Rivers and Lakes of Eastern Europe

1. Find on the map all the great European rivers that you know.
2. In what parts of Europe are there many lakes?

General Characteristics of Rivers. Most regions of Europe receive a heavy rainfall, which accounts for the large amount of inland waters ' in that part of the world. There is a thick network of rivers in Europe and many lakes.

Fig. 30. A scheme of a river, reservoir, canal and lock: a — the hydroelectric power-dam (the dam and hy­droelectric station near by); b—the lock. The dotted arrow shows the direction of the ship through the lock.

Rivers are important lines of communication, cheaper than rail­ways. They serve as links between the sea and the interior. At their mouths stand some of the most important commercial ports (Lenin­grad, for example, at the estuary of the Neva). In arid areas, river waters with the help of canals are used to irrigate fields, e. g., the south-east of Europe (the U.S.S.R.), the Central Danubian and Lower Danubian Plains.
Rivers are an important source of power. The energy of falling water that drives the machinery at hydroelectric power-stations is called white coal (hydro, from the Greek «hydor» = water). The best places for hydroelectric power-stations are those near rapids and wa­terfalls, where the pressure is greater. On flat country the required fall of water can be obtained by building huge dams and reservoirs. Hydroelectricity is the cheapest form of power, as the use of water, a practically inexhaustible source of energy, makes fuel unnecessary. The largest hydroelectric power-dams in the world are situated in the Soviet Union. The Soviet Union is taking effective measures against the pollution of waters and for the protection and increase of the national fishing resources.
The characteristic features of the rivers of Europe depend on the climate and relief of the country they flow through.
Rivers and Lakes of Eastern Europe The rivers of Eastern Europe drain vast areas and are therefore very long. They rise in the low hills of the East European Plain and branch off in different directions. The closeness of the upper reaches to each other and the flatness of the land makes it easy to connect these rivers by means of canals. The slope of the ground is gentle, and the rivers flow slow and calm through the broad valleys, forming numerous curves and crooks on their way. In winter they freeze for a long period of time. In spring, when the winter snow melts, they overflow their banks. In the hot summer, when evaporation is high, they turn much shallower

As distinct from oceans and seas,  inland waters are those found in the interior of a country: rivers, lakes, underground waters.

Europe's  long­est   river   is the Great Volga of  Russia   (3,700 kms.). It begins as a tiny stream on a mall   hill.   After  descending       the hills and crossing a series of lakes, it continues tranquil­ly across flat country. Shortly afterwards, it enters a reservoir   blocked by   a  dam,  from which a navigable canal leads to Mos­cow. It then curves sharply    to    the north-east through I he enormous reser­voir of the Rybinsk. Hydroelectric Power-Station, and from there south-east through the reservoir of the Gorky Hydroelectric Power-station. It is now joined by its chief tributaries, the Oka coming from the right and the Kama from the left (the Oka's source is in (lie Central   Russian Upland, the Kama's in the Ural Mountains). North of Kuibyshev stands the high-capacity Volga Hydroelectric Power-Station named after Lenin with its huge reservoir and dam. A similar station has been built near Volgograd—the Volga Hy­droelectric  Power-Station named after the 22nd Congress of the CPSU. These two power-stations are among the largest in the world. Near Volgograd the Volga divides into several branches and pours its waters into the Caspian Sea, forming a giant delta. A delta is an alluvial plain across which a river flows, divided into a number of branches. Such plains at the mouths of rivers are often of triangular shape, like the Greek letter A (delta), which explains the origin of the name.  The Volga  is frozen for from three to five months in winter.
The dams, power-plants and reservoirs on the Volga have helped to turn it into a broad and deep river, stable in depth and navigable by large vessels.

Among the other rivers of Eastern Europe the Dnieper oc­cupies an important place. This river falls into the Black Sea. There are a number of hydroelectric power-stations on it, the largest being Dnieprogez.
Across the arid lands of the South-East flows the long but shallow Ural River. There are many drainageless salt lakes in the Caspian Lowland. The Caspian Sea itself has lost its links with the ocean and is at present the world's largest salt lake. Its northern, shallower part is covered with ice in winter. The deeper central and southern parts do not freeze.
The northern part of the East European Plain is drained by the full-bodied Pechora and the North Dvina. The former rises in the Ural Mountains, the latter forms a delta where it enters the White Sea. These two rivers are frozen for the greater part of the winter, but do not turn shallow in summer, in contrast to the rivers of the south. For the rivers of the north flow through forested areas where snow-water in spring is greatly retarded and through regions where summers are cool and evaporation is lower than in the south
There is an enormous number of large and small freshwater lakes in the northern part of Europe. The largest are Lake Ladoga and Lake Onega. The latter is connected with the White Sea by the Byelomor-Baltic Canal. Short rivers and seething rapids link the lakes. These rivers are rich in water-power and are, therefore, suitable sites for hydroelectric power-stations. They have a constant level of water throughout the year, rarely overflow in spring and do not turn shallow in summer, as they are regularly fed by the lakes.
The Neva flowing from Lake Ladoga into the Gulf of Finland is high-watered throughout the year.
Questions and Assignments.
1. Trace the boundaries of the Volga, Don and Dnieper basins on the outline map of Europe.