Volga Delta: description, features and interesting facts. Fishing, recreation in the Volga delta. Volga depth, width, location and other features

On the territory of our vast country there is a unique region, a real fishing El Dorado. There is more water here than land. Here, reeds stand in a thick wall along the banks, and lotus blooms in the backwaters. Here is the realm of waterfowl and fish. Here, the waters of the mighty Volga River meet the gray waves of the Caspian Sea, and more than 120 species of fish inhabit them. It always bites here... Below Astrakhan, the Volga overflows with numerous channels, and only one of the watercourses, and far from being the most full-flowing, continues to bear the name of the great Russian river.

Channels washing countless islands, eriki, as well as lakes, ilmen, rivers occupy an area of ​​more than 2.5 thousand square meters. km. and stretch from Astrakhan to the Caspian Sea itself.

The Volga Delta is inhabited by more than 120 species of fish. Among them: catfish, asp, pike perch, pike, bream, carp, crucian carp, rudd, roach, vobla, blue bream, silver bream, tench, sabrefish, silver carp, sturgeon, beluga, stellate sturgeon and others. The fishing season begins in the first days of April, when the famous Volga roach is pre-spawning. They catch it on a worm, maggot and corn with fishing rods or a donkey. Together with vobla they take silver bream, bream, rudd, crucian carp and carp. Spinners at this time are hunting for a large asp, a catfish that has just emerged from a winter stupor, a thick roe perch. At the very edge of the reed stands a pike, heavy before spawning.

Delta climate thanks to its geographic location and the proximity of the sea is warm and humid, but sharply continental. In summer, the thermometer reaches +40°C. In winter - sometimes it drops below -20-25°С. At the end of March, the channels of the delta are completely free of ice. A little later, the "upper" Akhtuba and Volga ice passes through them, coming from Volgograd itself.

At the end of April, the landscape of the delta is changing every day - century-old willows are turning green, hanging with branches over the yellowish-gray wall of last year's reeds, and young shoots of fresh emerald growth are already breaking through from below. Life is waking up, picking up the pace. Winter is gone, and a whole long summer lies ahead.

In early May, the flood begins. In Volgograd, the wings of a huge dam are opened, and millions of cubic meters of melt water, gathered from the very sources of Mother Volga, gushed down to the expanses to go out to the peals along one of the channels of the delta, merge with the salty waters of the Caspian Sea and finish their almost four-year run.

There were times when the Volga water traveled many kilometers from source to mouth in just forty days. Caspian sturgeon and beluga went up to Tver and entered the Moskva River, and near Kuzminki they caught Caspian salmon - white salmon. Much water has flown under the bridge since that time. Covered by numerous dams great river turns the turbines of power plants. The famous Russian sturgeon is no longer near Tver, nor near Moscow, not even beyond Volgograd, behind the first dam from the mouth, it is a rarity.

Only in the Volga delta you can see nature in its original form. Two-meter sturgeons come across here, and two-hundred-kilogram beluga sturgeons fatten their sides on the peals. Having reached a noticeable weight, this sturgeon fish becomes an active predator. In the spring, she will not miss either a large roach or a small asp impaled on a powerful donkey hook. The fight with the beluga will remain in my memory for a long time. Beluga fishing is licensed, carried out according to the “caught and released” principle, but it’s not a pity to let such a king fish go. Enough of those unique gambling minutes when the heart sank and the hands numb in the fight against the river giant.

In May, during the high water - the very move of the fish. Fishers have a hot time - Putin. There is the famous Caspian herring (Zolom), sturgeon, stellate sturgeon, roach, bream. Sport fishing in May is not easy, but very interesting. In just a day or two, the water can rise several meters, in the morning you can hardly recognize the outlines of yesterday's shores. By the end of May, the water rises at one, high, but still constant level, and then, already in June, it begins to gradually fall. This is where the main trouble awaits fishermen: in the lakes, swamps, backwaters and even puddles left from the flood, myriads of bloodsucking mosquitoes and midges are born - there is nothing to do on the river without mosquito nets and repellents. In June, asp, perch, zander, and catfish are perfectly caught by spinning. If you settle with a donkey equipped with a feeder, somewhere at the exit of a pit with a snag or under the edge of a reed-covered shore, you can get a large carp.

