The Volga River

'Every country has its national river,' said famous French writer Alexandre Dumas, 'and Russia has the Volga, the longest river in Europe, the Queen of rivers, and I was one of the many who went to bow to her Majesty River Volga'. No Russian can hear the word Volga without an image springing to mind of the river's wide, plangent waters, gracious ships which pass like icebergs and gulls which hover over the water with lingering cries.

Mother Volga's place in every Russian heart is assured, celebrated in the famous song of the Volga boatmen, 'Mighty stream so deep and wide, Volga, Volga our pride'. 7000 years ago, the river's lower reaches were the cradle of Indo-European culture, with key archaeological discoveries near Syezzheye. Ever since, the Volga has played a central role in Russian culture and folklore. The great bend in the river around Samara was the haunt of the colorful 17th century Kazak bandit Stenka Razin, while the lower plains were the scene of the Pughachev rebellion, romanticized in Pushkin's novel 'The Captain's Daughter'.

Today, almost 50 million people live in the Volga basin - one third of Russia's population - and many of Russia's biggest cities are here, including Moscow, Nizhny Novgorod and Volgograd. It is still a key transport route, navigable by big ships, with the help of giant locks and canals, over much of its length.

Rising from a small spring in the Valdai Hills northwest of Moscow, the river flows southeast in a great arc over 3690 km to spill into the Caspian sea through a vast delta. Although industrialization has marred its traditional clarity in a few places, over much of its length it has a matchless wild beauty. The Volga delta is a must for anyone interested in wildlife - a unique refuge to marsh creatures such as beavers and otters and countless birds from herons to the great bald eagle. Another must for nature-lovers is the Samara Bend National Park, famous for its woodland hikes and stunning views from the rocky cliffs that rise above the river.

If you simply want a relaxing summer holiday, you'll find in countless places along the banks lush green forests, blue transparent waters, fresh air and azure skies. The extraordinary sense of tranquility of the river at sunrise has long captivated Russian artists. Later on in the day as the sun warms up, you can take a cooling dip in the river as many young Russians do, or simply sunbathe on sandy beaches like those at Samara.

The best way to experience the Volga, though, is from the deck of one of the cruisers that ply their way down the river in the summer months. Like Russian trains, Volga boats have transit cabins with two to four bunks, and journeys take anything from 10 hours to almost three days. The stops are usually too brief to see many of the sites en route properly, but it is worth a special detour to see cities like Kazan with it historic Kremlin, now a World Heritage site.

A holiday on Volga is an experience of a lifetime. This wonderful place will introduce you to Russian culture, open you its genuine beauty and give you a charge of positive emotions. And may be you will learn just a little about the mysterious 'Russian soul' and go home with many warm memories.