Vaga River
Encyclopedia
The Vaga is a river
in Totemsky
, Syamzhensky
, and Verkhovazhsky District
s of Vologda Oblast
and in Velsky
, Shenkursky
, and Vinogradovsky District
s of Arkhangelsk Oblast
in Russia
. It is a left and the biggest tributary
of the Northern Dvina River. The length of the river is 575 kilometres (357.3 mi). The area of its basin 44800 square kilometres (17,297.4 sq mi). The main tributaries of the Vaga River are the Pezhma
(left), the Vel
(left), the Kuloy
(right), the Ustya
(right), the Puya
(left), and the Led
(left).
For Verkhovazhsky, Velsky, and Shenkursky Districts the Vaga is the main river, its valley being heavily populated, and the districts centers, the selo of Verkhovazhye
(translated as on the Upper Vaga), and the towns of Velsk and Shenkursk
, are located on the banks of the Vaga. In these districts, one of the principal highways in Russia, M8
connecting Moscow and Arkhangelsk, has been built on the left bank of the Vaga.
The source of the Vaga is located west of the village of Pakhtusovo, in the Totemsky District close to the border with the Syamzhensky District. The river flows north-west, enters Syamzhensky District, crosses it, enters Verkhovazhsky District, and turns north-east. Whereas the whole course of the river is in taiga
, large areas in the valley of the Vaga are occupied by the meadows. The selo of Verkhovazhye is located on the left bank of the Vaga. The river than enters Arkhangelsk oblast, accepts the Pezhma from the left, the Kuloy from the right, and the Vel from the left in the town of Velsk. In Velsk, it also crosses the railway line connecting Konosha
with Kotlas
and eventually with Vorkuta
. The biggest tributary of the Vaga is the Ustya, the mouth of the Ustya is in the village of Vlasovskaya. Downstream from the confluence with the Ustya, Vaga accepts the Puya from the left, and on the right bank there is the town of Shenkursk. There is no bridge in Shenkursk, and the town is connected with the highway only by the ferry crossing. Downstream from Shenkursk, the river accepts the Led from the left and enters Vinogradovsky District. The mouth of the Vaga is about 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) of the district center, the urban-type settlement of Bereznik.
The river freezes up in mid-November and stays under the ice until late April.
Most of the river is navigable during the high-water season, although there is no regular passenger navigation. The Vaga was used for timber rafting
until the 1990s.
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 Totemsky
Totemsky District
Totemsky District is an administrative district , one of the twenty-six in Vologda Oblast, Russia. Municipally, it is incorporated as Totemsky Municipal District...
, Syamzhensky
Syamzhensky District
Syamzhensky District is an administrative district , one of the twenty-six in Vologda Oblast, Russia. Municipally, it is incorporated as Syamzhensky Municipal District...
, and Verkhovazhsky District
Verkhovazhsky District
Verkhovazhsky District is an administrative district , one of the twenty-six in Vologda Oblast, Russia. Municipally, it is incorporated as Verkhovazhsky Municipal District...
s of Vologda Oblast
Vologda Oblast
Vologda Oblast is a federal subject of Russia . Its administrative center is Vologda. The largest city is Cherepovets.Vologda Oblast is rich in historic monuments, such as the magnificent Kirillo-Belozersky Monastery, Ferapontov Convent , medieval towns of Velikiy Ustyug and Belozersk, baroque...
and in Velsky
Velsky District
Velsky District is an administrative district , one of the twenty-one in Arkhangelsk Oblast, Russia. Municipally, it is incorporated as Velsky Municipal District...
, Shenkursky
Shenkursky District
Shenkursky District is an administrative district , one of the twenty-one in Arkhangelsk Oblast, Russia. Municipally, it is incorporated as Shenkursky Municipal District...
, and Vinogradovsky District
Vinogradovsky District
Vinogradovsky District is an administrative district , one of the twenty-one in Arkhangelsk Oblast, Russia. Municipally, it is incorporated as Vinogradovsky Municipal District...
s of Arkhangelsk Oblast
Arkhangelsk Oblast
Arkhangelsk Oblast is a federal subject of Russia . It includes the Arctic archipelagos of Franz Josef Land and Novaya Zemlya, as well as the Solovetsky Islands in the White Sea....
in Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
. It is a left and the biggest 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 Northern Dvina River. The length of the river is 575 kilometres (357.3 mi). The area of its basin 44800 square kilometres (17,297.4 sq mi). The main tributaries of the Vaga River are the Pezhma
Pezhma River
The Pezhma is a river in Vozhegodsky and Verkhovazhsky Districts of Vologda Oblast and in Konoshsky and Velsky Districts of Arkhangelsk Oblast in Russia. It is a left tributary of the Vaga River. It is long, and the area of its basin . Its main tributary is the Semzhenga .The source of the Pezhma...
(left), the Vel
Vel River (Arkhangelsk Oblast)
The Vel is a river in Konoshsky and Velsky Districts of Arkhangelsk Oblast in Russia. It is a left tributary of the Vaga River. It is long, and the area of its basin . Its average discharge is...
