Reservoirs on the Volga - history under water. Reservoirs of the Russian Federation

The construction of reservoirs is, in fact, the most important way humanity to survive on our planet. The role of reservoirs at all times has been grandiose: from the accumulation of water for domestic needs, irrigation of farmland, flood control in antiquity to the generation of electricity today. Man built the first reservoirs more than 3 thousand years ago in Ancient Egypt, Mesopotamia and China. Later, such structures began to be erected in India, Iran, and Syria.

Here is a selection of the five largest hydroelectric reservoirs in the world. Enjoy the views!

1. Victoria, b. Nile (Uganda, Owen Falls HPP)
   Total volume: 205 km 3
   Area: 76,000 km2 (comparable to the area of ​​a country like the Republic of Panama)
   Length: 320 km
   Width: 275 km
   Maximum depth: 83 m
   Dam height: 31 m
   Construction start year: 1947
   Year of completion of filling: 1954
2. Brotherly, r. Angara (Russia, Bratskaya HPP)
   Total volume: 169 km 3
   Area: 5470 km2
   Length: 570 km (equal to the distance between the two European capitals of Prague and Budapest)
   Width: 25 km
   Maximum depth: 150 m
   Dam Height: 124.5
   Construction start year: 1955
   

   

3. Caribbean, r. Zambezi (Zambia, Zimbabwe, Kariba HPP)
   Total volume: 160 km3
   Area: 4450 km 2
   Length: 220 km
   Width: 40 km
   Maximum depth: 78 m
   Dam height: 126 (this is the height of four nine-story buildings)
   Construction start year: 1957
   Year of filling completion: 1963

   

4. Nasser, r. Nile (Egypt, Sudan, Aswan waterworks)
   Total volume: 157 km3
   Area: 5120 km2
   Length: 550 km
   Width: 35 km
   Maximum depth: 130 m (that's ten times the depth Sea of ​​Azov at its lowest point)
   Dam height: 111 m
   Construction start year: 1960
   Year of filling completion: 1970

   

5. Volta, r. Volta (Ghana, Akosombo HPP)
   Total volume: 147 km 3
   Area: 8500 km 2 (occupies almost 4% of the area of ​​Ghana)
   Length: 400 km
   Maximum depth: 80 m
   Dam height: 111 m
   Construction start year: 1961
   Year of filling completion: 1967

   

Interestingly, the next five largest reservoirs are located in Russia: Krasnoyarsk, Zeya, Ust-Ilimsk, Kuibyshev, Baikal (Irkutsk).

Water resources of reservoirs

About 30,000 reservoirs and ponds regulating river flow with a total volume of more than 800 cubic meters are in operation on the territory of Russia. km. Their total usable volume is 342 cubic meters. km, with more than 90% accounted for by reservoirs with a capacity of over 10 million cubic meters. m, and more than 200 million cubic meters. m of water is concentrated in only a hundred reservoirs. Capacity above 1 million cubic meters m have 2650 reservoirs. The length of the coastline of reservoirs is 75.4 thousand km.

Of the total number of reservoirs, about 230 are used in a complex, and the rest - only by individual sectors of the economy: for energy needs - 30, Agriculture- 1761, water supply - 297, other needs - 586 reservoirs.

The top ten largest reservoirs in the world in terms of water surface area include the Kuibyshevskoye (6.5 thousand cubic km), Bratskoye (5.5), Rybinskoye (4.5), Volgograd (3.1), Krasnoyarskoye (2.0 ) reservoirs. The largest reservoirs are located in Eastern Siberia. The average volume of one reservoir here reaches 26.4 cubic meters. km, in the Far East - 7.4 cubic meters. km. In table. 1.14 shows the characteristics of the largest reservoirs in Russia.

Table 1.14. General characteristics of the largest reservoirs in Russia

*HP - hydropower, SU - shipping, LS - timber rafting, OP - irrigation, RH - fisheries, VS - water supply, RK - recreation, IR - irrigation, FN - flood control (under the project).

The main hydraulic parameters of the largest reservoirs in Russia are presented in Table. 1.15.

Table 1.15. Main hydrotechnical parameters of the largest reservoirs

The rivers of the European territory are distinguished by a high degree of flow regulation, where water consumers and water users experience a shortage of water resources in certain periods and years. For example, the runoff The Volga is regulated by 40%, the Don - 50%, the Urals - 68%. In general, on the rivers of the European part of Russia, the total useful volume of regulated flow reaches 161 cubic meters. km, including on the rivers of the northern slope - 35, southern - 126 cubic meters. km.

The regulation of the flow of the northern rivers was carried out mainly for the purposes of energy, water transport and timber rafting. More than 90% of the regulated flow falls on the Murmansk region (14.5 cubic km) and the Republic of Karelia (17.5 cubic km). The largest reservoirs are located here on medium and small rivers of the basins of the White and Barents Seas: Kumskoye on Topozero (useful capacity 8.63 cubic km), Vygozerskoye on the river. Lower Vyg (1.1 cubic km), Segozerskoye on the Segozero (4 cubic km), Verkhnetulomskoye on the river. Tulome (3.86 cubic km).

