The source of the river Volga

Here's the great Russian river Volga begins

The headspring is located in Ostashkov district of Tver region. The location of this source was approved by the Russian geographical society in the late XIX century on the basis of the results of the expedition of Professor D. Anuchkin. The largest European river originates on the slopes of the Valdai hills, at a height of 228 meters above sea level. The village nearby was named as Volgoverkhovye. The source arranged by putting the chapel. Here is a photo of the talented Russian photographer Yevgeny Petrovich Vishnyakov (1841-1916), made in the 1890-ies:

Now the wooden bridge leads to the chapel. Here the Volga is a small stream about one meter wide and the depth of the knee. Following 2-3 kilometers the river gradually widens, forming small pools and riffles.

A stream Persyanka arising from marshes, is the first tributary of the Volga river. Then the river flows through lake Small Verhit, then through the swamp; then stream Red Creek confiences into it. Continuing its way, the Volga river flows through the lake Great Verhit, to the lake of Sterzh it fits even a small stream. From lake Sterzh Volga flows already overflowing river.

All the upper lakes are amazingly beautiful. They are surrounded by dark old-growth forest, in a thicket which can't get due to the fact that pine and spruce are the mighty wall because of the marshy swamp. Nature would especially like to hid in these impenetrable swamps and forests, trying to preserve, the cradle of the Volga.

On the slopes of Valday hills is the source of the Dnieper and the Western Dvina. In the area of Volgo-created the headwaters preserve, which includes the reserved forest with total area of 4100 hectares. the Headspring is subject to recreational use.