Moscow - St Petersburg

< Moscow-Volga Canal | Waterways Index | Rybinsk Reservoir >

The Volga is the Europe's longest river at 3692km (2294 miles). The river freezes throughout most of its length for three months f the year. Fortunately, we travelled on it in August. It carries a huge amount of traffic, from freight barges and tourist ships, though to small recreational boats.

Our waterways journey from Moscow to St Petersburg used only a tiny part of the Volga; from the Moscow-Volga Canal, past Uglich, through part of the Rybinsk Reservoir and then south-east to Yaraslovl. We then retraced our journey back to Rybinsk where our path went northwards across the vast man-made lake.

The Volga has large freighters . . .

. . . and tiny fishing boats

An old riverside church

Ships use these to navigate bends

Outside Uglich: a lock for shipping . .

. . and a dam to regulate the water supply to Moscow

Wooden houses are typical in the riverside villages on the Volga

Pretty church near Yaroslavl

Tankers on Russia's major waterway

Lock outside Yaroslavl

Mother Volga near Rybinsk Reservoir

More about Uglich | More about Yaroslavl