VOLGA RIVER

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00926A002100060002-2
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 14
• Document Creation Date: December 15, 2016
• Document Release Date: October 9, 2003
• Sequence Number: 2
• Publication Date: March 27, 1950
• Content Type: REPORT

INTELLIGENCE AGENCY.- REPORT NO
INFORMATION REPORT
Volga River
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PLACE
ACQUIRED
DATE
ACQUIRED B
DATE OF IN
THIS DOCUMENT CONTAINS INFORMATION AFFECTING THE NATIONAL DEFENSE
OF THE UNITED STATES WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE ESPIONAGE ACT SO
U. S. C.. 31 AND 32, AS AMENAE D. ITS TRANSMISSION OR THE REVELATION
OF ITS CONTENTS IN ANY MANNER TO AN UNAUTHORIZED PERSON IS PRO-
HIM I TED BY LAW. REPRODUCTION OF THIS FORM IB PROHIBITED.
DOCUMENTARY
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THIS IS UNEVALUATED INFORMATION
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I excerpts translated
from the book THE VOLGA: GREAT by I Fyedyenko, published
by the Ministry of Education of the Russian Soviet.Federated Socialist-Republic,
Moscow & Leningrad, 1946. The excerpts deal with'the Volga's navigational
development and capabilities and are taken from the book=s seven chapters-which
are entitled as follows:
1. At the Foot of the Valdayskaya Vozvyshennost.
2. The Water Regime.
3. The Wealth of the Volga.
4. The Volga, A Route.
5. The Volga in the History of Our Country.
6. The Volga in People's Art and Literature.
7. The Greatest River Route of Europe.
Bulk of the excerpts are from Chapter 7.
CLASSIFICATION CONFIDENTIAL,
N A V Y j NSRB DISTRIBUTION
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CD NO.
DATE DISTR. -2.1 Mar 1950
NO. OF PAGES 1
NO. OF ENCLS.
(LISTED BELOW)
SUPPLEMENT TO
REPORT NO.
 r. Appro' ed'For'
I. I. Fyedyenko
OUR NATIVE COUNTRY (KASHA RODINA)
THE VOLGA*.- GREAT RUSSIAN RIVER
(VOLGA: VELIKAIA RJSSKAYA REK1)
Published by
State Publishing House of Children's Literature (DETGIZ)
Ministry of Education of RSFSR
(Russian Soviet Federated Socialist Republic)
Moscow & Leningrad, 1946
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
(Appearing in back of book)
AT THE FOOT OF THE VALUAYSKAYA VOZVYSHENNOST'
THE WATER REGIME
THE WEALTH OF THE VOLGA
THE VOLGA, A ROUTE
THE VOLGA IN THE HISTORY OF OUR COUNTRY
THE VOLGA IN PEOPLE'S ART AND LITERATURE
THE GREATEST RIVER ROUTE OF EUROPE
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LIST OF OUTLINE-MAPS
The VOLGA Basin
The VOLGA at its Source (to PENO)
OZERO SELIGER
The VOLGA from its source to ULYANOVSK
The VOLGA from ULYANOVSK to KAMYSHIN
The VOLGA from KA]tYSHIN to its Mouth
'The MOSKVA-VOLGL Y ANAL (FANAL DWI MOSKVY)
RYBINSKOYE MORE
SAMARSKAYA LUKA
The Mouth of the VOLGA
This book also contains numerous tpicture
arestofen
most
views along the VOLGA.
from the banks overlooking the rivers but some
are views from the river toward the bank.