(left), the Kuloy
Kuloy River (Vaga)
The Kuloy is a river in Totemsky and Verkhovazhsky Districts of Vologda Oblast and Velsky Districts of Arkhangelsk Oblast in Russia. It is a right tributary of the Vaga River. The length of the river is . The area of its basin...
(right), the Ustya
Ustya River
The Ustya is a river in Kotlassky, Krasnoborsky, Ustyansky, and Velsky Districts of Arkhangelsk Oblast in Russia. A very short portion of the river also forms the boundary between Kotlassky District and Velikoustyuzhsky District of Vologda Oblast. It is a right tributary of the Vaga River. The...
(right), the Puya
Puya River
The Puya is a river in Velsky and Shenkursky Districts of Arkhangelsk Oblast in Russia. It is a left tributary of the Vaga River. The length of the river is . The area of its basin . The major tributary is the Sulanda ....
(left), and the Led
Led River
The Led is a river in Plesetsky and Shenkursky Districts of Arkhangelsk Oblast in Russia. It is a left tributary of the Vaga River. It is long, and the area of its basin . Its main tributary is the Tarnya ....
(left).
For Verkhovazhsky, Velsky, and Shenkursky Districts the Vaga is the main river, its valley being heavily populated, and the districts centers, the selo of Verkhovazhye
Verkhovazhye
Verkhovazhye is a rural locality and the administrative center of Verkhovazhsky District, Vologda Oblast, Russia, located on the right bank of the Vaga River. It also serves as the administrative center of Verkhovazhsky Selsoviet, one of the fourteen selsoviets into which the district is...
(translated as on the Upper Vaga), and the towns of Velsk and Shenkursk
Shenkursk
Shenkursk is a town and the administrative center of Shenkursky District of Arkhangelsk Oblast, Russia, located on the right bank of the Vaga River. Municipally, it is incorporated as Shenkurskoye Urban Settlement of Shenkursky Municipal District. Population:...
, are located on the banks of the Vaga. In these districts, one of the principal highways in Russia, M8
M8 highway (Russia)
The Russian route M8, also known as the Kholmogory Highway or Yaroslavl highway, is a major trunk road that links Moscow to the Russian North in general and the sea harbour of Arkhangelsk in particular...
connecting Moscow and Arkhangelsk, has been built on the left bank of the Vaga.
The source of the Vaga is located west of the village of Pakhtusovo, in the Totemsky District close to the border with the Syamzhensky District. The river flows north-west, enters Syamzhensky District, crosses it, enters Verkhovazhsky District, and turns north-east. Whereas the whole course of the river is in taiga
Taiga
Taiga , also known as the boreal forest, is a biome characterized by coniferous forests.Taiga is the world's largest terrestrial biome. In North America it covers most of inland Canada and Alaska as well as parts of the extreme northern continental United States and is known as the Northwoods...
, large areas in the valley of the Vaga are occupied by the meadows. The selo of Verkhovazhye is located on the left bank of the Vaga. The river than enters Arkhangelsk oblast, accepts the Pezhma from the left, the Kuloy from the right, and the Vel from the left in the town of Velsk. In Velsk, it also crosses the railway line connecting Konosha
Konosha
Konosha is an urban locality Konosha is an urban locality Konosha is an urban locality (an urban-type settlement and the administrative center of Konoshsky District, Arkhangelsk Oblast, Russia, located on the Konosha River, south of Arkhangelsk. It also serves as the administrative center of...
with Kotlas
Kotlas
Kotlas is a town in the southeast of Arkhangelsk Oblast, Russia, situated at the confluence of the Northern Dvina and Vychegda Rivers. Administratively, it is incorporated as a town of oblast significance . It also serves as the administrative center of Kotlassky District, by which it is...
and eventually with Vorkuta
Vorkuta
Vorkuta is a coal-mining town in the Komi Republic, Russia, situated just north of the Arctic Circle in the Pechora coal basin at the Usa River. Population: - Labor camp origins :...
. The biggest tributary of the Vaga is the Ustya, the mouth of the Ustya is in the village of Vlasovskaya. Downstream from the confluence with the Ustya, Vaga accepts the Puya from the left, and on the right bank there is the town of Shenkursk. There is no bridge in Shenkursk, and the town is connected with the highway only by the ferry crossing. Downstream from Shenkursk, the river accepts the Led from the left and enters Vinogradovsky District. The mouth of the Vaga is about 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) of the district center, the urban-type settlement of Bereznik.
The river freezes up in mid-November and stays under the ice until late April.
Most of the river is navigable during the high-water season, although there is no regular passenger navigation. The Vaga was used for timber rafting
Timber rafting
Timber rafting is a log transportation method in which logs are tied together into rafts and drifted or pulled across a water body or down a flatter river. It is arguably the second cheapest method of transportation of timber, next after log driving...
until the 1990s.