planet flows. The Volga is considered the largest in Europe. Its length is more than 3.5 thousand kilometers (before the construction of reservoirs - about 3.7 thousand). The water flow basin covers an area of 1360 thousand square meters. km Where is the source of the Volga river? What is this section of the water stream? About this and another later in the article.
Name history
In the works of ancient authors who lived in the first centuries of our era (Ammianus Marcellinus and Claudius Ptolemy in particular), the Volga was referred to as "Ra". In the Middle Ages, a water stream became known as Itil. According to one version, the Volga River got its modern name according to the Mari ancient name of another Volgydo water stream ("bright").
There are several more options. According to one version, the name comes from the Finno-Ugric word "valkea", also meaning "light" or "white". According to another option, the name of the Volga River has Bulgarian roots and comes from the “Bulga” - the name associated with the tribes living on the banks. At the same time, the Volga Bulgarians themselves used the word "Itil". However, some authors argue that the meaning of the names (Itil and Volga) did not coincide with modern ones. In this regard, the most likely version is considered to be that the origin of the name "Volga" comes from the pro-Slavic "vologa-volgly-moisture". As a result, the name is interpreted as "water" or "big water" (according to the scale of the stream). The presence of the Wilga River in Poland and the Vlga River in the Czech Republic also speaks in favor of Slavic origin.
general information
The river basin is located in almost a third of the European part of the Russian Federation. It extends in the west from the Central Russian and Valdai Uplands to the Urals in the eastern part. The main feeding section of the catchment area from the source to Kazan and N. Novgorod is located in the forest belt, the central (middle) part (to Saratov and Samara) is in the forest-steppe, and the lower part is in the steppe area (to Volgograd). The southern sections are located in a semi-desert zone. The division of the water stream into three parts is accepted. The place from the source to the mouth of the Oka River is the Upper Volga, from the confluence of the Oka to the mouth of the Kama - the Middle, from the confluence of the Kama and to the mouth - the Lower Volga.
The beginning of the current
Coordinates of the source of the Volga River: 57 ° 15`07`` s. w. and 32 ° 28`24`` c. e. The flow begins at the village of Volgoverkhovye. The source of the Volga is a clean brook flowing out of a swamp. It is from here that the largest water stream of the European part of Russia begins its flow. In the place where the source of the Volga River, a wooden house was built on stilts. A small “window” is carved in the center of the floor. It is located directly above the source itself, and you can even scoop up water from it.
Description
The source of the Volga River rises above sea level by 229 meters. At this place there is a temple. The first bridge is also located here. The length of this "crossing" is three meters. Being at the source, you can easily step over from one coast of the great Volga to the other. Lower from the beginning of the current is the first dam. It was built at the beginning of the 20th century by the then functioning convent. A little further than three kilometers from the source, the river flows into Maly Verkhity (flowing lake), and then into Velyky Verkhity. Then, after eight kilometers, the water flow will flow into the lake. Sterzh. A river with force passes through this lake and does not mix with it. Locals even say that on a clear day you can even see how the water passes through the expanse of Sterzh.
Top part
It should be said that the source of the Volga River did not differ in deep water. In 1843, a dam was erected on the site after the Upper Volga Lakes. The Verkhnevolzhsky beishlot was intended to maintain navigable depth at low water and regulate water flow.
The first large settlement from the source of the Volga is Rzhev. Several reservoirs were created between Rybinsk and Tver: Ivankovskoe (it is also called the Moscow Sea) with a hydroelectric power station and a dam near Dubna, Uglich and Rybinsk. On the section from Rybinsk to Yaroslavl and further, below Kostroma, the river flows along a narrow valley between the high banks. Here, the water stream crosses the Galich-Chukhloma and Uglich-Danilov Uplands.
Further, the river flows along the lowlands of Balakhninskaya and Unzhenskaya. A little higher than N. Novgorod near Gorodets the dam blocks the flow. In this section, the river forms the Nizhny Novgorod reservoir. The largest tributaries of the upper part of the water stream are Unzha, Kotorosl, Sheksna, Mologa, Tvertsa, Darkness and Selizharovka. Below in the photo you can see what the source of the Volga River represents on the map.
Middle and lower parts
The left bank is low, the right bank is high. Not far from Cheboksary, the Cheboksary hydroelectric station was built. In the middle course, on the site below the confluence of the Oka River, the Volga becomes more full-flowing. Water flow runs along the northern border of the Volga Upland. In the middle course, the largest tributaries are Sviyaga, Vetluga, Sura and Oka. After the confluence of the Kama, the Volga becomes a mighty stream. Here, in the lower reaches, there is a dam of the Zhigulevsk hydroelectric station, and above it is the Kuybyshev reservoir. Not far from the city of Balakovo, the dam of the Saratov hydroelectric station was built.
The source of the Volga River. sights
Not far from the place where the current begins, there are churches of the old convent. The source of the Volga River is also the beginning of a kilometer-long ecological trail. The pedestrian path runs through magnificent places located on the Valdai Upland.
By decree of Alexei Mikhailovich in 1649, the male Transfiguration Volgoverkhovsky monastery was founded. But it quickly fell into disrepair, and at the very beginning of the 18th century it burned down altogether. After that, the monks who served there moved to the Nile Deserts. By a general decision, residents of nearby Volga cities who sought to note the spiritual significance that the source of the Volga River had for them, began the construction of a church in the village of Volga with donations. Volgoverkhovye. From that moment on, on May 29, the source of the Volga River is consecrated in memory of this event. Not far from the beginning of the current in the village of Voronovo there is a working farm.
How to get to the beginning of the course?
Leaving Moscow, on the street. Zagorodnaya should enter Ostashkov, get to the circular road and go left on ul. Guards. Almost reaching the station, there will again be a roundabout, before which it follows on the street. Zaslonova turn right. Next you need to get to the intersection of the T-shaped, where you need to go left at the exit. After this, you should get from Ostashkov to s. For sure, where you will need to turn left according to the road sign, towards the village of Volgoverkhovye. After about a kilometer, a dirt road will begin, and after 10 km, Lake Sterzh will appear. The road will turn right towards the forest. After another eight kilometers, having passed Voronovo, you will see Volgoverkhovye.