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AT THE FOOT OF THE VALDAYSKAYL VOZVYSHENNOSTI
This chapter contains a poetic description of the path the VOLGA takes
to the sea from the region and swamps and moss at its source, located at
the foot of the moraine ridge known as VALDAYSKAYA VOZVYSHENNOST',' A summary
of how the river valley was formed in the Ice Age is also included. It men-
tions how the lakes in this area (STERM, VSELU G, PENO and VOLGO) unite and
become a single great water basin in the spring season, The combined area
of this basin is more than 170 square kilometers. OZERO SELIGER is over 90
kilometers (56 miles) long and 37 kilometers (23 miles) -ride. It consists
of 24 reservoirs connected by canals. There are many peninsulas and about
160 islands, and the lake is rich in fish,
This chapter begins with a summary of the importance of VALDAYSKAYA
VOZVYSHENNOSTI as the central watershed of the Russian plains, how it has
fascilitated portages in the past, etc. One-quarter of the population of
the USSR lives in the VOLGA Basin, which occupies 1,500,000 square kilometers
- - almost twice the size of England and Vance combined. In the spring at
high water, the VOLGA, at some places, rises 10-12,meters (32.5-39 feet)
higher than summer measurements. In the stretch from STALINGRAD to ASTRAKHAN'
in the spring the river sometimes reaches a width of 40 kilometers (25 miles).
The course and banks of the VOLGA, lumber floated down in the spring etc,
are discussed in various aspects in general terms, but there are no figures
given. It is stated that the depth of the river depends on the height of
the banks the higher and steeper the bank, the deeper the river, and a low
bank is almost always accompanied by shoals and a generally shallow depth.
The greatest depth of the VOLGA is discovered below the mouth of the KAMA.
Many towns on the right bank of the VOLGA experience floods, and "the place
where VAS]Z'SURSK once stood has now become the channel of the VOLGA. More
than once CHIRNYY YAR (below STALINGRAD), flooded by the VOLGA, has been
moved westward, but the river reaches it and again floods the banks",
This chapter covers the beauties of the VOLGA at various seasons, but
gets into no more scientific detail than to say navigation begins in April
when the ice breaks up. The wind is northernly during this season. Trees
of forests and orchards, meadows, and the kinds of fish in the waters of
the VOLGA are mentioned briefly, During STALINts Five Year Plans there have
grown up on the banks of the VOLGA a great many Soviet industriess fish
canneries (the last word scientifically) near the mouth, factories produc-
ing industrial equipment, food products, etc.
"The shores of the VOLGA are rich in limestone and gypsous deposits
in the region of KAZANt and SYZRAN'. Farther down at VOL'SK is a great
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source of raw materials for the cement industry. The VOL'SK (VOLISKIYE)
cement factories are the largest in the anion,
"The salt lakes of EL'TON and BASKUNCHAK are world-renowned. They
contain over 4,000,000 tons of salt".
"In recent years, in the region of ZHIGULI-SYZRAN'., rich oil deposits
have been discoveredi and a new oil base has been set up between the VOLGA
and the URAL at VTOROYE BAKU (BAEU II).
"Great gas deposits have been discovered recently (during the War for
the Fatherland) in the SARATOV and STALINGRAD area and in the ASTRAKHANt
region, In the ELSHANKA KURDYUM region near SARATOV such great gas deposits
have been discovered that already a gas line, 800 kilometers (497 miles) in
PENZENSKAYA, TAMBOVSKAYA,, RYAZANSKAYA, and MOSKOVSKAYA oblasts. It will
increase MOSKVA's gas supply five-fold".
"Geological exploration has discovered in RAYON SARATOV mineral deposits
of the ESSENTUKI type. SARATOV mineral waters are already being used by
medical institutions",
All farming along the VOLGA has been collectivized?
THE VOLGA, A ROUTE
This chapter begins with a history of navigation on the VOLGA and the
invention of the steamship. Now about half of all cargo transported by
water in the USSR goes via the VOLGA and the cargo turnover is increasing
every year. Two-decker motor ships of 1200 indicated horse-power ply VOLGA
waters and powerful tugs tow oil barges. In connection with this great
activity has grown up "the BOL'SHAYA VOLGA. project. BOL'SHAYA VOLGA - -
the new VOLGA, the economy of which will be basically reorganized. Accord-
ing to this project the water route MOSKVA-RYBINSK-GORTKI_ASTRAKHANT is to
have a depth of not less than 2,6 meters (8,45. feet). The old MARIINSKAYA
system, which connects the VOLGA with the BALTIC, will similarly be im-
proved",
"The building of the UGLICH and RYBINSK hydro-junctions (gidrouzel) -
(gidrouzel), which enter into the make-up of the hydraulic engineering
construction of STALINts great plan for the reorganization of the VOLGA
Basin,, has already been completed".