In the North-West region, the main water sources of which are the rivers and lakes of the river basin. Neva, flow regulation is carried out by 32 reservoirs with a total useful volume of 1.1 km3. The largest reservoir of long-term regulation is Verkhnesvirskoe (0.54 km3), located on the river. Svir and used for energy, water supply, fisheries and shipping purposes.

More than 60% of the volume of the regulated flow of the rivers of the Southern slope is concentrated in the reservoirs of the Volga-Kama cascade, which are used for energy, industrial and municipal water supply, water transport, irrigation, fisheries, and recreation. Eleven hydroelectric power plants have been built on the Volga and its main tributary, the Kama. Total installed capacity Volga-Kama cascade is 11409 MW. The construction of dams, reservoirs and hydroelectric power plants has reduced the speed of the river, affected water quality, fish productivity and biodiversity.

In total, there are about 800 reservoirs in the Volga basin with a total useful volume of 101 cubic meters. km and a mirror area of ​​30.4 thousand square meters. km. They accumulate almost 70% of the average annual runoff of the Volga basin. Of the eight large hydroelectric facilities with reservoirs on the river. On the Volga, four (Ivankovskoye, Uglichskoye, Rybinskoye and Gorky) form a continuous cascade on the Upper Volga (the fifth - the Upper Volga reservoir, located in the upper reaches of the river, is isolated from the cascade).

Kuibyshev reservoir, stretching up to the confluence of the Volga River with the Kama River from the Kuibyshev hydroelectric complex - 309 km; from the Kuibyshev hydroelectric complex to the Cheboksary hydroelectric complex along the river. Volga - 508 km; from the Kuibyshev hydroelectric complex to the Nizhne-Kama hydroelectric complex along the Volga River and the river. Kame - 578 km. The total volume of the reservoir is 58 cubic meters. km, useful - 34.6 cubic meters. km. This is the largest reservoir of the Volga-Kama cascade (it controls 97% of the water resources of the Volga), which makes it possible, under modern conditions, to carry out the intra-annual distribution of the Volga runoff in the alignment of the Kuibyshev hydroelectric complex. The main tributaries to the Kuibyshev reservoir are: Kama, Bolshoy Cheremshan, Sviyaga, Sok, Bolshoi Kinel, Usa. From the Kuibyshev reservoir to the Lower Volga comes 242 cubic meters. km of average annual runoff.

Saratov reservoir, length - 350 km. The total volume of the reservoir is 12.87 cubic meters. km, useful - 1.75 cubic meters. km. The Saratov hydroelectric complex is located 1129 km from the mouth of the Volga. The Saratov reservoir is a reservoir of weekly regulation of river flow with a large water exchange. The main tributaries to the Saratov reservoir: Samara, Chapaevka, Syzran, Chagra, Small Irgiz.

Volgograd reservoir, length - 540 km. The total volume of the reservoir is 31.45 cubic meters. km, useful - 8.25 cubic meters. km. The Volgograd hydroelectric complex is located 606 km from the mouth of the Volga. The hydrological regime of the Volgograd reservoir is determined by the operation of the HPP and economic water releases. The main tributaries to the Volgograd reservoir are: Tereshka, Kurdyum, Bolshoy Irgiz, Bolshoi Karaman, Eruslan. Through the Volgograd hydroelectric complex, 249 cubic meters of gas are supplied to the Lower Volga. km of average annual runoff.

In accordance with the normative capital class, the Kuibyshev, Saratov and Volgograd hydroelectric facilities are designed to pass the spring flood with a probability of exceeding 0.1% (this is a flow rate of 60 thousand cubic meters per second) in normal conditions operation and tested for skipping a catastrophic flood with a probability of exceeding 0.01% (this is a flow rate of 70 thousand cubic meters per second).

The Pallasovskaya irrigation and watering system supplies water from the Volgograd reservoir to the Dzhanybek irrigation and watering system of the Republican State Enterprise "Zapadvodkhoz" of the Republic of Kazakhstan for the needs of watering.

In modern conditions, the reservoirs of the Volga-Kama cascade of hydroelectric complexes are actively used to cut off the natural maximum flow rates.

The Tsimlyansk reservoir has a total length of 281 km and most of it is located within the Volgograd region - 197 km. The reservoir extends from the hydroelectric dam along the Tsimlyansk-Volgodonsk alignment to the village of Trekhostrovskaya. Backwater from the Tsimlyansk reservoir extends to the river. Ilovlya. The length of the lake-like part from the city of Kalach-on-Don to the site of the Tsimlyanskaya HPP is 179 km.

The Tsimlyansk reservoir has a different width and depth, so it is divided into four reaches:

- near the dam - from the dam to the village of Krivskaya in the Rostov region; its length is 44 km, maximum width is 38 km, average depth is 9.7 m, maximum depth is 35 m; this section has a lacustrine regime, its flow is low, the flow velocity is 0.1-0.2 m/s;

- Potemkinsky - from the village of Krivskaya to the village of Suvorovskaya in the Volgograd region; the length of this stretch is 68 km, with an average width of 8.5 km and a maximum width of 22 km;

the average depth is 9.7 m, the greatest is 15-20 m; 60% of the area is occupied by depths up to 10 m;

this section is also characterized by a small flow and has a flow rate of only 0.2-0.3 m / s;

- Chirskaya - from Suvorovskaya to st. spoons; this stretch is characterized by a large indentation of the banks; average depth - up to 10 m; the width of the reach is up to 22 km, its length is greater than the previous ones;

- upper - from st. Spoons and above; this is the longest stretch - its length is from 60 to 100 km; the regime resembles a river; here during the year both depth and area are changeable; depths - less than 10 m; in spring, the flow increases, and the flow velocity increases to 0.5 m/sec.

