Volga
The Volga (Russian: Во́лга) is the longest river in Europe. Situated in Russia, it flows through Central Russia to Southern Russia and into the Caspian Sea. The Volga has a length of 3,531 km (2,194 mi), and a catchment area of 1,360,000 km2 (530,000 sq mi). It is also Europe's largest river in terms of average discharge at delta – between 8,000 m3/s (280,000 cu ft/s) and 8,500 m3/s (300,000 cu ft/s) – and of drainage basin. It is widely regarded as the national river of Russia. The hypothetical old Russian state, the Rus' Khaganate, arose along the Volga c. 830 AD. Historically, the river served as an important meeting place of various Eurasian civilizations.
| Volga | |
|---|---|
The Volga at Yaroslavl | |
Map of the Volga drainage basin | |
| Etymology | Proto-Slavic *vòlga "wetness" |
| Native name | Волга (Russian) |
| Location | |
| Location | Eastern Europe |
| Country | Russian Federation |
| Cities | Tver, Yaroslavl, Nizhny Novgorod, Cheboksary, Kazan, Ulyanovsk, Samara, Saratov, Volgograd, Astrakhan |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | |
| • location | Valdai Hills, Tver Oblast |
| • coordinates | 57°15′4.7″N 32°28′5.1″E |
| • elevation | 228 m (748 ft) |
| Mouth | Caspian Sea |
• location | Astrakhan Oblast |
• coordinates | 45°50′N 47°58′E |
• elevation | −28 m (−92 ft) |
| Length | 3,531 km (2,194 mi) |
| Basin size | 1,360,000 km2 (530,000 sq mi) 1,404,107.6 km2 (542,129.0 sq mi) |
| Discharge | |
| • location | Astrakhan (Basin size: 1,391,271.8 km2 (537,173.0 sq mi) |
| • average | 8,060 m3/s (285,000 cu ft/s)
8,103.078 m3/s (286,157.5 cu ft/s) Volga Delta: 8,110.544 m3/s (286,421.2 cu ft/s) |
| • minimum | 5,000 m3/s (180,000 cu ft/s) |
| • maximum | 48,500 m3/s (1,710,000 cu ft/s) |
| Discharge | |
| • location | Volgograd (Basin size: 1,359,396.8 km2 (524,866.0 sq mi) |
| • average | 8,150 m3/s (288,000 cu ft/s) 8,228.298 m3/s (290,579.6 cu ft/s) |
| • minimum | 5,090 m3/s (180,000 cu ft/s) |
| • maximum | 48,450 m3/s (1,711,000 cu ft/s) |
| Discharge | |
| • location | Samara (Basin size: 1,218,995.3 km2 (470,656.7 sq mi) |
| • average | 7,680 m3/s (271,000 cu ft/s) 7,785.921 m3/s (274,957.2 cu ft/s) |
| Discharge | |
| • location | Nizhny Novgorod (Basin size: 479,637.3 km2 (185,189.0 sq mi) |
| • average | 2,940 m3/s (104,000 cu ft/s)
2,806.467 m3/s (99,109.4 cu ft/s) Yaroslavl (Basin size: 153,657.8 km2 (59,327.6 sq mi): 1,008.277 m3/s (35,607.0 cu ft/s) Rybinsk (Basin size: 150,119.8 km2 (57,961.6 sq mi): 993.253 m3/s (35,076.4 cu ft/s) |
| Discharge | |
| • location | Tver (Basin size: 24,658.6 km2 (9,520.7 sq mi) |
| • average | 176 m3/s (6,200 cu ft/s) 186.157 m3/s (6,574.1 cu ft/s) |
| Basin features | |
| Tributaries | |
| • left | Kama |
| • right | Oka |
The river flows in Russia through forests, forest steppes and steppes. Five of the ten largest cities of Russia, including the nation's capital, Moscow, are located in the Volga's drainage basin.
Some of the largest reservoirs in the world are located along the Volga River. The river has a symbolic meaning in Russian culture – Russian literature and folklore often refer to it as Волга-матушка Volga-Matushka (Mother Volga).