What cities are on the Volga - the main Russian river? City on the banks of the Volga 5 letters
And on the way to it, it has been serving for centuries and centuries as a water transport route, a good place for settling people, for trade. So it was in those days when the concept of "tourism" was not even in sight. And nowadays the Volga is also blessed a tourist route. What cities are on the Volga? There are 68 of them in total. A large number. And this is only the so-called Big Volga! And how many cities are still in the Volga region?
Do not count the rivers, streams and streams that flow into the main river. The cities that stand on the Volga appeared gradually, but the largest settlements at the same time the most ancient. So, Kazan and Yaroslavl celebrated their millennial anniversaries, a little younger than Kostroma - the younger sister of Moscow ("dad" they have in common - Yuri Dolgoruky), founded in 1152. Tver, Nizhny Novgorod are quite respectable, and Astrakhan, Cheboksary, Saratov, Samara, Volgograd are a little younger. And these are only large cities, regional or republican centers!
And what other cities are on the Volga? Not so big, but with deep historical roots. Myshkin, Rybinsk, Uglich, Kineshma, Ples, Rzhev - it is impossible to simply list all 68 cities and not offend those that are not named. Some of them are included in the famous tourist route " gold ring", for example, Yaroslavl, Kostroma, Ples, Uglich. But other cities along the banks of the Volga deserve close attention.
So, answering the question: "What cities are on the Volga?" - the tourist is trying to solve his problem of choice. And the choice is really huge. Rest on the Volga includes, for example, staying in various sanatoriums, rest houses, tourist bases, of which there are more than 400 tour operators in total! Moreover, in the cities and towns of the Upper Volga there are both places for rest and relaxation, as well as sanatoriums, which also focus on the general improvement of vacationers. Fishing here is specific, for an amateur. The Middle Volga specializes in sanatorium treatment and recreation. But the Lower Volga provides tourists with fishing, which attracts lovers from different parts of the country and from abroad. It cannot be found equal in all of Central Russia.
And, of course, the Volga itself is at the disposal of tourists throughout the entire shipping period, since a developed branch of the tourism business is river cruises. You can find a variety of routes in terms of length and price range. There are short cruises, literally for a few days, and there are long and very expensive ones, but covering almost all the famous Volga cities. For example, a cruise from Moscow to Astrakhan and back. Curiously, most ships bear the names of Russian writers and artists.
Thanks to the system of canals and locks, some cruises combine a trip along the Upper Volga with sailing to Valaam and St. Petersburg. Which cities are on the Volga, you can see with your own eyes not only from the ship, but also during the excursions that are full of stay in each city. And each is interesting and beautiful in its own way.
The beautiful Volga Mother is sung in many works of famous writers and poets, many wonderful Russian folk songs have been written about her. The amazing river delights not only with its spacious blue waters and fabulous banks. Almost all Russian cities on the Volga and villages attract attention with their amazing history, majesty and beauty.
Volga river, geography
The largest river in Europe is the Volga. Throughout its course, various settlements have been built since ancient times. Cities located on the Volga are quite significant in all respects both for their regions and for the country as a whole.
The length of the river before the creation of reservoirs and the cascade of hydroelectric power stations was 3690 km, today it is 3530 km. According to some unspecified data, the length of the Volga has become much smaller - 3430 km. AT general list in terms of the length of all Russian rivers, the Volga ranks sixth, and 16th among all the rivers of the Earth.
The territory of 1 million 360 thousand km² is occupied by the area of its basin, and this is about a third of the entire European part of Russia.
This amazing river begins on the Valdai Hills near the village of Volga-Verkhovye (Tver Region). The Volga flows from the west from the Valdai and Central Russian uplands to the Urals in the east (the European part of the Russian Federation).
By the basin of the largest river there are many big cities. On the Volga, sailing along it, you can see many amazing natural landscapes with cities and villages that fit perfectly into them. Moreover, each has its own unique history, its own cultural values and unique sights.
The generally accepted division of the Volga regions. Cities located on the Volga
1. The Upper Volga represents the territories from the source of the river to the place where the Oka River flows ( Nizhny Novgorod).