The filling of the Tsimlyansk reservoir occurs mainly due to the flow of meltwater from the spring flood from the territory of the basin located above the city of Kalach, as well as due to the inflow along the rivers: Karpovka, Donskaya Tsaritsa, Myshkovka, Chir, Aksai Esaulovsky, Aksai Kurmoyarsky and Tsimla. The total average annual runoff of the lateral tributaries of the reservoir (1.1 cubic km) does not exceed 5% of the total inflow and decreases in dry years to 0.2 cubic km. km. The intra-annual distribution of runoff is characterized by extreme unevenness. The share of spring flood runoff (3-5 months) is from 70 to 90%, the runoff of summer-autumn and winter low water fluctuates from 10 to 30%.

The period of summer-autumn and winter low water is characterized by more or less uniform water content: the share of summer-autumn low water is about 13% of the annual runoff.

In the North Caucasus region, where there is an acute shortage of water resources, especially in the spring-summer period, the regulation of river flow is of paramount importance.

The main waterways are the rivers Don, Kuban, Terek, Sulak. There are about 408 reservoirs in the region, mostly seasonal or daily regulation, with a total useful capacity of 19.2 cubic meters. km. The regulated flow is mainly used for irrigation of agricultural land and fish farming. The greatest development of runoff regulation has received in the Rostov region, Stavropol and Krasnodar regions. The share of Tsimlyansky, the only large reservoir that regulates the flow of the Don in the long term, accounts for 11.5 cubic meters. km. The main purpose of the Tsimlyansk reservoir is irrigation and watering of the Lower Don in the interests of navigation, as well as fish farming and water supply.

The Manych cascade, which includes the Proletarskoye (0.87 cubic km), Veselovskoye (0.19 cubic km) and Ust-Manychskoye (0.07 cubic km) reservoirs, was built in the 1930s and is intended for navigation, energy, fisheries and land irrigation. In addition to the local runoff to Manych in the amount of about 0.5 cubic meters. km per year, Kuban (along the river B. Egorlyk) and Don (along the Don main canal) water is supplied.

The Veselovskoye reservoir serves as an accumulator of fresh Don water used for irrigation, as well as a water intake for drainage and waste water coming from the irrigated lands of the Stavropol Territory, the salinity of which reaches 3-4 g/l.

In recent years, the reservoir has been losing its importance as a reliable source for irrigation, since the salinity of its waters has increased to 2.5 g/l. Currently, there is a problem of water desalinization in the reservoir.

The main water basin of the Krasnodar Territory and the Republic of Adygea is the river. Kuban. The total useful volume regulated by 148 reservoirs is 2.7 cubic meters. km, a significant proportion of which (2.2 cubic km) falls on the Krasnodar reservoir, located in the middle reaches of the river. Kuban. The main purpose of the reservoir is to irrigate more than 200 thousand hectares of agricultural land, protect about 600 thousand hectares of agricultural land in the lower reaches of the Kuban from floods, and provide fish spawning and transport releases to the mouth sections of the Kuban and Protoka.

Kryukovskoe (0.1 cubic km), Varnavinskoe (0.02 cubic km) and Shapsugskoe (0.13 cubic km) reservoirs, which regulate the flow of the Trans-Kuban rivers, are used to irrigate land and protect agricultural land from floods. The purpose of other smaller reservoirs is irrigation and fish farming.

In the Stavropol Territory, about 100 reservoirs are operated with a total useful capacity of 2.15 cubic meters. km. Many reservoirs are bulk, located on the channels of redistribution of runoff. These are, for example, the Sengileevskoye reservoir (0.36 cubic km), operating on the Kuban water supplied through the Nevinnomyssky Canal, and the Kuban (0.5 cubic km), located on the Great Stavropol Canal, which redistributes Kuban water to the waterless areas of the Caspian basin. seas. The Egorlyk reservoir (0.1 cubic km) partially works on the Kuban water and regulates the flow of the river. Egorlyk (Don basin). The rest of the reservoirs are smaller. The main purpose of the reservoirs of the region is irrigation, the largest ones are also used for water supply, fish farming and energy.

Chogray reservoir, put into operation in 1970, with an area of ​​200 sq. km, with a volume of 720 million cubic meters. m, located on the border of the Republic of Kalmykia and the Stavropol Territory in the valley of the river. East Manych. It is designed to accumulate water for the purpose of irrigating the Chernozemelskaya irrigation system, watering 113 thousand hectares of pastures, drinking water supply for six rural areas and the capital of Kalmykia - the city of Elista, as well as fish farming. The reservoir is partially filled with local runoff from the Eastern Manych catchment area, as well as Terek and Kuma water supplied through the Terek-Manych waterway.

