Volga River Facts for Kids

The Volga is the longest river in Europe. It flows through the western part of Russia. In Russian, it's called Волга, and in the Tatar language, it's known as İdel. Many people think of it as Russia's national river because it's so important to the country.

The Volga is about 3,530 kilometres long. This makes it the longest river in Europe! It's also the heart of Europe's largest river system.

The Mighty Volga River
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The Mighty Volga River

The Volga River is a huge and important waterway in Russia. It's like a superhighway for boats and a home for many animals. It helps connect many cities and regions across the country.

Where Does It Start and End?

The Volga begins its long journey in the Valdai Hills of Russia. This is about 225 meters above sea level, northwest of Moscow. From there, it flows south, eventually emptying into the Caspian Sea. The Caspian Sea is actually the world's largest inland body of water.

Friends of the Volga: Tributaries

The Volga doesn't flow alone. Many other rivers join it along the way, making it even bigger. These joining rivers are called tributaries. The main ones are the Kama River, the Oka River, the Vetluga, and the Sura. All these rivers and their smaller streams together form the huge Volga river system. This system drains an area of about 1.35 million square kilometres in Russia.

Life Along the River

Many important cities are located along the banks of the Volga River. These include Astrakhan, Volgograd, Saratov, Samara, Kazan, Ulyanovsk, Nizhny Novgorod, Yaroslavl, and Tver. The river has been a vital route for trade and travel for centuries. It has also played a big role in Russian history and culture.

Amazing Wildlife and Nature

Near where the Volga meets the Caspian Sea, it forms a huge area called the Volga Delta. This delta is about 160 kilometres long and has 555 channels and small streams. It's the biggest estuary in Europe! The Volga Delta is a special place for nature. It's the only spot in Russia where you can find amazing birds like pelicans and flamingoes. You can also see beautiful lotuses growing there.

Fun Facts About the Volga

For about three months each year, the Volga River freezes over for most of its length.
Some of the biggest reservoirs in the world have been built along the river. These large artificial lakes help control the river's flow and provide water and power.