2. From the place where the Oka flows into the Volga to the place where the Kama flows into it - the territory of the Middle Volga.
3. The Lower Volga covers the zones from the confluence of the Kama to the Caspian Sea itself. Now (after the construction of the Kuibyshev reservoir) the border between the Lower and Middle Volga is the Zhigulevskaya HPP (the area of the cities of Tolyatti and Zhigulevsk).
Consider some of the largest cities located on the Volga, noteworthy in terms of history and attractions.
Yaroslavl
This ancient city on the Volga has a population of more than 590 thousand people.
The historical center of Yaroslavl, protected by UNESCO, is almost all a tourist attraction.
In total, there are 785 cultural and historical monuments. In one of them - the amazing Spaso-Preobrazhensky Monastery - a historical collection of old manuscripts and books has been preserved.
In the 16th century, the state treasury was transferred to Yaroslavl. Also here is a large state museum-reserve (historical, architectural and artistic) with a rich collection of icons.
This settlement, like other cities on the Volga River, has a rich historical heritage ancient times. It cannot be fully described.
Samara
Samara is located between the mouths of the Samara and Sok rivers, in the very place where they flow into the Volga. The population of the city is more than 1,100 thousand people. During Soviet times, the city was called Kuibyshev.
The very first mention of the city in historical chronicles dates back to 1361.
The most interesting sights: Stalin's bunker, built in less than a year in 1942; the legendary Revolution Square (the oldest street in the city); the bell tower of the women's Iversky monastery (built in 1850, 70 meters high).
It should be noted that the aforementioned bell tower stood without repair for about 80 years. Only in the 90s of the last century was the reconstruction of this historical building.
Many cities on the Volga also have similar historical buildings that have survived to this day.
Saratov
On the right bank of the reservoir (Volgograd) is the beautiful city of Saratov. The date of its foundation is 1590, when a guard fortress was built on this site.
The population of Saratov is over 830 thousand people.
Attractions: on Kirov Avenue is located "Saratov Arbat"; monument to flying cranes (Sokolova Gora); circus of the Nikitin brothers; conservatory. L.V. Sobinova; monument in honor of Yu.A. Gagarin (Cosmonauts Embankment); national village(national houses of all peoples of the Saratov region).
In this unusual village you can not only be in the atmosphere cultural heritage Dagestan, Uzbekistan, Tatarstan, etc., but also try dishes of various national cuisines.
Volgograd
What city on the Volga had several names? From 1589 to 1925, Volgograd was called Tsaritsyn, and then until 1961 - Stalingrad. The population of the city is more than 1 million people. The Hero City is the largest historical and cultural center of the region.
A majestic memorial monument (symbol of the Motherland) was erected in it in honor of the famous Battle of Stalingrad.
Nizhny Novgorod
At the confluence of two big rivers, Volga and Oka, the ancient city of Nizhny Novgorod is located. It is not only one of the oldest cities in Russia on the Volga, but also one of the largest. Its population is more than 1200 thousand people.
The date of the foundation of the city is calculated from the date of the founding of the Novgorod fortress of the Nizovsky land (hence its name) - this is 1221. This fortress is the main attraction of Nizhny Novgorod.
The Church of the Reigning Icon of the Mother of God is located not far (7.5 kilometers) from Sennaya Square.
Kazan
Kazan is a city that relatively recently celebrated its millennium (2005), although the exact year of foundation has not been completely studied. It is located on the banks of the Volga River at the confluence of the Kazanka River. The city is the capital of the Republic of Tatarstan, and very often it is called the "third capital of Russia". The population is over 1,100 thousand people.
Almost all cities on the Volga have preserved unique historical ensembles in their architecture, perfectly combined with modern buildings.
The main attraction of Kazan is located in historical center cities: kremlin with Kul Sharif mosque and Syuyumbike tower.
The numerous ancient historical ensembles of the city fit perfectly and modern buildings: Cultural Center"Pyramid", the state circus, modern hotels, etc.
