The source of the Volga River. Coordinates of the source of the Volga River

On the territory of Russia, in its European part, one of the largest rivers on the whole 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 pool of water flow covers an area of 1360 thousand square meters. Km. Where is the source of the Volga River? What is this part of the water stream? About this and the other in the article.

Title History

In the writings of ancient authors who lived in the first centuries of our era (Ammianus Marcellinus and Claudius Ptolemy in particular), the Volga was called "Ra". In the Middle Ages, the water flow became known as the "Itil". According to one version, the Volga River received its modern name from the Mari ancient name of another water stream called Volgido ("light").

There are several more options. According to one version, the name comes from the Finno-Ugric word "valkea", which also means "light" or "white". According to another version, the name of the Volga River has Bulgarian roots and comes from the "bulga" - a name associated specifically with tribes living on the shores. At the same time, the Volga Bulgarians themselves used the word "Itil". However, some authors argue that the meanings of the names (Itil and Volga) did not coincide with modern ones. In this connection, the most probable version is that the origin of the name "Volga" comes from the pre-Slavic "volga-volgly-moisture". As a result, the name is treated as "water" or "large water" (in terms of flow). In favor of Slavic origin is also the presence in Poland of the river Vilga and in the Czech Republic - the Volga.

general information

The river basin is located almost on the third part of the European part of the Russian Federation. It extends in the west from the Central Russian and Valdai uplands to the Urals on the eastern side. The main feeding area 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) - in the forest-steppe, and the lower part - in the steppe area (to Volgograd). The southern plots are in the 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`` in. Etc. The beginning of the current takes the village of Volgoverkhovye. The source of the Volga is a clean trickle flowing from the swamp. It is from here that the largest water flow in the European part of Russia begins. In the place where the source of the Volga River, built on wooden stilts wooden house. In the center of the floor a small "window" is cut out. It is located directly above the source itself, and you can even scoop water out of it.

Description

The source of the Volga River rises above sea level by 229 meters. There is a temple on this place. Also here is the first bridge. The length of this "crossing" is three meters. Being at the source, you can easily step from one bank of the great Volga to another. Below the beginning of the current is the first dam. It was built at the beginning of the 20th century by the then still functioning convent. A little further than three kilometers from the source, the river flows into the Maly Verkhit (flowing lake), and then into the Great Verkhit. Then, eight kilometers later, the water flow will flow into the lake. Stem. The river passes through this lake with force and does not mix with it. Local residents even say that on a clear day you can even see how the waters pass through the surface of the Střež.

Top part

It should be said that the source of the Volga River was not characterized by deep water. In 1843, a dam was erected on the site after the Upper Volga lakes. The Upper Volga Bayslot was designed to maintain the navigable depth in the low water and regulate the water flow.

The first large settlement from the source of the Volga is Rzhev. Between Rybinsk and Tver, several reservoirs have been created: 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 current of the river passes through a narrow valley between the high banks. Here, the water flow crosses the Galich-Chukhlomskaya and Uglich-Danilov Uplands.

Further, the river flows along the lowlands of Balakhna and Unzhenskaya. A little above Novgorod Novgorod the Gorodets is blocked by a dam. On this site the river forms the Nizhny Novgorod Reservoir. The largest tributaries of the upper part of the water flow are Unzha, Kotorosl, Sheksna, Mologa, Tvertsa, Darkness and Selizharovka. Below in the photo you can see what the source of the Volga River is on the map.

Middle and lower parts

The left bank is low, the right bank is high. Near Cheboksary built Cheboksary HPP. In the middle course, on the site below the confluence of the Oka River, the Volga becomes more full of water. The water flow passes along the Northern boundary 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 current. Here, in the lower reaches, is the dam of the Zhiguli hydroelectric station, and above it is the Kuibyshev reservoir. Not far from the city of Balakovo, a dam of the Saratov hydroelectric station was built.

The source of the Volga River. sights

Not far from the place where the current begins, the churches of the ancient women's monastery are located. The source of the Volga River is also the beginning of a kilometer ecological path. The pedestrian way passes through the magnificent places located on the Valdai Upland.

By the decree of Alexei Mikhailovich in 1649 the men's Savior-Transfiguration Volgoverkhovsky Monastery was founded. But it quickly came to desolation, and at the very beginning of the 18th century it burned down. After this, the monks who served there moved to the Nilov Desert. By the general decision of the inhabitants of the nearby Volga towns, who sought to note the spiritual significance that the source of the Volga River had for them, began on voluntary donations the construction of a church in the village of. Volgoverkhovye. Since that moment every year 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 is a functioning farm.

How to get there before the beginning of the current?

Leaving Moscow, on the street. Countryside should enter Ostashkov, get to the circular road and go left along the street. The Guards. A little before reaching the station, again there will be a circular traffic, before which follows on the street. Zaslonov turn right. Then you need to get to the intersection of the T-shaped, where you need to go left to exit. After that, you should drive from Ostashkov to the village. Svjapusche, where it will be necessary to turn along the road sign to the left, towards the village Volgoverkhovye. Approximately a kilometer will begin the dirt road, and after 10 km Lake Sterzh will appear. The road will turn to the right, towards the forest. After another eight kilometers, after passing Voronovo, you will see Volgoverkhovye.