Kostroma River
Encyclopedia
The Kostroma is a river
in the European part of Russia. It flows through the Kostroma
and Yaroslavl Oblast
s, and is a left tributary
of the Volga
, which it enters at the Gorky Reservoir
, at the city of Kostroma
, at 57°46′44"N 40°53′55"E.
Prior to the creation of the Gorky Reservoir it flowed into the Volga within the city limits of Kostroma. The Ipatiev Monastery
is located at the old confluence of the Kostroma and the Volga.
The length of the river is 354 kilometres (220 mi). The area of its drainage basin
is 16000 square kilometres (6,177.6 sq mi). The average water flow is 71m³/second town at the town of Buy
(124 kilometres (77.1 mi) from the mouth) and 85 m³/sec at the mouth.
Major tributaries include the Vocha, Mezenda, Wex, Tebza, and Sacha
on the left, and the Shugoma, Svetlitsa, Lums, Selma, Monza, and Obnora
on the right. Prior to the creation of the Gorky Reservoir
, the Sot and Mesa were also tributaries; they now flow directly into the reservoir.
The towns of Soligalich
and Buy
are located on the river.
The Kostroma freezes up in November and breaks up in April or early May.
The Kostroma begins near the village of Knyazhevo Chuhlomskogo in the Kostroma District. The upper river is relatively narrow and winding, but it soon gathers the water of many tributaries, increasing its width to about 30 metres (98.4 ft) or 40 metres (131.2 ft). In the upper and middle reaches of the river bed there are rapids, and the banks are often wooded and sometimes steep. Here it is suitable for swimming due to the large amount of snags and debris.
By the time it flows past the town of Buy, the width of the river exceeds 60 metres (196.9 ft); from this point on the river is navigable. From here down to the reservoir it begins to form large bends and oxbow lake
s, and it sometimes floods.
The last 50 kilometres (31.1 mi) of the Kostroma's course forms the border between the Yaroslavl and Kostroma Districts.
River
A river is a natural watercourse, usually freshwater, flowing towards an ocean, a lake, a sea, or another river. In a few cases, a river simply flows into the ground or dries up completely before reaching another body of water. Small rivers may also be called by several other names, including...
in the European part of Russia. It flows through the Kostroma
Kostroma Oblast
Kostroma Oblast is a federal subject of Russia . Its administrative center is the city of Kostroma.Major historic towns include Kostroma, Sharya, Nerekhta, Galich, Soligalich, and Makaryev. Textile industries have been developed there since the early 18th century...
and Yaroslavl Oblast
Yaroslavl Oblast
Yaroslavl Oblast is a federal subject of Russia , which is located in the Central Federal District, surrounded by Tver, Moscow, Ivanovo, Vladimir, Kostroma, and Vologda Oblasts. This geographic location affords the oblast the advantages of proximity to Moscow and St. Petersburg...
s, and is a left tributary
Tributary
A tributary or affluent is a stream or river that flows into a main stem river or a lake. A tributary does not flow directly into a sea or ocean...
of the Volga
Volga River
The Volga is the largest river in Europe in terms of length, discharge, and watershed. It flows through central Russia, and is widely viewed as the national river of Russia. Out of the twenty largest cities of Russia, eleven, including the capital Moscow, are situated in the Volga's drainage...
, which it enters at the Gorky Reservoir
Gorky Reservoir
Gorky Reservoir is an artificial lake in the central part of the Volga River formed by a hydroelectric dam of Gorky Hydroelectric Station built in 1955 between the towns of Gorodets and Zavolzhye and filled in 1955 – 1957...
, at the city of Kostroma
Kostroma
Kostroma is a historic city and the administrative center of Kostroma Oblast, Russia. A part of the Golden Ring of Russian towns, it is located at the confluence of the Volga and Kostroma Rivers...
, at 57°46′44"N 40°53′55"E.
Prior to the creation of the Gorky Reservoir it flowed into the Volga within the city limits of Kostroma. The Ipatiev Monastery
Ipatiev Monastery
The Ipatiev Monastery —sometimes translated into English as Hypatian Monastery—is a male monastery, situated on the bank of the Kostroma River just opposite the city of Kostroma...
is located at the old confluence of the Kostroma and the Volga.
The length of the river is 354 kilometres (220 mi). The area of its drainage basin
Drainage basin
A drainage basin is an extent or an area of land where surface water from rain and melting snow or ice converges to a single point, usually the exit of the basin, where the waters join another waterbody, such as a river, lake, reservoir, estuary, wetland, sea, or ocean...
is 16000 square kilometres (6,177.6 sq mi). The average water flow is 71m³/second town at the town of Buy
Buy (town)
Buy is a town in Kostroma Oblast, Russia, which stands on the Kostroma River. Population: -Overview:Buy was originally a trading post and protected by a hill fortress of Finno Ugrian Meri people c. 400-500 AD. Its original Meri name is not known, but in Finnish language it was called either...
(124 kilometres (77.1 mi) from the mouth) and 85 m³/sec at the mouth.
Major tributaries include the Vocha, Mezenda, Wex, Tebza, and Sacha
Shacha River
The Shacha River is a small tributary of the Tsna River in Russia. It has presented a hydrologic problem since the Globus-1 test, when it changed its course and threatened to flood the hole left by the explosion. This has the potential for spreading the nuclear pollution to the entire Volga region...
on the left, and the Shugoma, Svetlitsa, Lums, Selma, Monza, and Obnora
Obnora River
Obnora is a river in Vologda and Yaroslavl Oblasts of Russia. It is a right tributary of the Kostroma River. It is 132 km long, with a drainage basin of 2,440 km².The town of Lyubim is situated by the Obnora....
on the right. Prior to the creation of the Gorky Reservoir
Gorky Reservoir
Gorky Reservoir is an artificial lake in the central part of the Volga River formed by a hydroelectric dam of Gorky Hydroelectric Station built in 1955 between the towns of Gorodets and Zavolzhye and filled in 1955 – 1957...
, the Sot and Mesa were also tributaries; they now flow directly into the reservoir.
The towns of Soligalich
Soligalich
Soligalich is a town and the administrative center of Soligalichsky District of Kostroma Oblast, Russia, located on the right bank of the Kostroma River. Population: -History:...
and Buy
Buy (town)
Buy is a town in Kostroma Oblast, Russia, which stands on the Kostroma River. Population: -Overview:Buy was originally a trading post and protected by a hill fortress of Finno Ugrian Meri people c. 400-500 AD. Its original Meri name is not known, but in Finnish language it was called either...
are located on the river.
The Kostroma freezes up in November and breaks up in April or early May.
The Kostroma begins near the village of Knyazhevo Chuhlomskogo in the Kostroma District. The upper river is relatively narrow and winding, but it soon gathers the water of many tributaries, increasing its width to about 30 metres (98.4 ft) or 40 metres (131.2 ft). In the upper and middle reaches of the river bed there are rapids, and the banks are often wooded and sometimes steep. Here it is suitable for swimming due to the large amount of snags and debris.
By the time it flows past the town of Buy, the width of the river exceeds 60 metres (196.9 ft); from this point on the river is navigable. From here down to the reservoir it begins to form large bends and oxbow lake
Oxbow lake
An oxbow lake is a U-shaped body of water formed when a wide meander from the main stem of a river is cut off to create a lake. This landform is called an oxbow lake for the distinctive curved shape, named after part of a yoke for oxen. In Australia, an oxbow lake is called a billabong, derived...
s, and it sometimes floods.
The last 50 kilometres (31.1 mi) of the Kostroma's course forms the border between the Yaroslavl and Kostroma Districts.