Also in Kazan, the following sights are very memorable and beautiful: puppet show, pedestrian cultural Bauman Street (like the Arbat in Moscow), beautiful embankments, one of which houses a wedding palace in the form of a bowl, etc.
Astrakhan
This city, by its location, is the last of the regional centers located on the banks of the Volga. It is inhabited by more than 500 thousand people.
On the site of Astrakhan in the 8th-10th centuries was the city of Itil, which at that time was the capital of the ancient Khazar Khaganate.
Here you can also see the Kremlin, famous for its unprecedented beauty, built at the beginning of the 17th century.
Smaller notable towns on the Volga
Along the banks great river The Volga is also home to smaller cities, which are historical and architectural monuments.
Tolyatti is the second in Samara region by population. It was founded in 1737. The population is over 720 thousand people.
The city of Syzran is also located in the Samara region near the Saratov reservoir. It was founded by Grigory Kozlovsky in 1683. The population is over 170 thousand people.
The administrative and cultural center of the Kostroma region is Kostroma. The date of its foundation is 1152. The population is over 260 thousand people.
Tver (former Kalinin) is located at the confluence of the Tvertsa and Tmaka rivers into the Volga. The city was founded in 1135. The population is over 400 thousand people.
The capital of Chuvashia is Cheboksary. The population is over 450 thousand people.
The city of Mologa was once located near Yaroslavl, at the confluence of the Mologa and Volga rivers. It was located on a flat hill and stretched along the right bank of the Mologa and along the left bank of the Volga.
Its population was over 7,000 people.
During the Union in 1935, a government decree was adopted on the construction of a hydroelectric power station (Rybinsk). According to the project, the area of the reservoir was to be 2.5 thousand square meters, and the height of its water surface above sea level was 98 m. The elevation of the city was 98-101 m.
However, in 1937, the famous five-year plans of those times forced the project to be revised to increase the capacity of the hydroelectric power station. In this regard, it was decided to raise the water level to 102 meters. As a result, the area of flooded territories has almost doubled.
In April 1941, after the resettlement of people, the filling of the reservoir began. So the ancient original city of Mologa (800 years old), which was once a specific principality with numerous villages, did not become.
The flooded city on the Volga is a victim of the electrification of the country.
The amazing nature of the Volga basin, beautiful cities with peculiar historical, architectural and cultural attractions attract the attention of a huge number of tourists to travel to these places.
It has always attracted people with its fullness, beauty and grandeur. Since ancient times, people have settled on its shores with a length of more than 3.5 thousand kilometers. From Tver, where the Volga originates, to Astrakhan, where it flows into Caspian Sea, on its banks there are large and small cities and towns. In this article, we will only talk about cities located on the banks of the Volga.
Tver is an old Russian city, called in the Soviet period, from 1931 to 1990, Kalinin. This city was first mentioned in chronicles in 1208, but 1135 is considered to be the year of its foundation. Historians suggest that Yuri Dolgoruky, who fought for power in Kyiv and built fortresses on his lands, could become the founder of the city. Now it is a large administrative center of the region with a population of about half a million people. It is in the Tver region that our city is located.
Cities of the Tver region on the Volga - Rzhev, Zubtsov, Staritsa, Tver, Konakovo, Kimry, Kalyazin
Yaroslavl was first mentioned in the Tale of Bygone Years in 1071. The "golden age" of the city was the 17th century, when it became the second largest center of the Muscovite state after Moscow. Numerous churches and temples built in those years remind of this time. After the reforms of Peter the Great, it turned into an ordinary center of the province. During the years of industrialization, Yaroslavl became a major industrial center. The 1000th anniversary of the city was celebrated in 2010.
Cities Yaroslavl region on the Volga - Uglich, Myshkin, Rybinsk, Tutaev, Yaroslavl.
Where did the name come from ancient city Kostroma, there are many opinions. But the opinion is considered official that the name of the city was named after the Kostroma River. At the place where it flows into the Volga, Kostroma was founded. This city on the Volga owes its foundation in 1152 to Yuri Dolgoruky. Here, on the Kostroma land, the feat of the famous Ivan Susanin was accomplished.
Cities of the Kostroma region on the Volga - Kostroma, Volgorechensk.