"The building of the greatest construction in the world - - two
KUYBYSHEV water power stations with a combined capacity of up to 3.5
million kilowatts - - will. provide irrigation of and regions on the left
bank of the VOLGA".
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THE VOLGA IN THE HISTORY OF OUR COUNTRY
This chapter is a review of the history connected with the VOLGA from
ancient times, including the uprisings of RAZIN and PUGACHEV, the Revolutions
World War Its etc? )I ~,
THE VOLGA IN PEOPLE'S ART AND LITERATURE
This chapter explains why the VOLGA has for centuries been "mother "
and "nurse" to the Russian people, and gives examples of haw they have des-
cribed her beauty and expressed their love for her.
THE GREATEST RIVER ROUTE OF EUROPE
This last chapter concerns "the greatest river route in the world" a
distance of 3,142 kilometers (1,948 miles) from MOSKVA to ASTRAKHAN', This
route begins at KHIMKINSKIY river-station, the newest in MOSKVA, The station
building looks like a granite and marble palace. The first part of the
route is via the MOSKVA-VOLGA KANAL (KANAL IMENI MOSKVY); the rest follows
the VOLGA.
"In the course of the first and second Five Year Plans., old water routes
were improved and new ones created: the DNEFR (DNEIPER) dams and locks at
Z&POROZH'E, which provided a through water route from KIYEV to KHFRSON, the
WHTPE Sea-BALTIC Canal or KANAL IMENI STALIN, and the MOSKVA VOLGA KANAL".
Work on the latter was begun in 1931.
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The MOSKVA-VOLGA KANAL was built in less than five years. It to is
million tons of concrete and 6 million tons of dirt were removed.
128 kilometers (79.5 miles) long, of which less than 20 kilometers (12,5
miles) follow previously existing waterways. Petroleum barges with a dis-
placement of 18,000 tons use this route from ASTRAKHANT to MOSKVA: also
"VOLGA dreadnaughts" - - large passenger motor and steamships - - pass
through freely. DMITROV, about half-way on the canal from MOSKVA, has be-
come a great water transportation center. Historical details about this
ancient town are given?
"The route from MOSKVA via the canal ends at VOLZHSKIY (VOLGA) hydro-
junction, which consists of a number of structures - - dams, earthen and
concrete, a single-chamber lock and a hydroelectric station",
"From the outer port, which is decorated with two 25-meter (81 foot)
monuments to V. I* LENIN and I, V, STALIN, ships come from the capital by
two routes: some via Locks No. 1 down the VOLGA to RYBINSK, GOR'KI,
ASTRAKHAN', etc; others, to KAMA and MOLOTOV....Across MOSKOVSKOYE MORE
ships follow a third route up the VOLGA to KALININ",
"MOSKOVSKOYE MORE is the largest of the water reservoirs of the canal
with an area of 377 square kilometers .... On windy days there are high waves
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on this reservoir". From MOSKOVSKOYE MORE on the way to KALININ is the
interesting new town of KONAKOVO - - a "child" of the Canal. Here is
located the KALININ Delf-China factory. From KONAKOVO to KALININ the banks
appear generally the same as they have previously.
Sandbanks in the upper VOLGA, which once limited navigation, have been
removed. Not a trace remains of the well-known sandbar near KALININ, known
as'CHERNAYA GRYAZ' (BLACK MUD)", on which ships used to be grounded fre-
quently.. There follows a summary of historical events and people connected
with KALININ (formerly TVER').
"The MOSKVA-ASTRAKEiAN' water route does not include KALININ. From the
pier at BOL'SHAYA VOLGA, ships going to RYBINSK, GOR'KI and ASTRAKHAN' pass
through Locks No. 1 down the VOLGA.... The first station beyond BOLISHAYA
VOLGA is the provincial town of KIMRY in KALININ OBLAST'.... In our times
KIMRY is the center of an extensive shoe-manufacturing region".