Summer is in full swing in July. Roast southern sun heats everything around to enveloping nausea. There is no salvation either day or night, only at the very dawn in the evening and in the morning it becomes a little easier to breathe, and you can fish for an hour or two. But even she feels that lethargy and drowsiness that covers all living things in unbearable heat, when every movement turns into torture. It is at dawn that annoying mosquitoes, hiding somewhere from the heat of the day, appear and eat our brother fisherman with pleasure. Only the carp does not care. Even on a hot afternoon, when the sun goes off scale at 50 ° C, the carp splashes, frolics, and its appetite does not decrease at all - it pecks at the worm, and at the porridge, and at the cake.

On the peals there is a riot of greenery - lotus, reeds, water lilies, and among them flocks of golden rudd, striped perches, bronze carp, spotted pikes lurk in ambushes. All this can be seen if you have a mask and fins. The water is warm, 22-24°C, settled after the flood and visibility is already one and a half to two meters.

Closer to August, mosquitoes almost disappear, waiting for swimmers right at the exit from the water and harassing anglers. Although it is still very hot, a light breeze makes breathing easier every day, and by the end of the month the heat begins to subside.

In August, the bite of a predator is revived, large asp is activated, pike perch, large catfish are more often caught along the edges of the pits. Golden rudd is caught on a lure on peals. Often a carp sits on a small lure, and it is not only pleasant, but also honorable to defeat a strong man weighing about ten kilograms, with thin perch tackle. They still take large bream and carp for the bottom - for a worm, shell and cake. Exciting, exciting fishing!

It flows through the European part of the country, and its mouth is located in the Caspian Sea. Officially, it is believed that the length of the Volga is 3,530 km. But if we add some more reservoirs to this figure, it turns out that the length of the queen of Russian rivers will be 3,692 km. Volga is longest river throughout Europe.

The area of ​​its basin is 1 million 380 thousand square meters. km. Interestingly, there are already mentions of the Volga in the writings of the ancient Greek scientist Ptolemy. He calls it "Ra" in his studies. And the Arabs once called the Volga the word "Itil", which means "river".

Burlaki and Volga

For all times, the Volga entered history due to the use of heavy barge work. It was necessary only at a time when the movement of ships turned out to be impossible against its current, that is, during floods. During the day, the burlatskaya artel could travel up to ten kilometers. And the total number of working barge haulers for the entire season could reach six hundred.

Sources of the great river

The river originates at Not far from the village of Volgoverkhovye, several springs spring from the ground. One of these springs is recognized as the source of the great Volga. This spring is surrounded by a chapel. All springs in this area flow into a small lake, from which, in turn, flows a stream no more than a meter wide. The depth of the Volga (if we conditionally designate this stream as the beginning of a great river) here is only 25-30 cm.

It is believed that the Volga exists mainly due to snow. About 60% of all its nutrition is due to melting snow. Another third of the Volga is provided groundwater. And rain food accounts for only 10%.

Upper Volga: depth and other characteristics

Moving further, the stream becomes wider and then flows into a lake called Sterzh. Its length is 12 km, width - 1.5 km. A total area is 18 km². The rod is part of the Upper Volga reservoir, the total length of which is 85 km. And already behind the reservoir begins called the Upper. The depth of the Volga here averages from 1.5 to 2.1 m.

The Volga, like most other rivers, is conditionally divided into three parts - the Upper, Middle and Lower. First Big city on the way of this river - Rzhev. It is followed by ancient city Tver. The Ivankovskoye reservoir, which stretches for 146 km, is located in this area. In its area, the depth of the river also increases to 23 m. The Volga in the Tver region stretches for 685 km.

There is a section of the river in the Moscow region, but on this territory it occupies no more than 9 km. Not far from it is the city of Dubna. And next to the Ivankovskaya dam, its largest tributary in the Moscow region, the eponymous one, also flows into the Volga. Here, in the 30s of the 20th century, a canal named after. Moscow, connecting the Moscow River and the Ivankovskoye reservoir, the waters of which are indispensable for the economy of the capital.

Further downstream is located. Its length is 146 km. The depth of the Volga Uglich reservoir- 5 meters. which is the most northern point Volga, has a depth of 5.6 m. Behind it, the river changes its direction from northeast to southeast.

The depth of the Volga and other indicators in the middle and lower sections

The section of the Middle Volga begins at the point where the Oka, the largest right tributary of the river, flows into it. At this place stands Nizhny Novgorod- one of the largest settlements Russia. The width and depth of the Volga are as follows:

• the channel width is from 600 m to 2 km;
• maximum depth - about 2 m.

