Volga River

   Europe’s largest river in terms of length, discharge, and watershed, the Volga rises in the Valdai Hills of western Russia and empties into the Caspian Sea. The river is more than 3,600 kilometers in length and has a watershed of 1.3 million square kilometers. Sometimes referred to as the national river of Russia, the Volga is often depicted in literature, art, and film. More than half of Russia’s largest cities lie on the river or one of its tributaries, which include the Kama, Oka, Sura, and Vetluga. Some of the largest reservoirs in the world can be found along the Volga, and the river is well connected to other waterways via a series of canals and locks constructed during the Soviet period. The Volga basin is home to a number of Russia’s ethnic minorities, including the Tatars, Mari, Mordvins, and Chuvash.

   See also Transportation.