The Nizhnekamsk reservoir was created in 1978 in the valley of the river. Kama, by blocking the river (November 1, 1978) and filling in 1979 to a time mark of 62.0 m BS. The reservoir provides daily and weekly redistribution of inflow to the hydroelectric complex in the interests of energy. Inlet charges are passed all year round in transit to the downstream. The total volume of the reservoir at a time mark of 62.0 m is 2.9 cubic meters. km, at a mark of 68.0 m - 2570 cubic meters. km. The area of ​​the water mirror is 1.084 thousand square meters. km. At the reservoir, water levels for three recent years continued to be maintained at elevations of 63.1-63.5 m. White - 26.1 cu. km. Shallow waters with depths up to 2 m occupy about 50% of the reservoir area. The maximum width of the reservoir is 15 km, the average is 4 km. The length is 185 km along the river. Kama and 157 km along the river. White. Average depth- 3.3 m, the largest - 20 m.

The total catchment area of ​​the river. Kama in the alignment of the Nizhnekamsk hydroelectric complex is 370 thousand km2, private catchment - 186 thousand cubic meters. km. Under the operating conditions of the Nizhnekamsk reservoir at a time mark of 62.0 m, the coastline and hydraulic structures and buildings along it are exposed to wave action. It is necessary to carry out overhaul 7.5 km of the protective dam of the Staro-Tatyshevskaya farmer, located in the Aktanyshsky district of the Republic of Tatarstan.

A significant proportion of the regulated flow falls on the rivers of the Asian part of Russia - 180.9 cubic meters. km, or 53% of the total useful volume of all reservoirs in the country. The potential water resources of this region are enormous.

The main volume of regulated flow falls on large energy reservoirs located in the basins of the Yenisei, Lena and Amur. Most of them carry out seasonal or daily regulation.

More than 60% of the flow regulated in the Asian part of the country falls on Eastern Siberia- 114.9 cubic meters. km, of which 114.8 cubic meters. km - on Krasnoyarsk region and Irkutsk region. In total, there are 68 reservoirs in the region, located mainly in the Yenisei basin.

Within the territory of Krasnoyarsk Territory there are 38 reservoirs with a total useful capacity of 63.3 cubic meters. km, of which three are very large - Sayano-Shushenskoye, Krasnoyarsk and Khantayskoye. All three reservoirs are of complex purpose and are used for the purposes of energy, navigation, irrigation and water supply.

The reservoirs of the Angarsk HPP cascade accumulate in total one and a half of the average annual flow of the river.

In the Irkutsk region, 6 reservoirs are operated with a total useful capacity of 51.5 cubic meters. km. The main share of the regulated flow falls on the reservoir of the Bratskaya HPP (useful volume 48.2 cubic km) and Ust-Ilimskoye (2.7 cubic km). The remaining 4 reservoirs are used for energy or agriculture. The Irkutsk reservoir regulates the flow of the lake. Baikal.

AT Western Siberia there are 121 reservoirs with a total useful capacity of 6.1 cubic meters. km. Basically, these are small reservoirs intended for the purposes of agriculture (irrigation), water supply and energy. There is only one large complex-purpose reservoir in the region - Novosibirsk, created in the upper reaches of the Ob. Its total useful capacity is 4.4 km3, or 98% of the total regulated flow of the Novosibirsk Region.

There are potential water resources in the region, the need for additional flow regulation to meet the needs of the economy and the population is great. This is especially true of the southern and central regions - Omsk, Tomsk, Novosibirsk regions, the south of the Tyumen region, the north Altai Territory, which includes the drainless zone of the Ob-Irtysh interfluve, which is in dire need of additional water resources.

River flow in the Ob basin is regulated mainly by small and small reservoirs, their total volume is 1876 million cubic meters. m In addition, there are 13 medium reservoirs (total volume of 5523.1 million cubic meters).

In the Far East, runoff regulation is carried out in significant volumes. The main water sources here are the Amur, Lena, Kolyma rivers with their numerous tributaries, as well as Lake Khanka. The potential water resources of the region are large. The total useful volume of regulated flow (79 reservoirs) is 57.1 cubic meters. km.

The highest level of regulation is observed in the Amur Region. It operates 19 reservoirs with a total useful capacity of 32.2 cubic meters. km. The largest is the reservoir of the Zeya hydroelectric power station (32.1 cubic km), which is used for energy purposes, flow regulation and navigation. Other reservoirs have a capacity of up to 10 million cubic meters. m, their purpose is water supply, irrigation and fish farming.

In the Magadan region, the total volume of regulated flow is 6.6 km3. The only large reservoir is intended for energy needs. This is the reservoir of the Kolyma hydroelectric power station with a useful capacity of 6.5 cubic meters. km. The remaining 9 reservoirs (with a capacity of less than 10 million cubic meters) are used for water supply purposes.

In the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia), where the main water source is r. Lena with tributaries Vilyui, Aldan, etc., 10 reservoirs are operated with a total useful capacity of 17.92 cubic meters. km. The largest of them are the reservoirs of the Vilyui HPPs I and II with a total useful volume of 17.82 cubic meters. km, having a complex purpose. The remaining reservoirs are used for water supply and irrigation purposes.

