Volga River
The Volga is the largest river in Europe. It is often called Mother Volga by the Russians, the principal waterway of western Russia and the historic cradle of the Russian state. There is no river cruise in Russia like the Volga river cruise. No cruise that places you so completely in another place and time. The churches, the villages, the people, comprising scenes from an old painting you may swear you have seen in a gallery. This Russian river tour will promise you an unforgettable afterglow you've never experienced with any other Moscow river cruise before. Volga River is the continent’s longest river, and the principal waterway of western Russia. Its basin, sprawling across about two-fifths of the European part of Russia, contains almost half of the entire population of the Russian Republic. The Volga’s immense economic, cultural, and historic importance—along with the sheer size of the river and its basin—ranks it among the world’s great rivers. The Russian "Volga" derives from Proto-Slavic vòlga "wetness, moisture", which is preserved in many Slavic languages. Volga River belongs to the closed basin of the Caspian Sea. Rising in the Valdai Hills 225 meters (738 ft) above sea level northwest of Moscow and about 320 kilometers (200 mi) southeast of Saint Petersburg, the Volga heads east past Lake Sterzh, Tver, Dubna, Rybinsk, Yaroslavl, Nizhny Novgorod, and Kazan. From there it turns south, flows past Ulyanovsk, Tolyatti, Samara, Saratov and Volgograd, and discharges into the Caspian Sea below Astrakhan at 28 meters (92 ft) below sea level. At its most strategic point, it bends toward the Don ("the big bend"). Volgograd, formerly Stalingrad, is located there. Eleven out of the twenty largest cities of Russia, including its capital Moscow, are situated in the Volga basin. The river flows through Russia's heavily populated western region and is widely viewed as the national river of Russia. The Volga freezes for most of its length for three months each year. The Volga Delta has a length of about 160 kilometers and includes as many as 500 channels and smaller rivers. The largest estuary in Europe, it is the only place in Russia where pelicans, flamingoes, and lotuses may be found. The Volga drains most of Western Russia. Its many large reservoirs provide irrigation and hydroelectric power. The Moscow Canal, the Volga-Don Canal, and the Volga-Baltic Waterway form navigable waterways connecting Moscow to the White Sea, the Baltic Sea, the Caspian Sea, the Sea of Azov and the Black Sea. The fertile river valley provides large quantities of wheat, and also has many mineral riches. A substantial petroleum industry centers on the Volga valley. Other resources include natural gas, salt, and potash. The Volga Delta and the nearby Caspian Sea offer superb fishing grounds. Astrakhan, at the delta, is the center of the caviar industry. When it comes to luxury river cruises in Russia, we offer an unprecedented level of luxury, as well as the finest accommodation, delicious food and the best service. Our trip is mostly suitable and recommended for those, who appreciate serene atmosphere to reinvigorate inner resources and emotional state. The visitors, who feel vim and vigor for new adventures, enjoying the Russian river cruises with us, will also be pleasantly surprised. Being all about personal approach, our cruise in Russia offers the most exquisite experiences as you explore the hauntingly beautiful regions of this enigmatic country. We are honored to host you with all we prepared for your worthy time leisure. We sincerely hope that our home-felt reception will meet your expectations. |
‘‘ What a wonderful trip we had! The trip on the Volga was much more than we expected. ’’
Betty Jo Ellersieck |