After the confluence with the Oka, the Volga becomes more and more wide. Near Cheboksary, the great river meets an obstacle - the Cheboksary hydroelectric power station. The length of the Cheboksary reservoir is 341 m, the width is about 16 km. Its greatest depth is 35 m, the average - 6 m. And the river becomes even larger and more powerful when the Kama River flows into it.

From this point begins a section of the Lower Volga, and now it flows into the Caspian Sea. Even further upstream, after the Volga goes around the Togliatti mountains, the largest of all its reservoirs, the Kuibyshevskoye, is located. Its length is 500 m, width - 40 km, and depth - 8 m.

What is the depth of the Volga in its delta? Features of the great river delta

The length of the delta near the Caspian Sea is about 160 km. Width - about 40 km. About 500 canals and small rivers are included in the delta. It is believed that the mouth of the Volga is the largest in all of Europe. Here you can meet unique representatives of the animal and flora- pelicans, flamingos, and even see the lotus. Here it is already difficult to talk about such a parameter as the depth of the Volga. Max Depth rivers in its delta is, according to various estimates, up to 2.5 m. The minimum is 1-1.7 m.

In size, this section of the Volga surpasses even the deltas of such rivers as the Terek, Kuban, Rhine and Maas. He, like the river itself, played a very important role in the formation of the first settlements in these territories. Here passed trade routes that tied Lower Volga with Persia and others Arab countries. The tribes of the Khazars and Polovtsy settled here. Presumably in the 13th century. here for the first time appeared a Tatar settlement called Ashtarkhan, which eventually became the beginning of Astrakhan.

What is unusual about the Volga Delta

The peculiarity of the Volga delta is that, unlike other deltas, it is not a sea, but a lake. After all, the Caspian Sea is inherently big lake, because it is not connected to the oceans. The Caspian is called the sea only because of its impressive size, which makes it look like a sea.

The Volga flows through the territory of 15 subjects Russian Federation and is one of the most important water arteries for industry, shipping, energy and other important areas of the state.

Volga Delta ( Astrakhan region, Russia) - detailed description, location, reviews, photos and videos.

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The Volga delta is the largest river delta in all of Europe in terms of area, starting 46 kilometers from Astrakhan and numbering up to five thousand branches and channels. Over the past century, the delta has grown several times, and its amazing and unique flora and fauna are protected by the state under the name Astrakhan Reserve. Travelers from all over Russia and from abroad come here to relax at recreation centers or savage, raft along the delta, go fishing or just enjoy the picturesque Russian nature.

Over the past century, the Volga Delta has grown several times, and its amazing and unique flora and fauna are protected by the state under the name of the Astrakhan Reserve.

How to get there

As a rule, to relax in the Volga Delta, you just need to get to Astrakhan - by plane or by train. So, the flight from Moscow will take 2.5 hours, and by train you will travel 1.5 days. Planes from such Russian cities as Moscow, St. Petersburg, Sochi, Kazan fly to Astrakhan airport today. You will have to get to the delta itself or its recreation centers from Astrakhan by car or even by boat for about two hours. You can also buy a tour in Astrakhan itself and go on a trip with a group of several people. You can also get to the Volga Delta from Volgograd.

The climate of the Volga delta

The most active season here lasts from April to May, and also from September to October. From June to August, rest and fishing in the Volga delta is hindered not only by heat, but also by midges. True, in August, lotus fields bloom, which often attracts tourists. In general, the climate of the Volga delta, like its nature, is very diverse and close to sharply continental. In contrast to the hot summers, winters are often mild and with little snow. Spring and autumn are very soft and comfortable for rest. However, the weather often changes unexpectedly: the grass will turn green in January, then it will pour soft mushroom rain in July and bring down the heat with coolness.

Entertainment, attractions and excursions of the Volga delta

The Astrakhan reserve was one of the first in Russia - it was created at the beginning of the 20th century, and at its end a second reserve appeared - Bogdinsko-Baskunchaksky. There are also 4 state reserves, many hunting grounds, several state natural monuments, Lake Tinaki with its therapeutic mud and a well-known resort throughout the country. The Volga Delta is an incredibly picturesque region: you will see meadows and desert landscapes, forests and reed beds, lotus fields, many rivers, lakes, islands and sand dunes. The fauna of the Volga delta is also diverse - pink and curly pelicans, cormorants, pheasants, mute swans, Caspian seals, wild boars, antelopes and saigas, as well as more than 280 species of birds.