Regulation of operation modes of the largest reservoirs

The operating modes of reservoirs are established by the Federal Agency for Water Resources in accordance with the Regulation approved by the Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation of June 16, 2004 No. 282.

Optimization of the modes of use of water resources of reservoirs is one of the essential elements solving the problems of ensuring the socio-economic needs for water resources, preventing and reducing the consequences of floods and other negative impact waters and ensuring the safety of the hydraulic structures that form these reservoirs.

In the most important water basins of the Russian Federation, the Federal Agency for Water Resources has created 12 Interdepartmental Operational (Working) Groups (hereinafter - IOG, IWG) to regulate the operating modes of reservoirs and water management systems:

– for the reservoirs of the Volga-Kama cascade under the Federal Agency for Water Resources (Moscow);

– for the Kolyma reservoir at the Department of Water Resources of the Lensky BVU for the Magadan Region (Magadan);

– along the Tsimlyansk reservoir at the Donskoy BVU (Rostov-on-Don);

– for the Zeya and Bureya reservoirs at the Amur BVU (Khabarovsk);

– on the Novosibirsk reservoir at the Verkhne-Obsky BVU (Novosibirsk);

– on the reservoirs of the Vilyuisky cascade at the Lensky BVU (Yakutsk);

- for the reservoirs of the Vygsky, Kemsky and Kovdinsky cascades under the Department of Water Resources of the Neva-Ladoga BVU in the Republic of Karelia (Petrozavodsk);

- on the reservoirs of the Northern HPPs, the Angara-Yenisei cascade and Lake Baikal at the Yenisei BVU (Krasnoyarsk);

- for the water management complex of the basin of the river. Kuban at the Kuban BVU (Krasnodar);

- for the reservoirs of the Moskvoretskaya water system, the Vazuzskaya hydrotechnical system and the watershed pool of the Moscow Canal at the Moscow-Oksky BVU (Moscow);

Along the Iriklinskoye reservoir (Orenburg);

- along the reservoirs of the northern slope of the Volga-Baltic waterway at the Neva-Ladoga BVU (St. Petersburg).

Volga-Kama cascade. For the fourth year in a row, the volume of inflow into the reservoirs of the Volga-Kama cascade during the flood period was significantly below the norm. Under these conditions, measures were taken to implement a special spring release to the lower reaches of the Volga in the interests of agriculture and fisheries in the Volgograd and Astrakhan regions (Fig. 1.13).

Rice. 1.13. Scheme of the Volga-Kama cascade of reservoirs

The operating modes of the Angara-Yenisei cascade were in 2009 under special control of the Federal Water Resources in connection with the accident that occurred on August 17 at the Sayano-Shushenskaya HPP. Immediately after the accident, Rosvodresurs began work on the calculation justification and establishment of safe operating modes in autumn-winter period 2009-2010 and preparation of reservoirs for the passage of the spring-summer flood of 2010, both the Sayano-Shushensky hydroelectric complex operating in the non-project mode, and other hydroelectric complexes of the Angara-Yenisei cascade (Fig. 1.14).

At the same time, a set of mathematical models of the Angara-Yenisei cascade of reservoirs, the Angara and Yenisei river basins, made by order of the agency in 2007-2009, was used, based on multivariate calculations, dispatcher schedules for the operation of the Sayano-Shushensky hydropower complex in non-project mode were developed, taking into account the following restrictions and requirements for the regime of the Sayano-Shushensky hydroelectric complex:

- ensuring the operation of the operational spillway with the widest possible front with the constant opening of the gates (or under the condition of minimal maneuvering of the gates);

– prevention of reservoir drawdown below the limit mark, the value of which is due to the possible ingress of ice into receiving hole spillway;

- ensuring water flow in the downstream of the Mainsky hydroelectric complex is not less than the sanitary 700 cubic meters. m/s;

- ensuring water flow in the downstream of the Mainsky hydroelectric complex during the freeze-up period of no more than 1200 cubic meters. m/s;

– accurate accounting bandwidth and permissible schemes for maneuvering gates of the operational spillway;

– the ability to work part of the hydraulic units both at idle and under load.

Rice. 1.14. Scheme of the Angara-Yenisei cascade of reservoirs

The analysis of operational information on the hydrological and water management situation in the basins of the reservoirs of the Angara-Yenisei cascade received from the Yenisei Basin Water Administration of the Federal Water Resources Agency was carried out daily.

As a result of the implemented modes of operation of hydroelectric facilities, the following are provided:

1) the maximum possible drawdown of the Sayano-Shushenskoye reservoir in conditions of high autumn and winter water content (in the 4th quarter of 2009 - the maximum for the observation period);

2) the operation of the operational spillway at the opening of half of the first stage, which minimized the scale of icing of the structures of the Sayano-Shushensky hydroelectric complex in winter conditions and damage to the water well;

3) stable conditions of ice formation in the downstream waters of the cascade hydroelectric facilities, as a result of which it was possible to avoid the formation of ice dams and winter floods and floods;

4) uninterrupted supply of water to the population and economic facilities, primarily in the downstream pools of the Sayano-Shushensky and Mainsky waterworks;

5) partial compensation of retired hydropower capacities of the Sayano-Shushenskaya HPP due to the increased load of other HPPs of the cascade, primarily the Krasnoyarsk HPP, as well as the operation of the units of the Mainskaya HPP.

