List of Major Rivers in the Russia

The major rivers in Russia are the Volga, Don, Ob, Yenisei, Lena, Kama, Oka, Angara, Vyatka, and Northern Dvina. These rivers are an important part of its topography and transportation system. These waterways cover vast regions. These serve as essential routes for trade, communication, and the distribution of resources. The Volga River is the longest in Europe.

It links important towns and regions. The Lena, Ob, and Yenisei rivers cut through Siberia, aiding trade and allowing access to distant locations. In addition, the Dnieper and Don rivers provide major benefits to Russia’s economic and cultural landscape. These waterways support ecosystems. They also impact the country’s history, economy, and identity. This article will discuss the length, origin, tributaries, and importance of ten major rivers in Russia.

The Major Rivers in Russia

Russia, a huge country, has many big rivers. The Volga is the longest in Europe, helping transport goods. The Lena, Yenisei, and Ob rivers are vital in Siberia for trade and power. The Amur River marks Russia’s border with China and supports wildlife. These rivers are crucial for Russia’s economy, nature, and life. The major rivers in Russia are discussed as follows:

Name of River	Length (Km)	Catchment Area (Sqkm)
Volga	3530	1360000
Don	1870	4220000
Ob	3700	2975000
Yenisei	3487	2580000
Lena	4400	2490000
Kama	1805	507000
Oka	1500	245000
Angara	1789	1040000
Vyatka	1314	129000
Northern dvina	744	138000

The Tenth Major River in Russia – The Northern Dvina River

The Northern Dvina is a 744-kilometre-long river with a catchment area of 138,000 square kilometres that flows in the northern European portion of Russia.

• The Northern Dvina River originates at the junction of the Yug and Sukhona rivers in Velikiy Ustyug, Russia’s Vologod oblast province.
• The Northern Dvina River’s main tributaries are the Vychegda, Vaga, and Pinega rivers. Other large tributaries include the Sukhona River.
• The area through which Finnic people initially inhabited the Northern Dvina River flows and is then further colonised by the Novgorod Republic.
• The Novgorod merchants first reached the White Sea during the 13th century.
• The principal transportation route from Novgorod to the Northern Dvina includes the Volga and its tributary Sheksna and, from there, many connecting rivers.

The Ninth Major River in Russia – The Vyatka River

The length of the Vyatka River is 1,314 kilometres, and its drainage basin covers 129,000 square kilometres.

• The Vyatka originated in the northern parts of Udmurtia. It freezes up in early November and stays under the ice until the second half of April.
• The largest tributaries of the Vyatka are Belaya, Kobra, Letka, Belaya Kholunitsa, and Cheptsa.
• The Vyatka River’s minimum average monthly water discharge has increased significantly in recent decades.
• This is primarily due to the rise in differentiated minimum average monthly discharge in the sub-basin between Vyatskiye Polyany and Kirov.
• The Vyatka River basin is part of the Volga-Vyatka economic district, which is located in the central part of European Russia.

The Eighth Major River in Russia – The Angara River

The Angara River has a length of 1,779 km and a catchment area of 1040000 sq km. The Angara River is also an important tributary of the Yenisei River.

• The river originates in Lake Baikal and travels across the southern section of the Central Siberian Plateau before joining the Yenisei near Yeniseysk.
• The largest tributaries of the Angara are Irkut, Kitty, Belaya, Oka, Iya, and Ilim.
• Large hydroelectric power facilities located along the Angara River are currently drawing on the river’s huge hydroelectric power generation potential.
• The most important of them are located at four of the country’s main hydroelectric dams.
• The Angara River does not provide a continuous channel due to the presence of constructed dams and natural hazards all over its path, but minor parts of the river are still passable by modern ships.

The Seventh Major River in Russia- The Oka River

The length of the Oka River is 1,500 km, and its catchment area is 245,000 sq km. The Oka River is central Russia’s main right tributary of the Volga.

• It is navigable over a large part of its total length, as far upstream as the town of Kaluga.
• The largest tributaries of the Oka are Zusha, Upa, Zhizdra, Ugra, Protva, and Nara.
• The Oka River basin contains large meadows used for agriculture, mainly for hay and pasture.
• Basin-derived sediment contributes less than 60% to the total river sediment yield, even in intensively cultivated areas.
• The Kievan Slavs, led by their Viking princes, used the Oka as the main route for colonizing the lands that formed the historic core of what is now known as Russia.

The Sixth Major River in Russia- The Kama River

The Kama is a 1,805-kilometre-long river in Russia. It has a drainage basin of 507,000 square kilometres.

• The Kama River originates in the Upper Kama Upland of Udmurtia in west-central Russia. It flows north, then east, south, and southwest until it enters the Volga River below Kazan, in the Samara Reservoir.
• The largest tributaries of the Kama are Veslyana, Kosa, South Keltma, Vishera, Yayva, Inva, and Kosva.
• Before the advent of railroads, important portages connected the Kama with the basins of the Northern Dvina and the Pechora.
• In the early 19th century, the Northern Ekaterininsky Canal connected the upper Kama with the Vychegda River (a tributary of the Northern Dvina).
• The Kama River is one of Russia’s most important rivers, both historically as an entry point to the Urals and Siberia and economically as part of the huge Volga system of waterways.