More than 70 species of fish live in the waters of the delta, including the famous red fish - Russian sturgeon, sterlet, stellate sturgeon, beluga! It is not surprising that fishermen from all over Russia and neighboring countries come here, and the Astrakhan region has been considered the fishing capital of the country for several centuries.

For classes fishing at your service in the Volga Delta there are many fishing bases with picturesque names: Golden Lotus, Zapovednaya Skazka, Fortuna, Astoria, River House and others. additional services: provision of boats, support of the huntsman, conditions for smoking, salting and drying your fishing trophies and much more. Of course, you can also rest as savages - but then you will have to look for yourself " fishing spots”, and also take into account that some places require a special permit, which, as a rule, fishing bases have.

lotus valley

The Lotus Valley is one of the most beautiful natural sights of the Volga Delta. Many peoples, especially the eastern ones, endow the lotus with sacred properties because of its beauty and healing power. Here, in the Volga delta, all the optimal natural conditions. Often they grow to a height of more than two meters. Sailing on a boat through the lotus valley, you will feel like you are in a boundless sea of ​​flowers. It is especially pleasant to travel in the morning when the flower opens. After sunset, the buds close. Lotuses bloom from late July to early September, but since July is a very hot month, plus there are a lot of midges at this time, it is best to come at the end of August.

Sailing on a boat through the lotus valley, you will feel like you are in a boundless sea of ​​flowers.

There are several versions of how the oriental flower got into the Volga Delta: perhaps it was brought by Buddhist monks, or maybe the seeds of these divine plants were brought migratory birds. One way or another, tourists from all over the world often come to admire the lotus valley. In addition, according to scientists, the aroma of the lotus itself has healing properties, relieving stress and depression and energizing.

Tract Kordon

In 1995, in the Volga Delta, a state monument nature called "Tract Cordon". In fact, this is a small steppe area, known and unique in that here, under normal natural conditions, the Mexican prickly pear cactus grows. In early May, this cactus even blooms - large pink or yellow flowers.

Orlovsky forest

The "grove of love" is called the Orlovsky forest, a natural monument in the Volga delta, located 15 km north of the city of Kharabali. Trees were planted here at the beginning of the 20th century - specifically to stop the advancing sands. Over time, the forest of trees unique to these places has grown so much that it has become one of the sights of the region.

There is a belief that if you come here in the fall and pick a leaf from the most powerful tree in the Oryol forest, write the name of your loved one on it, and dry the leaf, then your beloved’s heart will “dry” to you forever.

If you are traveling along the Volga Delta, also visit Astrakhan itself, which is often called the “Southern Venice”, the Devil’s Settlement in the Ikryaninsky District with evidence of the Golden Horde settlement, take a walk along nature reserves, take a trip on a boat or motor ship, relax at one of the many tourist and fishing bases and, finally, taste the delicious sterlet fish soup. In that picturesque region pristine nature, you can always find something to do or entertainment to your liking.

(of which Akhtuba and Bakhtemir are navigable). They form systems of smaller streams (up to 30–40 m wide and with a water flow rate of less than 50 m³/s) that form the basis of the channel network.

The main flows of the Volga delta

The complexity of the structure large systems determined by a combination of processes of crushing and confluence of watercourses. The number of streams increases in the direction from the upper to the lower part of the delta. The upper part is dominated by large streams. Small bodies of water are relatively rare here; ducts and eriks die off. The number of small streams increases towards seaside deltas. The watercourses of the Volga delta (in the upper and middle parts of the delta) have a meandering channel. In the coastal part, the main morphodynamic type of the channel is relatively straight.

An excerpt characterizing the Volga Delta

Approximately 46 kilometers north of Astrakhan itself. It is the most extensive river lowland in Europe and covers an area of ​​about 12,000 square kilometers.

The climate in the Volga delta is sharply continental. However, it softens a little due to the proximity of the Caspian Sea. The temperature in summer can reach +40, and in winter it can drop to almost -14 degrees. The Volga Delta (photo below) rarely freezes hard, and there is practically no snow in winter.