The history of Nizhny Novgorod began in 1221. For some time it was called Gorky. This name was given to him in 1932 in honor of the Soviet writer Alexei Maksimovich Gorky. The city was returned to its historical name by 1990. Now 1260 thousand people live in Nizhny Novgorod, it is the economic, scientific and cultural center of Russia.
Cities Nizhny Novgorod region on the Volga - Chkalovsk, Zavolzhye, Gorodets, Balakhna, Nizhny Novgorod, Bor, Kstovo, Lyskovo.
The capital of Chuvashia, the city of Cheboksary, is famous for the fact that the famous Chapaev was born in it. At the place where the hut was located, in which the red commander was born and lived in childhood, there is a huge stone with a commemorative inscription. Cheboksary and the satellite city of Novocheboksarsk are known for manufacturing products for the energy industry.
Cities of the Republic of Chuvashia on the Volga - Cheboksary, Novocheboksarsk, Mariinsky Posad, Kozlovka.
Kazan is ancient beautiful city with rich history. its walls ancient fortress Kazan Kremlin amaze the imagination of anyone who sees them from the side of the river, it was recognized as a UNESCO site. The capital of Tatarstan celebrated its millennium in 2005, and by that date the Millennium Bridge was built, and the Kazan Metro was built and opened for passengers. Representatives of 115 nationalities live on the territory of Kazan, one of the most multinational cities in Russia.
Cities of the Republic of Tatarstan on the Volga - Zelenodolsk, Kazan, Bolgar, Tetyushi.
People of the older generation remember Togliatti as a city that grew up next to an enterprise where the production of domestic Zhiguli cars was launched. These cars began to be produced on equipment purchased from Italy. The Italians helped in the installation and adjustment of their equipment. Several generations of Soviet people drove these cars for many years. There were times when there were huge queues for the products of the domestic auto industry.
Samara - former Kuibyshev (1935 - 1991). The first mention of a settlement with a fortress in the place where Samara flows into the Volga dates back to 1361, but the official date of the foundation of the city is 1568. It is a large city with a population of about 1 million. 200 people, whose main industries are mechanical engineering, oil refining, food and light industry.
Cities of the Samara region on the Volga - Tolyatti, Zhigulevsk, Samara, Novokuibyshevsk, Oktyabrsk, Syzran.
Syzran is a port city founded in 1683. It is part of the Samara region and is located on the banks of the Saratov reservoir. The name of the city in translation from Turkic means "ravine river". During the Soviet period, oil and shale deposits were discovered near the city, and this determined the structure of the industry. They said about Syzran that this is the second Baku.
Saratov was founded in 1590. By the end of the 18th century, the city became a transit point and a center for the trade in fish and salt. Until the end of the 20s of the 20th century, Saratov was the most major city Volga region, it was even called the capital of the Volga region. In 2013, Saratov ranked 10th out of 30 cities in terms of business attractiveness.
Cities Saratov region on the Volga - Khvalynsk, Balakovo, Volsk, Marx, Saratov, Engels.
Volgograd had several names: from the day it was founded in 1589, it was called Tsaritsyn, in 1925-1961 - Stalingrad. The main attraction of Volgograd is Mamaev Kurgan, which was opened in 1968. Monument "Motherland is calling!" visible at the entrance to the city and from the side of the river, and from railway. They were built as a sign of eternal memory of the heroism of the defenders of Volgograd.
Cities Volgograd region on the Volga - Kamyshin, Nikolaevsk, Dubovka, Volzhsky, Volgograd, Krasnoslobodsk
The Great Volga, having carried its waters through many thousands of kilometers, finally found an outlet to the vast Caspian Sea. Here stands Astrakhan - the southernmost and sunniest of all the cities on the Volga. Thanks to his geographic location, where the trade routes of the Golden Horde crossed, Khadzhi-Tarkhan, as Astrakhan was then called, was a trade hub on the caravan route. Volumes of books have been written about the history of the city in the era of the Astrakhan Khanate.
Cities Astrakhan region on the Volga - Akhtubinsk, Narimanov and Astrakhan.
