Russia is not only a superpower, but also one of the most water-provided countries on the planet. The state has the largest supply of fresh water, and 12.4% of all territories are occupied by water bodies. There are 2.5 million rivers in Russia.
One of such beautiful and fairly large reservoirs is the Lama River in the Moscow Region, as well as the Tverskaya River. On its banks stands one of the most ancient cities in Russia and the Moscow region - Volokolamsk. In the old days, the river was part of the waterway that ran from the Volga to the Moscow River.
Origin of the name
According to historians, in the 1st millennium the B alts lived in these places, who gave the name to the river - Lama. Translated from the Latvian language, the word lama means "long and narrow valley", and can also be interpreted as "puddle" or "small pond".
Geographical and general characteristics
The river is located in the Upper Volga lowland, the waters run through the Moscow region (Volokolamsk and Lotoshinsky districts) and the Tver region (Kalinin and Konakovo districts). The Lama River flows into Ivankovskoyereservoir, and originates in the village of Sebenka.
The total length of the reservoir is 139 kilometers, the drainage basin is 2330 km². The Lama River itself is characterized as winding, with numerous dams. In the upper reaches, near the Klinsko-Dmitrovskaya ridge, the river is narrow, in the district there is a treeless valley. Downstream, after the tributary of the Yauza, the channel widens, and forests are already appearing on the banks.
The average width of the channel is from 20 to 25 m. The depth ranges from 60 cm to 1.5 m. Near the Ivankovskoye reservoir, the depth reaches 6 m, which makes it possible to support navigation in the mouth section. The forest coverage is at the average level and is 12%, the swampiness is 6%.
The Lama River of the Tver Region, as well as the Moscow Region, is classified as an Eastern European type. This means that in spring it becomes full-flowing, in autumn and summer there are rain floods. It is covered with ice in November, and the opening occurs at the end of March. The main food is melt water. In some places the river is overgrown and swampy.
There are 11 tributaries near the river, the largest ones are Velga (113 km) and Selesnya (107 km). Before the construction of the reservoir (1937), the river was just a tributary of the Shoshi River.
Ichthyofauna
There are about 10 species of fish in the Lama River in the Tver Region. These are the most common water representatives in Russia: bream, pike, bleak, crucian carp, perch and roach. However, due to heavy pollution, the number of fish is small. The activity of the gastrointestinal tract and industrial enterprises of Volokolamsk has the strongest anthropogenic impact on the river. The Yauza River, a tributary of the Lama, is also a very dirty body of water. In light of this, there is no commercial fishing on the river. However, on the shores you can meet fishermen who fish with feeder and float rods.
Economic value
The Lama River is mentioned in chronicles from 1135. In those ancient times, a path ran along it, which was called "drag". Navigation was carried out from the Volga to Shosha, Lama, Trostenskoye Lake, and then to the Ruza and the Moscow River. The city of Volokolamsk on the Lama River appeared on the way of the "drag". By the way, the name of the settlement was formed by combining two words: “volok” and “llama”.
In 1919, the country's first rural hydroelectric power station appeared in the village of Yaropolets. Today it is preserved as a historical monument. At the present time, navigation on the river is carried out only near the Ivankovsky reservoir, where there is backwater and sufficient depth for ships to pass. The navigation season lasts from 180 to 220 days.
Hydroelectric power plant
Travelers love to come to Yaropolets and take photos of the Lama River exactly in the place where the spillway and the hydroelectric power station itself are located.
There is a legend that in 1918 in the village of Yaropolets there was a drama circle, whose members decided to put on a play. However, they realized that it would not be possible to show it in the evening, because there was no electricity in the village. The solution to the problem was found by local craftsmen who assembled a dynamo, but it could only provide lighting for 4 light bulbs.
After that, the local population caught fire with the idea of building a power station. For this, they chose a water mill in the Chernyshev estate. A generator with a capacity of 13 kilowatts was connected to it, and already in November 1919, electric light appeared in the houses.
Of course, this capacity was not enough, especially since residents of neighboring villages became interested in the novelty. As a result, a technical society was created, which solved the issues of financing the construction of hydroelectric power stations. Almost all residents of Yaropol and residents of neighboring 14 villages joined the society. As entry fees, not only money was accepted, but also food products, which were sold in the markets or exchanged for building materials. The equipment building was erected. And in 1920, Lenin visited the village, who liked the idea of the peasants, and he helped them to purchase equipment.
Post-war
Until 1941, the hydroelectric power station on the Lama River worked successfully, but the Germans blew it up. After the end of the war, local residents began restoration work, and it started working only in 1959.
After the construction of the Ivankovskaya hydroelectric power station, the economic importance of small rivers, including the Lama River, came to naught. Many small hydroelectric power plants were completely liquidated, only the village of Yaropolets remained, where no electricity is generated, but it has been preserved as a monument, and the sound of water near the spillway can be heard from afar.
Nature Park
The Lama River is still known among tourists because of the Zavidovsky Reserve, which is located in the lower reaches. It was foundedback in 1972 on the basis of a hunting farm that had existed since 1929. The residence of the President of the Russian Federation - "Rus" is located on the park territory. In addition, there are 90 small settlements within the boundaries of the protected zone. The park has mixed forests, many swamps, and coniferous groves. The forest is home to many species of mammals (41), here you can meet hares, foxes, ermine and even a bear. The territory of the park is considered the cleanest in the region.
Other attractions
If you managed to get to the Lama River in Volokolamsk, be sure to visit the Volokolamsk Kremlin, which consists of an ensemble of buildings:
- Resurrection Cathedral;
- St. Nicholas Cathedral;
- bell tower, which is built in five tiers.
In addition to the hydroelectric power station and the ancient city of Volokolamsk, in the river valley there is the Chernyshevs' estate, where you can see not only the ruins, but also take a walk in the ancestral park. You can visit the Zagryazhsky estate, which since 1821 belonged to the Goncharov family, whose daughter, Natalya, married A. S. Pushkin. The poet's wife spent all her childhood here. After the wedding, Alexander Sergeevich visited these places several times.
In the village of Yaropolets there is another interesting place - the Church of the Nativity of John the Baptist, built in 1755 instead of a wooden one that had slipped down. In 1808, it was overhauled and now has an architectural style - classicism.
