The Volga Delta
- The Volga Delta is the largest delta in Russia and the whole of Europe. The delta is created by the Volga emptying out into the Caspian Sea. The delta is home to a large variety of plant life, much of which is rare. Some types of plants found in the delta include the sacred lotus and water chestnuts. The delta is inhabited by many types of animals, including 230 species of birds, 61 species of fish and 30 species of mammals.
The Kama River
- The Kama River, starting in the Upper Kama Upland in Udmurtia, is the largest tributary to the Volga River. The river is 1,125 miles long and passes through the cities of Solikamsk, Berezniki, Perm, Sarapul and Naberezhnye Chelny. The river serves as a waterway connecting many cities, including Perm and Moscow. There are many different types of fish living in the river, including sturgeon, perch and carp. The river provides electricity to cities along its banks through dams and hydroelectric generators.
Kuznetsk Basin
- The Kuznetsk Basin is a 10,000-square-mile basin that is known for its many coal deposits. The basin was the second largest coal producing site in the Soviet region. The region has a history of being an industrial center, with the first iron-smelting works founded there in 1697. Coal was discovered in the basin in 1721 and was mined starting in 1851.
Khamar-Daban Mountains
- The Khamar-Daban Mountains are located south of Lake Baikal, close to the border of Mongolia and Russia. The mountains are a relatively low chain, with an altitude of only 1.24 to 1.43 miles in height. The climate is wet and mild, and most of the range is undeveloped and inside the Baikalsky National Park. Fauna in the range include deer, grouse and bear. Flora include birch, pine and fir.