"Beyond KALYAZIN begins the UGLICH VODOKHRANILISHCHE (Reservoir) with
an area of 221 square kilometers. In the distance is outlined the electric
station, and beyond it, a steel re-inforced concrete dam.**."
In UGLICH, on a high bank on down the VOLGA, the kremlin or fortress
is located near the steamship wharf. In the fortress is an ancient castle
and near the castle is an old church which is painted purple and is easily
distinguished from the rest of the buildings of the town. It is surrounded
by green trees. A creek (called GREKHOV) flows through the suburbs behind
the town grove, (Similar details with references to buildings, etc.,; in
some of the other towns described in the text have been omitted in this
summary,) Until 1936, the VOLGA was barely navigable to here and there
were no railroads. In that year was begun "the construction of the hydro-
junction station - - a project for power and for transportation...."
"Not far below UGLICH begins RYBINSKOIE WRE - - a reservoir half the
size of ONEZHSKOYE 0ZERO (Lake ONEGA). Over 4700 square kilometers were
flooded to create this reservoir..., It is 22 times larger than MOSKOVSKOYE
MORE. The supply of water from RYBINSKOYE Reservoir supplies depths of not
less than 2.5 meters (8,125 feet) for all. navigation from RYBINSK to ASTRA-
KHAN'....
"The RYBINSK hydro-junction consists of two independent junctions - -
the VOLGA and the SHEKSNA. The VOLGA transportation junction consists of a
concrete and an earthen dam and two-pair locks. The principal structure of
the SHEKSNA junction is the water power station. An earthen dam, tightly
closing the mouth of the SHEKSNA, directs its water into RYBINSKOYE MORE....
"Ships pass from RYBINSK into the MOLOGA, the SHEKSNA and the VOLGA,
and back to RYBINSK through locks". At present RYBINSK wharf is 12 kilo-
meters (7.5 miles) long and is well mechanized. RYBINSKis one of the
largest VOLGA ports. There follows more about the history of RYBINSK, its
growth and its significance. Then general. information is given about the
province and the towns of YAROSLAVL' and KOSTROMA, present and past.
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From RYBINSK the VOLGA turns to the southeast, The low banks are covered
with a green carpet of meadows and brush, and low hills alternate with valleys.
Halfway from RYBINSK to YAROSLAVLr is the town of TUTAYEV (formerly ROMANOVO-
BORISOGLEBSK). This area is noted for the YAROSLAVL-type cows, for sheep and
truck-gardening.
Beyond YAROSLkVL the banks of the VOLE, are low. Near the village of
DIYEVO-GORDDISHCHE on the VOLGA is the village of GRESHNEVO, renamed NEKRASOVO.
On down the VOLGA, near KOSTROMA are a number of potato-molasses factories
which get their potatoes from the collective farms in this area which is low
and cut by swamps and lakes. Where 'AKA KOSTROMA meets the VOLGA on the left
bank of the VOLGA is located the old city of KOSTROMA, At the very mouth of
the river rise the jagged rocky walls of IPAT'YEVSKIY monastery. Not far from
KOSTROMA is the village of DEREVENKA,
Beyond KOSTROMA both banks become more and more mountainous. On the
high wooded hills which a re covered with greenery are large villages, summer
homes and rest homes, The regions around YAROSLAVL', KOSTAOMA and IVANOV
are rich in textile factories. The city of-KINESHMA, surrounded by a number
of large textile factories, serves as the VOLGA port for IVANOV.
"Below the mouth of REKA UNZHA, which empties into the VOLGA, at YURt-
YEVETS, is the town of VASILEVO (now CHKALOVSK). From there it is not far
to GORODETS...."
At PRAVDINSK,farther down the river below GORODETS, is located one of
the largest paper-cellulose combines in the Union. BALAKHNA, near PRAVDINSK,
now supplies electric power for a series of provinces along the VOLGA,, The
BALAKHNA electric power station works on the local fuel - - peat,
It is not far from BALAKHNA to GOR'KI (formerly NIZHNIY NOVGOROD).
