The Medveditsa or Medveditza (/mɛdˈvɛdɪtsə/; Russian: Медведица, romanized: Medvedica, IPA: [mʲɪdˈvʲedʲɪtsə]) is a river in Volgograd and Saratov Oblasts in Russia, a left tributary of the Don.[1] The name means she-bear, and according to legend, it alludes to the large population of bears in the area in earlier times. It is 745 kilometres (463 mi) long, with a drainage basin of 34,700 square kilometres (13,400 sq mi).[2]
| Medveditsa | |
|---|---|
.jpg) The Medveditsa near Atkarsk | |
 | |
| Location | |
| Country | Volgograd and Saratov Oblast, Russia |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | |
| • location | Volga Uplands |
| Mouth | Don |
• coordinates | 49°34′35″N 42°38′19″E / 49.5763°N 42.6385°E |
| Length | 745 km (463 mi) |
| Basin size | 34,700 km2 (13,400 sq mi) |
| Discharge | |
| • average | 69 cubic metres per second (2,400 cu ft/s) |
| Basin features | |
| Progression | Don→ Sea of Azov |
| Tributaries | |
| • left | Idolga, Karamysh, Archeda |
| • right | Balanda, Tersa |
The river has its sources on the Volga Uplands, in the northeastern parts of Saratov Oblast, and flows mainly in a southwestern direction. It joins the Reka Don in Volgograd Oblast near Zatonski. Its largest tributaries are, from the right: Balanda and Tersa, and from the left: Idolga, Karamysh and Archeda.[1]
The towns of Petrovsk, Atkarsk, Medveditsa, Zhirnovsk, and Mikhaylovka are situated on the Medveditsa. The river is navigable to Atkarsk.
A variety of fish is found in the Medveditsa River: catfish, pike, bream, asp, perch, chub, perch, tench, roach, gudgeon and others. In the late 80s there were a lot of sterlet.
Forests along both banks of the river have a wide variety of birds, medicinal herbs, wild berries, fruits and flowers.
References
edit- ^ a b Медведица (река в Саратовской и Волгоградской обл.), Great Soviet Encyclopedia
- ^ «Река Медведица», Russian State Water Registry
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