These places are characterized by a special diversity of the animal world. Here you can meet pelicans and even flamingos. Sturgeons are found in the water. Unfortunately, the lowering of the water level in the Caspian Sea is reflected in the river delta. It dries up, and in winter it began to freeze. Thus, the delta is no longer of such significance for nesting birds. Although it still retains its role during seasonal migrations.

Fauna and flora

The Volga Delta is the proud owner of one of the most rare plants- lotus. No one can still say for sure where he came from. This area is considered the most northern place his habitat.

The diversity of fish is affected by the increase in commercial fishing in the delta. Because of it, the number of many species, such as sturgeon, herring, and vobla, is declining.

The Volga Delta, or rather its waters, are actively used for land irrigation, in the construction of power plants. In this regard, in order to restore the population, fish species that have never been in these parts are launched into it. It can be said that the delta ecosystem is becoming almost artificial.

reserves

The situation is saved by being located in the delta. It was opened in 1919 and was one of the first in Russia. The task of the reserve is to preserve the diversity of flora and fauna. Thanks to this, the Volga delta and the territory protected area inhabited by more than 280 species of birds and about 60 varieties of fish.

To visit the surroundings, you must first leave a request on the website or call the office of the Astrakhan Reserve by phone. It will be necessary to indicate the length of stay, the number of people, the presence or absence of transport for delivery. Also, after the dates of the visit are approved, it is necessary to come to the office, which is located in Astrakhan, and obtain special documents giving the right to be in a specially protected natural area.

Rules in the reserve

The reserve in the Volga delta also has strict rules, the implementation of which is necessary to preserve nature in its original form. For example, it is forbidden to catch or pick up baby animals that may be encountered on the way. Do not break bushes or tree branches, even if they seem to be already dried up. Silence is required so as not to disturb the peace of the surrounding world. Of course, it is forbidden to make fires and leave any garbage behind.

Short list of rules:

1. Stay on the trail.
2. Do not light fires.
3. Do not break trees, shrubs, do not pick flowers.
4. Take all rubbish from the trail with you.

Such rules will help not only show people natural beauty but keep it in its original state.

The Astrakhan nature reserve is not the only one in those parts. The area of ​​the Volga delta is quite large. The closest neighbor of the first was the recently opened Bogdinsko-Baskunchaksky Reserve. It was established in 1997. It includes Mount Bogdo, Lake Baskunchak and the Green Garden. The reserve was created to protect and preserve in its former form the unique salt lake Baskunchak and Mount Bolshoye Bogdo, highest point On its territory there are many unique species listed in the Red Book. For example, the steppe and curly pelican. There are 22 species of such birds in the reserve. 47 species of animals are also protected and a large number of plants.

Fishing

Fishing in the Volga River delta is allowed only within special bases. It is worth noting that there are a great many of them. Representatives of some meet the guest in Astrakhan, at the airport or train station, and from there they are taken to the territory. After the end of the tour, they are taken back to the city. Each guest's personal catch is offered to be smoked and given to him as a treat. Such services are provided, in particular, fishing and hunting base"Delta-Volga". There are about fifty such places in total. Most of them are located in the Kamyzyak region.

Bases for anglers

Experienced fishing enthusiasts prefer to settle down on fishing complexes. As a rule, the main choice is the local base. The Volga Delta is located very close to it. This is mainly due to two things. First, the water lowland is included in nature reserve. Secondly, a special permit is required to stay there. A similar document is automatically issued to all visitors to the fishing base. While the "savages" get it with great difficulty. Also, when choosing a fishing base, we can say that fishermen are served there by well-trained huntsmen who know the area very well. They will help you choose the best place so that visitors get the most out of spending time with a fishing rod in their hands.

When is the best time to fish?

Fishing in the Volga delta is most successful in the lower reaches of the reservoir, mainly in spring or autumn. At this time, the most suitable weather for long and comfortable fishing. Moreover, the months that are better to choose for a trip are March-April or September-October. Why these particular dates? They were chosen due to the fact that at the end of April the water is already beginning to become cloudy, which negatively affects the bite. Spawning also begins, during which the huge ones pass through the delta. And predators are not up to bait. And in May, fishermen will begin to pester a myriad of midges, which can make any stay in nature almost unbearable.

Thus, in order to have a good time, it is better to book in advance the base you like for March or September and enjoy great views and an excellent catch in the delta of the Volga River.