From the deck of a ship coming from upstream the city can already be seen
from SORMOVSKIY factory, "From afar it seems as if the river runs into the
bank and the immense GOR'KI amphitheater stands across the VOLGA. This is
explained by the fact that the VOLGA'pakes a sharp bend to the left where
The two rivers form a sharp point on which is
to it
ti
i
OKA
t
.
n
es
emp
he
located the part of the city which is beyond REKA OKA - KUNAVINO or KANAVINO".
There follows a survey of historical, scenic and literary facts.
GOR'KI is the largest river port in the Union and is the sixth largest
city in the Union. Ships bring a constant stream of many natural resources
and building materials to GOR'KI, where they are transferred to railroads.
"Beyond GORIKI the VOLGA becomes wider and deeper, and the banks take on the
characteristic features. The right bank is high and mountainous and covered
almost everywhere with growths of trees; the left is low and meadowy witha
'poymat several kilometers wide".
KOZ'MODEM'YANSK is the port on the VOLGA for REKA VETLUGA. General
facts about the next few towns are given.. including CHEBOKSARY and KAZAN',
KAZAN' is now one of the greatest Soviet 'industrial centers. When the
BOLZSHAYA VOLGA project is completed, the great river will overflow and
flood all the area which separates KAZAN' from the VOLGA. (It is now
located 8 kilometers'(5 miles) from the river), The shallow stream, KAZANKA,
to a deep
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river. & first-claev'river port will be built at its mouth and a river
passenger station, ng railroad connections, will be located near the
KAZAN' fortress;
Beyond KAZAN1 the VOLGA makes a sharp turn to the south. The banks
remain. somewhat the same: the right in places reaches great heights; the
left is, for the most part, low, and covered with small brush.
"BeyondIZAN' near the mouth of the KAMA is the village of ANTONOVKA.,.?
Below here the VOLGA's principal tributary.. the KAMA, empties into the VOLGA.
In spring the combined waters of bot1i rivers flood an extensive area in which
it is difficult to distinguish the-.mouth of the KADiA.*.. Below the mouth of
the KAMA on the left bank about S kilometers (5 miles) from the VOLGA...* is
the village of USPENSKOYE,,. "
"Beyond UNDORY, formerly. the estate of N. M. YAZYKOV, the right bank
becomes steeper and more picturesque., In the distance are seen the outlines
of the UL'YANOVSK railway bridge".
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"UL'YANOVSK (formerly SIMBIRSK) occupies the narrow ridge between the
VOLGA and the.SVIYAGA, which flows exactly counter to the VOLGA and empties
into it above KAZAN' near SVIYAZHSK",
"Below UL'YANOVSK at the village of NADEYNA USOL'YA begin the ZHIGULEV-
SKIYE GORY (ZHIGULI Mountains). Abbut 10 kilometers (6 miles) farther down
the river the USA flows into the VOLGA from the SHI GULEVSKIYE tY, flso
flowing in the opposite direction to the VOLGA.*** 'Near USA the VOLGA makes a sharp bend to the-.left and goes on eastward to the
foot of the ZHIGULEVSKIYE GORY. Reaching the mouth of REKA SOK at TSAREV
KURGAN, the VOLGA again makes a sharp turn to the south and continues in
this direction for 30 kilometers (19 miles); at KUYBYSHEV it turns west
Farther down, at the village of PEREVOLOKI, the VOLGA resumes it original
direction, The whole length of this curve known as SAMARSKAYA LUKA
(SAMARA Bend), is 150 kilometers (93 milesi. The straight route from the
town of PEREVOLOKI to the mouth of the USA is only 25 kilometers (15.5
miles). Near the mouth of the LISA a cluster of mountain
and rocky nownsas
MOLODETSKIY KURGAN, overhang the VOLGA. All the peaks
the ZHIGULEVSKIYE GORY have their own names. To the left of the mouth of
the USA. is GORA LEPESHKA; to the right, MOLODETSKIY KURGAN. This latter is
divided into 3 independent peaks. The lowest is DEV'YA GORA. MOLODETSKIY
KURGAN was formed by a shift in the earth's crust...."