The Fifth Major River in Russia- The Lena River

The Lena River is the 11th longest river in the world, with a length of 4400 km, and the drainage basin of the river covers 2,490,000 square kilometres of area.

• This river flows from its source in the Baikal Mountains, 7 kilometres west of Lake Baikal, to its drainage point into the Arctic Laptev Sea.
• The Lena River has around 70 large tributaries. The important tributaries of Lena are the Aldan, Vilyui, Olekma, Vitim, and Kirenga.
• The Lena River plays a very important role in the production of a wide variety of crops, like cucumbers, potatoes, wheat, and barley, which are commercially cultivated.
• The Lena River is also largely navigable, allowing for cargo transport, including unearthed minerals, fur, food, and industrial products, from their respective production areas.
• The river also holds huge potential for the development of hydroelectric power, but only a small fraction of this prospect has been exploited to date.

The Fourth Major River in Russia- The Yenisei River

The Yenisei River has a length of about 3487 km. It has a basin area of 2,580,000 square kilometres.

• This river begins in Mongolia. It flows through the Russian city of Kyzyl, in the Republic of Tyva, and into the Arctic Ocean.
• This river has several important tributaries, which include Little Yenisey, Khemchik, Kantegir, Abakan, Kacha, and Great Yenisey.
• It is a lifeline for an important percentage of the Russian population. Agriculture, cattle ranching, and fishing are some of the principal occupations of the people living near the river.
• Lumber, petroleum products, coal, grains, and construction supplies are transported by cargo ships that travel between river ports along the Yenisei and Arctic sea routes.
• A great number of hydroelectric-generating plants have been constructed along various sections of the river and its tributaries. This generates a total of 25 million KW.

The Third Major River in Russia- The Ob River

The Ob River flows for a distance of 3,700 kilometres, which makes it the 7th longest river in the world, in the Western Siberia region of the Russian Federation.

• The Ob River originates in the Altai Mountains and flows via the Gulf of Ob into the Kara Sea of the Arctic Ocean.
• It has many tributaries, but the most important ones are Tom, Chulym, Vasyugan, Irtysh, Tromyegan, and Great Yugan.
• It is a key navigable waterway that transports goods from Russia’s mainland to the country’s major trade centres and cities.
• This maritime channel trades agricultural commodities as well as industrial goods for import and export.
• The Ob River Basin is the site of many Siberian oil and natural gas resources, which account for two-thirds of the country’s production.

The Second Major River in Russia- The Don River

The Don River has a length of 1,870 kilometers. It has a drainage area of 422,000 square kilometres.

• It originates in the Central Russian Hills and flows from there to the Sea of Azov in southern Russia.
• Its most major tributaries are Krasivaya Mecha, Sosna, Chornaya Kalitva, Voronezh, and Khopyor.
• It was a major commercial route for the Byzantine Empire, connecting Scandinavia and the Vikings to the Middle East.
• The Volga-Don Ship Canal boosted the Don’s status as a navigable waterway.
• In the past, the river was considered the border between Europe and Asia. The Don has a hydropower complex in Tsimlyansk.

The Major River in Russia- The Volga River

The Volga, popularly known as Mother Volga, has a length of 3,530 km and a catchment area of 1,360,000 sq km.

• It is located in Russia. It rises in the Valdai Hills, northwest of Moscow. It flows from Central Russia to Southern Russia before entering the Caspian Sea.
• The Volga River has many tributaries like Kama, Oka, Vetluga, and Sura.
• The Volga River and its huge network of canals, particularly the Volga-Don Canal and the Moscow Canal, are critical waterways for transporting commodities. These are resources between the Caspian, Baltic, and Black Seas, increasing trading opportunities.
• The Volga River contains multiple hydroelectric power units along its course, which generate 5% of Russia’s electricity.
• The river’s water supplies enable the production of crops such as grain, vegetables, and fruits, hence increasing agricultural productivity and food security.

Conclusion – The Major Rivers in Russia

Russia’s rivers face many problems, like pollution, ecological destruction, and overuse. To overcome these difficulties, comprehensive solutions are required. Environmental restrictions must be implemented and enforced to prevent pollution from industrial and agricultural sources. Investing in wastewater treatment systems and fostering sustainable agricultural practices can help reduce pollution. Protecting riparian zones and wetlands, as well as practising smart land-use planning, can help preserve habitat. By adopting a comprehensive strategy, Russia can protect its rivers to benefit both people and wildlife.

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FAQs on Major Rivers in Russia

What is the major rivers of Russia?

The major rivers of Russia are the Volga, Don, Ob, Yenisei, Lena, Kama, Oka, Angara, Vyatka, and Northern Dvina.

What is the largest river in Russia?

The largest river in Russia is the Lena River.

What are Russia’s big rivers?

Russia’s big rivers are Lena, Yenisei, Ob, and Volga.

What river is important to Russia?

The Volga River is so important to Russia.

What is Russia’s national river?

The national river of Russia is the Volga.

What is the mother river of Russia?

The Volga is the mother river of Russia.

What are the five rivers in Russia?

The five main rivers in Russia are the Volga, Don, Ob, Yenisei, and Lena.

How many rivers are in Russia?

Approximately 100,000 rivers are in Russia.