Dnieper

The Dnieper /(də)ˈniːpər/[2][3] or Dnipro /dniːˈproʊ/[4] (Ukrainian: Дніпро) is one of the major rivers of Europe, rising in the Valdai Hills near Smolensk, Russia, before flowing through Belarus and Ukraine to the Black Sea. It is the longest river of Ukraine and Belarus and the fourth-longest river in Europe, after Volga, Danube and Ural. The total length is approximately 2,200 km (1,400 mi)[5] with a drainage basin of 504,000 square kilometres (195,000 sq mi). Historically, the river was an important barrier, dividing Ukraine into right and left banks. Nowadays, the river is noted for its dams and hydroelectric stations. The Dnieper is an important navigable waterway for the economy of Ukraine and is connected via the Dnieper–Bug Canal to other waterways in Europe.

In antiquity, the river was known to the Greeks as the Borysthenes and was part of the Amber Road.

Etymology and name in various languages

See also: List of crossings of the Dnieper River in Ukraine

The total length of the river is variously given as 2,145 kilometres (1,333 mi)[5] or 2,201 km (1,368 mi),[14][15][16][17] of which 485 km (301 mi) are within Russia, 700 km (430 mi) are within Belarus,[5] and 1,095 km (680 mi) are within Ukraine. Its basin covers 504,000 square kilometres (195,000 sq mi), of which 289,000 km2 (112,000 sq mi) are within Ukraine,[18] 118,360 km2 (45,700 sq mi) are within Belarus.[5]

The source of the Dnieper is the sedge bogs (Akseninsky Mokh) of the Valdai Hills in central Russia, at an elevation of 220 m (720 ft).[18] For 115 km (71 mi) of its length, it serves as the border between Belarus and Ukraine. Its estuary, or liman, used to be defended by the strong fortress of Ochakiv.[citation needed]

The southernmost point in Belarus is on the Dnieper to the south of Kamaryn in Brahin Raion.[19]

Tributaries of the Dnieper

Belarus section of the Dnieper river

The Dnieper has many tributaries (up to 32,000) with 89 being rivers of 100+ km.[20] The main ones are, from its source to its mouth:

Dnieper basin showing peoples in the ninth century

Vyazma (L)

Vop (R)

Khmost (R)

Myareya (L)

Drut (R)

Berezina (R)

Sozh (L)

Prypiat (R)

Teteriv (R)

Irpin (R)

Desna (L)

Stuhna (R)

Trubizh (L)

Ros (R)

Tiasmyn (R)

Supiy (L)

Sula (L)

Psyol (L)

Vorskla (L)

Oril (L)

Samara (L)

Konka (L)

Bilozerka (L)

Bazavluk (R)

Inhulets (R)

Many small direct tributaries also exist, such as, in the Kyiv area, the Syrets (right bank) in the north of the city, the historically significant Lybid (right bank) passing west of the centre, and the Borshahivka (right bank) to the south.

The water resources of the Dnieper basin compose around 80% out of all Ukraine.[20]

Rapids

Rapids at Dnieper in 1915

Tractus Borysthenis or Dnieper (from Bovzin city to Chortyca island) in 1662

Dnieper Rapids were part of trade route from the Varangians to the Greeks, first mentioned in the Kyiv Chronicle[clarification needed]. The route was probably established in the late eighth and early ninth centuries and gained significant importance from the tenth until the first third of the eleventh century. On the Dnieper the Varangians had to portage their ships round seven rapids, where they had to be on guard for Pecheneg nomads.

Along this middle flow of the Dnieper, there were nine major rapids (although some sources cite a fewer number of them), obstructing almost the whole width of the river, about 30–40 smaller rapids, obstructing only part of the river, and about 60 islands and islets.

After the Dnieper hydroelectric station was built in 1932, they were inundated by Dnieper Reservoir.

Ecology

Nowadays the Dnieper River suffers from anthropogenic influence and obtain numerous emissions of pollutants.[22] The Dnieper is close to the Prydniprovsky Chemical Plant radioactive dumps (near Kamianske), and susceptible to leakages of radioactive waste. The river is also close to the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Station (Chernobyl Exclusion Zone) that is located next to the mouth of the Prypiat River.

Navigation

Almost 2,000 km (1,200 mi) of the river is navigational (to the city of Dorogobuzh).[20] The Dnieper is important for the transport and economy of Ukraine[citation needed]: its reservoirs have large ship locks, allowing vessels of up to 270 by 18 metres (886 ft × 59 ft) to access as far as the port of Kyiv and thus create an important transport corridor.[citation needed] The river is used by passenger vessels as well. Inland cruises on the rivers Danube and Dnieper have been a growing market in recent decades.[citation needed]

Upstream from Kyiv, the Dnieper receives the water of the Pripyat River. This navigable river connects to the Dnieper-Bug canal, the link with the Bug River. Historically, a connection with the Western European waterways was possible, but a weir without any ship lock near the town of Brest, Belarus, has interrupted this international waterway. Poor political relations between Western Europe and Belarus mean there is little likelihood of reopening this waterway in the near future.[23] River navigation is interrupted each year by freezing in winter, and severe winter storms.