Plus is a short, but very picturesque river in the European part of Russia, flowing through the territories of the Pskov and Leningrad regions. The total length of its channel is 281 kilometers, and the catchment area is 6,550 km2. The Plyussa River is the right tributary of the Narva, which forms the reservoir of the same name.
The name of the river comes from the B altic "plus", which literally means "sedge".
General characteristics and photo of the Plyussy River
The source of the river is the Zaplussky lakes, located on the border of the Pskov and Novgorod regions. Human economic activity has led to the formation of these reservoirs. Previously, this place was located Zaplusskoye Lake, which gave rise to the riverbed. As a result of land reclamation work, one large reservoir broke into several small ones.
The mouth of the Plyussa is the confluence of the Narva reservoir, built on the Narva River and located north of the city of Slantsy on the border between Russia and Estonia. The reservoir was created in 1956. Until this momentPlyussa flowed directly into the Narva. Thus, both the source and the mouth have been greatly altered as a result of human actions.
In the Pskov region, the Plyussa river flows first in a westerly direction, and near the village of Dobruchi it changes to the north. Throughout the course, the channel has a tortuous character.
The river basin forms many lakes, among which the largest are:
- Black;
- Zaverduga;
- Long;
- Zaplusskoye;
- Schirskoye;
- Song.
The river is replenished by multiple tributaries (more than 30), among which Yanya and Lyuta are leaders in average water discharge and catchment area, and Lyuta and Kureya are leaders in length.
All water bodies flowing into Plyussa are very small, like the river itself, which cannot boast of either breadth or great depths. Nevertheless, among the tributaries of the Narva, this one is the largest.
The Plyussa River is very popular among tourists due to its scenic beauty and high fish content. Navigation in high water is possible below 83 kilometers from the mouth (Cherenovo village), and in low water - on the segment between the settlements of Ivangorod and Slantsy.
The ecological situation on the river is not very favorable. Its waters are classified as slightly polluted, and in areas below the cities - polluted.
Current
The Plyussa River has a narrow and shallow meandering channel with a slope of 0.14%. The nature of the coast changes along the course. In the upper and middle parts of the river they are high, steep and dry, and in the lower reaches - in placeswaterlogged.
The width and depth of the channel in different parts of the Plyussa is not the same, and therefore several indicative segments can be distinguished in its course.
| Section of river | Width, m | Depth, m |
| District (settlement) | 5 | 1 |
| Down from Little Lizi Village | 25 | 1, 5 |
| Plyussa Settlement | 40 | 1, 7 |
| Near the village of Vir (toward the source) | 25 | 0, 8 |
| Downstream from the village of Chernevo | 50 | 4 |
| Between Pskov and Leningrad regions | 70 | 2, 8 |
Somewhere along the river there are fords. The bottom soil of Plyussa can be sandy, hard or silty. In the area of shales, the channel crosses ancient moraines, acquiring a rapid character.
The shores are higher in the upper reaches, and in some places are represented by picturesque rocky sandstones that come close to the water.
Hydrology
The Plyussa River is characterized by a mixed supply, to which the greatest contribution is made by snowmelt. The total runoff is 1.461 km3/year, and the average annual water discharge is 46.3 m3/s. The flow velocity varies from 0.1 to 0.3 m/s. The maximum water discharge at Plyuss is 774 m3/s, and the minimum is 8.05 m3/s. In the area of Slantsythe value is 50 m3/sec.
High water comes in the spring, accompanied by a rise in the river level by 6-7 meters. At this time, the width of the channel increases greatly. Rain floods lead to a rise in the level of the river by 2 m, and the formation of ice jams - by 1.8 m.
Freezing begins in the second or third months of winter, and ice breaks during the transitional period from March to April.
Recreation and fishing
Despite its small size, the Plyussa River is popular with connoisseurs of water tourism. Of course, rafting along it does not bring adrenaline, since the channel has very few rapids and rifts, and the current is slow. However, for lovers of picturesque nature, a trip along Plyussa will bring an unforgettable experience.
During the journey, you can observe various landscapes in the form of a dense mixed forest or pine forest, beautiful sandy beaches, streams, springs, rocky shores and quiet backwaters overgrown with water lilies. A kayak or rubber boat is suitable for rafting.
Fishing on the Plyussa River is popular due to the rich fish fauna, which includes the following species:
- pike;
- roach;
- zander;
- bleak;
- ide;
- line;
- rudd;
- perch.
Where the river passes through Slantsy, its banks are suitable for swimming and beach recreation.