6) pre-flood drawdown of the reservoirs of the Angara-Yenisei cascade.

For other major reservoirs in Russia, their drawdown regime was carried out in accordance with the estimated schedules compiled by the specialists of the basin water departments of the Federal Water Resources Agency, taking into account the actual water management situation and Roshydromet forecasts for the inflow of water into the reservoirs.

Reservoirs - reservoirs created by human hands with the help of dams in the river valley, which serve to collect and retain water masses. More than 1,200 such structures have been built in our country. These data take into account only large reservoirs in Russia.

Characteristics of reservoirs

Buildings are of two types. The first includes lake reservoirs, which differ in the way water is accumulated. The current in them is created exclusively by the wind. Reservoirs on the rivers belong to the second group. They have an elongated shape and a constant flow. The main parameters of reservoirs are volume, surface area and level fluctuation during the year.

The organization of a new reservoir entails a change in the appearance of the river valley and its hydraulic regime in the backwater zone. Biggest Influence the created dam has an impact on the adjacent part of the reservoir. However, it is possible to see changes even at a distance of many kilometers.

All reservoirs in Russia have been prepared for flooding. Forests that fall into the designated flood zone are removed, freeing the banks. Residents of villages within the boundaries of the future reservoir are relocated, and the buildings themselves are dismantled. A lot of work is being done by hydrobiologists and ichthyologists who are preparing to restore fish populations.

The largest reservoirs in the country: Bratsk, Krasnoyarsk and Kuibyshev.

The role of reservoirs

The organization of a reservoir entails a number of negative consequences. The decrease in flood leads to the disappearance of spawning grounds for fish. Water meadows do not receive useful substances causing vegetation to suffer. The river slows down, leading to enhanced education silty deposits.

The largest reservoirs in Russia are such on a global scale. The peak of construction fell on the period from 1950 to 2000. They were built for the following purposes.

• Getting electricity. The cheapest way to make.
• Irrigation of fields and creation of recreation areas in areas with water scarcity.
• Fish breeding.
• Water intake for the needs of the city.
• Shipping. With their help, flat rivers become suitable for the movement of ships.
• Rafting has become easier in some areas.
• Flood control in the Far East region.

The territory of the Russian Federation is unevenly strewn with grandiose structures. There are an order of magnitude more of them in the European part than in the Asian. There are 13 of them in the basin of the Volga alone.

Gorky

The Gorky reservoir was chosen by lovers of fishing. Its downstream is located in Nizhny Novgorod region. In the dam area, its width reaches 12 km, and its depth is 22 m. The hydrological regime and composition of the reservoir are ideal for fish populations. In places filled with peat deposits in winter time freeze-ups occur. There is practically no current in the area of ​​the hydroelectric power station. Significant for aquatic fauna are waves and wind currents.

In winter, it drops by 2 m. Shallow waters are drained, causing freezing, freezing of the soil. Coastal plants suffer from this. In the spring, the reservoir is filled with meltwater. The level at this time fluctuates within 40 cm, but this is enough to disrupt the spawning of fish that need aquatic vegetation.

Freezing begins in November. In winter, a crust is formed up to a meter thick. According to the hydro regime, the Gorky reservoir looks like a lake with a weak current. In the mid-1950s, huge areas of fertile lands located in the floodplain went under water. There was an outbreak of growth in the number of many aquatic animals, which received new spawning and feeding places. After a few years, populations of fish and other organisms began to decline.

Argazinskoye

The Argazinskoe reservoir is the largest reservoir in the Chelyabinsk region. Its length is 22 km, and its width exceeds 11 km. The deepest point is at a level of 18 m. The transparency of the water depends on weather conditions and is 3-8 m. The lake reservoir has over 45 skeletons, among which there is a natural monument with broad-leaved groves.

Argazi is located in the spurs of the Ilmensky mountains. The reservoir was created in 1942 by installing a dam on the river. Miass. It holds 980 million m 3 of water at a height of only 1.5 m. Juvenile fish, primarily whitefish and burbot, are released into the reservoir. Trophy specimens of fish weighing over 10 kg are periodically caught.

Water source for Chelyabinsk. Festivals are held on its banks and residents of the city spend their leisure time.

Volkhovskoe

Volkhov reservoir was created in 1926 in Leningrad region. Its width is 400 m, and the surface area is 2 km 2. Built for The catchment area is over 80 thousand km 2 . The reservoir has a lock for the passage of vessels with one chamber. The project was created by Lengydroproekt. The shores of the reservoir are rich in vegetation and are used by the townspeople for recreation.

Boguchanskoye

The Boguchanskoye reservoir began to fill up in the autumn of 1987 after the temporary channels in the dam were closed, through which the river flowed. The design level of 208 m was reached in 2015. There is a reservoir in the Irkutsk region on the river. Angara. The main purpose of the construction is the generation of electrical energy. The facility regulates the flow depending on the season, trying to keep the level difference within 1 m.

