Where does the Volga flow? Perhaps, almost any schoolchildren of a comprehensive school can answer this question. However, this river plays such an important role in the life of a vast country that it is necessary to dwell on its characteristic features in much more detail.
Section 1. Where does the Volga flow into? General Description
If you look through the list of the largest and most full-flowing rivers in the world, then the Volga will be almost the very first item in it. It flows through the European part of Russia, and its length is about 3.5 thousand kilometers.
Valdai Hills - the source of a mighty river. As you know, the Volga flows into the Caspian Sea, exchanging water resources with numerous rivers and springs along its length. The area of the Volga basin occupies 8% of the entire territory of the Russian Federation.
The Volga is divided into three parts: upper, middle and lower. The first one starts from the source and stretches to the mouth of the Oka, then comes 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.
The water in the river is replenished by groundwater,rainfall and snowmelt. In April, the spring flood begins, low water is observed in summer, the flood period occurs in autumn, and in winter the river level reaches its lowest point. Water in the Volga begins to freeze in late November or early December.
Section 2. Where does the Volga flow into? Interesting historical facts
The first mention of the Volga is in the 2nd century BC in Ptolemy's "Geography", where it has the name Ra, which translates as "generous". Itil is its name in the Middle Ages, and in the annals of the Arabs it is called the "River of the Rus".
In the 13th century, the river became famous 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, the map will show quite accurately, however, not everyone knows that forests have been rafted along this river for a long time, and it is here that fishing begins to develop.
At the moment, compared to past centuries, her possibilities are simply endless.
The fertile soils near the banks of the Volga have long been famous for their 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 tributaries of the Volga. And every year it became more and more difficult for the river to replenish its resources.
Section 3. Where does the Volga flow? Features of flora andfauna
Due to the direct proximity to the Caspian Sea, the climate near the Volga is humid and warm, during the hot period the air temperature rises to +40°, but during the frost it drops to -25°.
More than 44 species of fauna live in the river, among them there are endangered specimens that are under protection. It affects a huge number of waterfowl. Mammals prefer to settle near the coast: foxes, hares and raccoon dogs.
More than 120 species of fish live in the waters of the river: carp, roach, bream, sturgeon and others. These places have long been a favorite among fishermen. But if earlier the world sturgeon catch was more than 50%, today the situation has changed dramatically.
The negative influence of civilization has not bypassed the mother river. A large number of hydroelectric power plants and reservoirs heavily pollute the water, which adversely affects the state of the local flora and fauna. In addition, the quality of the water itself in the river has deteriorated greatly.
