The Volkhov River: connecting the past with the present

The Volkhov River, Veliky Novgorod, Lake Ilmen ... These geographical names, familiar to virtually all Russians from the school's bench, are closely connected with the birth of Russian statehood, with the vocation of King Rurik and the beginning of Kievan Rus. However, these places are remarkable not only in the historical, but also in the aesthetic sense: it is here that the beauty of Russian nature and the mysteriousness of the Russian soul are best felt.

The Volkhov River owes its existence to Lake Ilmen, where the run of its swift waters begins. The final point of its more than two hundred kilometers run is another sign lake for this region - Lake Ladoga, whose shores are shrouded in the heroism of the ancient Russian warriors and Soviet soldiers during the Leningrad blockade.

The Volkhov River is an excellent waterway for both transport and passenger ships. Movement on it is carried out from the beginning of April to the middle of October, after which this way is covered with ice. The main assistants-tributaries are the rivers Oskuya, Vishera, Tygoda and Kerest. Already from these names it can be concluded that the Slavic and Finno-Ugric tribes once lived alternately on this land.

The Volkhov River has a rich and interesting history. The name itself, as follows from the famous "Tale of Bygone Years", she received in honor of one of the sons of the legendary Slovene - Volkhov. Sam Sloven, according to legend, was one of the Scythian princes, was famous for its strength and courage, and it was he who gave the name to one of the local tribes - the so-called Novgorod Slovene. The term "magician" was quite common in those days. In translation from the ancient Slavonic it means "magician", "wise man", "astrologer".

Known from the history and famous bridge over the river Volkhov in Veliky Novgorod. He not only divided the city into almost equal parts, but also served as a kind of a stadium - a place where people punched their opinion with their fists. By the way, in addition to Novgorod, this river serves as the main waterway for such settlements as Kirishi, Staraya and Novaya Ladoga.

Already in the ancient Russian chronicles, an important feature was noted, which the Volkhov River possesses: because of a very small difference in altitude in its extreme points, it can flow back. In the event that, due to any cataclysms, Lake Ilmen will significantly become shallow, then due to powerful tributaries the current in the riverbed may take the opposite direction.

If we talk about the basic statistical parameters, the maximum width of the Volkhov River is 220 meters (in the vicinity of Novgorod), the depth in some places reaches twelve meters. Almost on its entire length - and this is 224 kilometers! - This waterway represents an excellent place for fishing.

However, the Volkhov River is famous not only for epic legends. Besides the fact that today it is the most important transport artery of the North-West region of the country, one of the most powerful hydroelectric power stations in the given part of the country is located here - Volkhovskaya.