Six kilometers (368 miles) from MOLODETSKIY KURGAN is Y BLO omingOaRkG.
new
In this area a great oil field has been discovered and it i6
oil base - - VTOROVO BAKU (BAKU II).
Here there is a description of the types of timber found near ZHIGULI.
Near the mouth of REKA SOK on the left bank. not far aromath shore islow
TSAREV KURGAN. This is a barren, sandy hill standing o plain*
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this hill the VOLGA turns southward and enters the narrowest place in this
etrftch - - ZHIGULEVSKIYE VOROTA (ZHIGULI Gates). From there the left bank,
aa ll as the right, is high as far as.KUYBYSHEV,
Here are included historical notes about the KUYBYSHEV (formerly SAMARA)
area. In KUYBYSHEVSKAYA OBLASTi - - at ZHIGULI and SYZRAN1 - - important
oil beds have been discovered, Also, excellent wheat is raised here. KUYBY-
SHEV is noted for its heavy industries.
"Beyond KUYBYSHEV the VOLGA turns sharply westward, forming the lower
part of SAMAP.SKAYA LUKA, At the village of PECHORSKIY, behind the asphalt
factory, the VOLGA crosses under the railway bridge, built in 1880...."
Beyond the bridge is the freight wharf of BATRAKI. It is connected with
SYZRANt by an oil pipe line. "The SYZRAN1 oil fields, located near the
banks of the VOLGA, were discovered in 1937 by Soviet geologists",
Below SYZRAN' the VOLGA takes a southerly course and soon enters SARATOV-
SKAYA OBLAST', This is a great grain region. The provincial town of VOL'SK
is famous for its cement factory. `Near VOL'SK begin the steep ZMIYEVY GORY,
which are covered only in a few places with vegetation.
"The right bank, which is high, to SARATOV, carries the names of U R3YUM--
SKIYE, LYCYYE, and SOKOLOVYYE GORY. During the War for the Fatherland, in
the SOKOLOVYYE GORY and on up the course of the VOLGA in the ELSHANKA-
KURDYUM region, as previously stated, were discovered gas deposits". This
gas is already in use in SARATOV, for both home and industrial use? SARATOV
it now noted for its heavy industries. One of the largest cracking dis-
tilleries in the Union is located there. UVEK serves as freight pier for
SARATOV. It is located just below the town near the railroad bridge across
the VOLGA. At the foot of the UVEK mountain, KALANCHI, are preserved the
remains of the earthen wall and stone structures of UVEK, a city of the
Golden Horde, Beyond UVEK begin the U,SH'I GORY which, in places, reach
heights of 150 meters (488 feet).
Below NIZHNYAYA BANNOVKA wharf rises UTES STEPHANA RAZINA (a cliff),,
set off from the neighboring elevations by ravines and gullies, Outwardly
itself, it is not distinguishable from the many other cliffs of the right
"Below UTES STEPANA RAZINA stretch the picturesque, steep, many-fissured
cliffs known as STOLBICHI, In places great columns rise from the very waters
of the VOLGA,. Opposite STOLBICHI into the VOLGA empties her last tributary
from the left - - REKA ERUSLAN, near the mouth of which are located about 20
burial mounds. It is presumed this was an ancient battlefield...."
"Near REKA URAKOVKA,which empties into the VOLGA from the right, is
URAKOVA GORA, a beautiful, green mountain which descends to the VOLGA in
terraces, 'REKA KAMYSHINKA empties into the VOLGA at the town of KAMYSHIN".
The important prosposed KANAL VOLGA-DON will be put through below
STALINGRAD near the town of KRkSNOAI EYSK, Beyond DUBOVKA wharf the first
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largo arm of the VOLGA separates as REKA AKHTUBAA, over 500 kilometers (310
miles) long. It flows near and almost parallel to the left bank of the
VOLGA and empties into the CASPIAN Sea at KRASNYY YAR.