The mouths of many tributaries turned into huge bays. Some of them are over 10 km long. Freeze lasts 7 months, which does not touch the downstream of the hydroelectric power station. In this area, a polynya will remain for tens of kilometers. During the organization of the reservoir, many peat bogs fell under flooding. This fact affected the chemical composition of water. The construction of the reservoir affected the species composition of fish and catches. Rheophilic fish migrated, their catches decreased by 10 times.

Brotherly

The Bratsk reservoir is located in the Irkutsk region on the river. Angara. Its length is 570 km, and its width is 25 km. This reservoir heads the largest reservoirs in Russia. Its outlines are bizarre. Most of the tributaries became deeper, which allowed ships to enter them. In the vicinity of the reservoir, karst processes intensified, sinkholes and landslides began to appear.

Not all reservoirs in Russia have such a strong impact on the coast. Coasts are destroyed due to strong level drops. It reaches 6-10 m. The reservoir is of great fishing, shipping and timber-rafting importance. There are always a lot of tourists and fishermen on its shores.

Krasnoyarsk

For its size, it was called the fresh sea. Its surface area is 2 thousand km 2. The average depth reaches 40 m. Filling with water lasted three years after the construction of the dam. It is one of the largest reservoirs in the world. With it, the water level in the Yenisei is monitored. Vessels sail along this river and timber rafting is carried out.

Not all reservoirs in Russia are as rich in pike as Krasnoyarsk. Quantity small fish there is not much here, because it is not enough for her forage base. It suffered as a result of the formation of the reservoir.

The construction of dams entails many consequences for nature and man. Man benefits from this in the form of cheap electricity, transport arteries and large water supplies. There is a gradual change in the species composition of fish. The ichthyofauna becomes less valuable, but more numerous. Large reservoirs are able to change the surrounding microclimate, making it softer.

Reservoirs - the creation of man

The most successful direction in human transformation natural conditions can be considered the creation of reservoirs. Which of them is worthy of the title "Most large reservoir in Russia"?

Man is constantly trying to remake nature in accordance with his needs. Thanks to this desire, the planet appeared great amount artificial reservoirs with fresh water used for fish breeding, water supply, navigation, or for energy. The size of reservoirs can be very different from a small lake to a huge reservoir. So which of the reservoirs located on the territory of Russia is the largest?

Rybinsk reservoir

Many reservoirs in Russia are on the list of the largest artificial reservoirs in the world. Most of them were created in the second half of the twentieth century. Their distribution on the territory of Russia is uneven. Most of them are located in the European part of the country (more than a thousand), while the Asian side has much less (about a hundred). If you collect all the reservoirs in one area, then their total volume will be more than one million square meters.

Initially, the Rybinsk reservoir was considered the largest artificially created reservoir. Its length is about one hundred and forty kilometers, width is sixty kilometers. The area of ​​the reservoir is about four and a half thousand square kilometers, which is only two times less Lake Onega. The depth is not too great - about six meters, only in some areas the figure reaches nine to ten meters. Its construction began five years before the start of the Second World War, however, even in difficult times for Russia, the basin of the reservoir continued to be filled. The reservoir was completely filled only in 1947. Moreover, for the construction of the reservoir, more than six hundred villages had to be resettled, which were under water. Sometimes this reservoir is called the Rybinsk Sea. Used for fishing and shipping.

The dam of the Zhigulevskaya hydroelectric power station

Seven years after the construction of the Rybinsk reservoir, the construction of the Zhigulevskaya hydroelectric dam is completed and the Kuibyshev reservoir appears, with an area of ​​\u200b\u200b6.5 thousand square kilometers. By the way, this reservoir is considered the most stormy among the Volga reservoirs. The wave height in it during a storm very often exceeds three meters. Thus, the Rybinsk Sea, which once held the title of "The largest reservoir in Russia," goes down a notch.

Currently, the largest reservoir (from among the channel ones) not only in Russia, but throughout the world is Bratskoye. The shape of the reservoir is rather peculiar: wide reaches are combined with long and winding bays. The reservoir appeared in 1961, but the design mark was reached only six years later. The volume of the reservoir is about one hundred and seventy cubic kilometers. The area is about five and a half thousand square kilometers. The length is more than five hundred kilometers, and the maximum depth is one hundred and six meters. The Bratsk reservoir is used, in addition to energy purposes, for timber rafting, fisheries, water transport, industrial and municipal water supply. Thanks to the emergence of the Bratsk reservoir, many tributaries became navigable.

In conclusion, it should be said that any reservoir, regardless of size, is useful for humans. They allow to improve the quality of industrial and municipal water supply of industrial centers and large cities.

If you carefully examine the map of Russia, then in its different regions you can see quite large blue spots. irregular shape- reservoirs. Judging by their size, these are real seas enclosed in the depths of the mainland. According to statistics, Russia's reservoirs contain about 800 cubic kilometers of fresh water. An impressive number.

What is called a reservoir? How is it formed? What functions does it perform in national economy? The answers to all these questions are in our article. In addition, you will learn about which reservoir is the largest in Russia. So, let's start our virtual walk through the artificial seas of the country.

