The Mighty Volga: Great Russian River's Best Views

The Volga River is widely regarded as the national river of Russia as it flows past cities like Tver, Dubna, Yaroslavl, Nizhny Novgorod, and Kazan, as well as Tolyatti, Samara, and Volgograd, before it discharges into the Caspian Sea south of Astrakhan at 28 metres below sea level.

Due to its geographical position, the river has a symbolic meaning in Russian culture and is often referred to as Volga-Matushka (Mother Volga) in Russian literature and folklore.

Residents of the cities, towns, and villages located along the waterway annually pay tribute to the incredible river on 20 May, known as Volga Day.

During the celebration of Volga Day, volunteers clean the banks of the river, conduct educational events like thematic photo exhibitions and presentations of children's drawings, participate in lectures, scientific discussions and seminars, handicraft fairs, as well as game and concert programmes.

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The Uspenski Cathedral is located on the junction of the Volga and Kotorosli rivers in Yaroslavl. It was destroyed during Soviet times and restored in 2004-2010.

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The Kalyazin Bell Tower rises to a height of 74.5 metres over the waters of the Uglich Reservoir on the Volga River opposite the old town of Kalyazin, in Tver Oblast, north-western Russia.

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The Volga Hydroelectric Station or Volga GES was the largest power station in the world between 1960 and 1963. It is the last of the Volga-Kama Cascade of dams, immediately before the Volga River flows into the Caspian Sea.

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The Monument of Glory is located on Slavy Square in Samara, Russia, overlooking the Volga River to the northwest. It is dedicated to Kuybyshev’s aircraft industry workers, who were working hard during the Great Patriotic War.

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A reflection of trees on the Volga River in the Yaroslavl region. There are beautiful views up and down the strip with forests and steppes.

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The Iversky (Iver) Female Monastery is one of the city's most beautiful sights on the Volga's steep bank in Samara.

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A woman walks along the embankment in the city of Plyos in the Ivanovo region. Plyos is a Historical City of Russia, located on the right bank of the Volga River, 70 kilometres northeast of Ivanovo. It is closely associated with the artist Isaak Levitan, who has several paintings featuring scenes of the city's picturesque embankment along the Volga.

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The Kazan Kremlin is the chief historic citadel of Russia located on a high peninsula sticking out into the Kazanka and Volga Rivers. The kremlin was built at the behest of Ivan the Terrible on the ruins of the former castle of Kazan’s khans. It was declared a World Heritage Site in 2000.

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The Church of the Intercession of the Holy Virgin is known as a symbol of medieval Russia. The church is located at the confluence of the Nerl and Klyazma Rivers in Bogolyubovo, Suzdalsky District, Vladimir Oblast, Russia.

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The automobile bridge over the Volga River in Volgograd. The bridge, which was inaugurated on 10 October 2009, after 13 years of construction, is one of the largest objects of transport infrastructure and part of a planned 30-kilometre (19 miles) highway route that also includes a future bridge over the Akhtuba River.

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Yaroslavl is known to be the first Christian city on the Volga River. The historic part of the city, a World Heritage Site, is located at the confluence of the Volga and the Kotorosl Rivers.

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Nizhny Novgorod is a large city on the confluence of the Volga and the Oka Rivers in western Russia. The city is an important centre for cargo and passenger shipping on the Volga. During summer, cruise vessels operate between Nizhny Novgorod, Moscow, Saint Petersburg, and Astrakhan.

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The Museum of Russian Art of XVIII-XIX centuries (centre), the Transfiguration Cathedral (left) and the Church of St. Dmitry on the Blood (right) in the Russian city of Uglich. Uglich is located on the picturesque bank of the Volga River and is known to be one of Russia's few historical and well-preserved riverine tourist destinations.

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