STALINGRAD OBLASTT is noted for its fruit and wheat, From the lumber
mills of old TSARITSYN (now the city of STALIIGRAD) have grown giant lumber
and chemical industries. The KRASNOARMEYSKc shipyard, one of the largest
in the Union, has been rebuilt.. In STALINGRAD the TRAKTORNYY SAVOD (factory)
turned out its first 500 caterpillar-tractors and diesel tanks within two
years after victory over the Germans at STALINGRAD.
Beyond STALINGRAD.the banks of the VOLGA are low and sandy and barely
rise above the water. The surrounding dry steppes are overgrown with worm-
wood or absynthe and its bitterish smell is wafted out over the VOLGA. In
June and August on the lower VOLGA there is usually "sukhovey", or a haze.
The haze literally hangs in the air, the temperature is high, and a hot,
dry southeasterly wind blows. The grass dies and the earth dries and
cracks, and water in wells becomes bitter-salty.
At KRASNOARMEYSK (formerly 5AREPTA) the last tributary, the little
stream SARPA, empties into the VOLGA. "Below the mouth of the SARFA the
VOLGA divides into many branches. Often these branches, known as "eriki",
flow together in one great expanse of water. Then the banks cannot even
be seen. At flood time, which reaches here toward the end of May or even
the first of June, the VOLGA flows in one gigantic, terrible stream as much
as 40 kilometers (25 miles) wide". Here fishing is the main industry. In
recent years gardens have flourished in the VOLGA AKHTUBINSKAYA DOLINA
(valley). "The VOLGA-AKHTUBINSK Ipoymat extends in a southeasterly dir-
ection clear to ASTRAKHAN?. It is a tremendous, meadowy terrace about 15-40
kilometers (0,-25 miles) wide and stretches out to a length of 500 kilometers
(310 miles). All of it is abundantly irrigated by the spring waters of the
VOLGA and covered with very fertile alluvial soil, The tpoyma' and the
delta of the VOLGA are known as the Russian NILE. Millions of tons of
vegetables are harvested here every year.
"At VLADIMIAOVKA the VOLGA flows close to the AKHTUBA. They are separ-
ated only by a small island less than one kilometer (.62 mile) wide. From
here a branch of the railroad, 55 kilometers (34 miles) long goes to OZERO
BASKUNCHAK. It passes through an uninhabited steppe on which there is not
a single shrub or tree". The area of the lake is about 100 square kilo-
meters; its bottom is a solid mass of salt, a supply of about four million
tons.
"Near ASTRAKHAN', at the village of LEBYAZHYA, BUZAN, an arm of the
VOLGA, breaks off to the left and flows to the southeast. It unites with
the AKHTUBA and then divides into many branches. This is the beginning of
the VOLGA delta, the area of which exceeds 10,000 square kilometers....
All around everything is overgrown with rushes which shelter hundreds of
thousands of birds.
nASTRAKHANt is located on the left bank of the main waterway of the
VOLGA, on an island formed by the BOLDA arm of the river and other small
sanals". It is the VENICE of the VOLGA, and is the center of the fish
rge refrigerators,
industry of the VOLGA. Here are operated two very l
a
firm
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canneries, wood-working, plants which prepare boxes and tare for fish. During'
the Five Year Plans the largest fish canning combine in EUROPE was built
here. The town has a very lar a oil tank (or reservoir).. BAKU petroleum
products are .brought here and an distributed over the whole Union,
At the ASTRAKHAN' river-station, the finest on the VOLGA, ends the
MOSKVA, AST RAKHAN r route,, but the VOLGA goes on. From ASTRAKHAN t to the road-
stead the water route follows the principal arm of the western part of the
delta, which has a small depth - - 3 - 4 meters (9-13 feet). Therefore., large
tanks cannot enter the VOLGA,- but stop in the roadstead where they have to
pump the oil< over from the ocean-going vessels to other boats which take it
to ASTRAKHAN', There it is again pumped over to river boats.
The river has over 200 branches where it empties into the CASPN Sea.
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