Reservoir - what is it?

In hydrology, a reservoir is usually called a rather large reservoir of artificial origin, formed by retaining structure(dam or hydroelectric dam) for the purpose of accumulation and further use of water for the needs of the economy and the population. Relatively small artificial reservoirs are also often called ponds or stakes.

Our ancestors have been using the power of flowing water since ancient times. So, the first mentions of water mills are found in ancient Russian chronicles. With such mills, of course, small ponds were created. It is they who can be considered the prototypes of modern "artificial seas".

The first reservoirs in Russia began to be created at the beginning of the 18th century, during the connection of the Volga canal system with the Baltic Sea. In the 19th century, artificial reservoirs were actively used for navigation, and also supplied hundreds of industrial plants with water and electricity.

AT modern Russia reservoirs also regularly serve people. In particular, they:

• Provide water to fields and agricultural land in dry areas of the country (through irrigation systems).
• Regulate the drain major rivers and thus prevent flooding and flooding settlements.
• They create conditions for the free movement of large-sized vessels.
• Contribute to the breeding of many valuable breeds ichthyofauna.
• Create conditions for active recreation and recreation local population(both summer and winter).

Reservoir classification

Exists a large number of reservoir classifications. They are divided according to the nature of use, surface area, volume of water, depth, location, etc. So, based on the structure of the bottom, reservoirs are:

• Valley (those that formed in river valleys).
• Basin (formed by springing a lake, sea bay or estuary).

According to the location of the water body, all reservoirs can be divided into:

• Plains.
• Piedmont.
• Mountain.

Finally, according to the area of ​​the water surface, the reservoirs are divided into:

• Small (up to 2 km 2).
• Small (2-20 km 2).
• Medium (20-100 km 2).
• Large (100-500 km 2).
• Very large (500-5,000 km2).
• The largest (over 5,000 km 2).

The largest reservoirs in Russia: list and names

Russia is the absolute leader on the planet in terms of the total number of artificial reservoirs. There are at least 30,000 of them here. Almost all reservoirs in Russia were created after the Second World War, mainly in the 50-70s of the XX century. They are distributed very unevenly across the country. So, in the Asian part they are about ten times less than in the European.

So, the largest reservoirs in Russia (by area):

1. Kuibyshevskoe (6,500 km 2).
2. Bratsk (5,470 km 2).
3. Rybinsk (4,580 km 2).
4. Volgograd (3 117 km 2).
5. Tsimlyanskoye (2,700 km 2).
6. Zeya (2,420 km 2).
7. Vilyuiskoye (2,360 km 2).
8. Cheboksary (2,190 km 2).
9. Krasnoyarsk (2,000 km 2).
10. Kama (1,910 km 2).

"Zhigulevskoe Sea"

Area: 6,500 km2. Volume: 58 km3.

The largest reservoir in Russia (and the third largest in the world) is Kuibyshev. It is also often called the "Zhiguli Sea". It arose in 1957 as a result of the construction of the dam of the hydroelectric power station of the same name. Located on the Volga River, within several regions of the Russian Federation: Samara and Ulyanovsk regions, Chuvashia, Tatarstan and the Republic of Mari El.

The length of the Kuibyshev reservoir is 500 km, and the maximum width is 40 km. Depths do not exceed forty meters. The grandiose water reservoir is located in the heart of Russia's largest industrial region. Zhigulevskaya HPP annually produces about 10 billion kWh of electricity. The reservoir itself provides more than one million hectares of agricultural land with fresh water. Among other things, the Zhiguli Sea is a popular recreational and tourist area due to its mild climate and picturesque coastline.

Bratsk reservoir

Area: 5,470 km2. Volume: 169 km3.

The Bratsk reservoir, located on the Angara River, is inferior to the Zhiguli Sea in terms of area, but in many respects exceeds it in volume. Accordingly, the depths of the water reservoir are relatively large: in separate places they reach a mark of 150 meters.

The Bratsk HPP, built in 1961, flooded a huge amount of land (including the famous Bratsk Ostrog) and at the same time contributed to the creation of a powerful industrial cluster in the Asian part of the country. Nowadays, the reservoir is actively used for water supply, timber alloying and fishing. Its shores are extremely indented. In places where other streams flow into the Angara, fairly wide and long bays have formed.

Rybinsk reservoir

Area: 4,580 km2. Volume: 25 km3.

The second largest reservoir on the Volga is Rybinsk. It is located within three regions - Yaroslavl, Tver and Vologda.

The reservoir has a rather unusual shape. 17 thousand years ago there was a large glacial lake in its place. Over time, it dried up, leaving behind a vast lowland. Its filling began in 1941 as a result of the construction of the Rybinsk hydroelectric complex. 130 thousand people had to be relocated to other places. Moreover, the creation of the Rybinsk reservoir absorbed 250 thousand hectares of forests, about 70 thousand hectares of arable land and 30 thousand hectares of pastures.

Today, a giant scientific laboratory operates on the shores of the pseudo-sea, studying the impact of artificial reservoirs on the natural complexes of the taiga.