The Problem of Volga Riverbed Changing Near Saratov and Attempts to Solve It in the Second Half of the 19th–Early 20th Century

The work solved the problems of analyzing the change in the channel of the Volga near Saratov in the second half of the 19th—early 20th century, attempts to solve the problem of shallowing and assess the effectiveness of the measures taken. The change in the course of the Volga was studied by a retrospective analysis of the cartographic material. The experience of fighting the shallowing of the river has been studied by the methods of historical geography—analytical-synthetic and retrospective mapping. It was established that the reshaping of the channel led to a shift of the fairway k from Saratov to the left bank with a simultaneous shallowing of the river channel near the city. As a result, the conditions for the functioning of the river port and urban water intake were complicated. Shallowing was caused by a combination of natural and anthropogenic factors. Contradictions in the views on the problem of shallowing the Volga between the public and the authorities were revealed: the Saratov self-government fought for the unimpeded approach of ships to the city pier, while it was more important for the state to provide a transit route. Measures aimed at changing the course of channel processes in order to maintain navigation have been studied. It was found that at first they tried to provide an approach to the city from the main channel of the Volga by a combination of deepening the bottom and creating dams in the riverbed, but since 1900 they abandoned the second method and only deepened the fairway. The maintenance of navigation was carried out with the help of constant dredging with dredgers, but, nevertheless, in some years, the connection of the city piers with the main Volga’s riverbed was interrupted. The reasons for the low efficiency of the measures were the lack of a strategic plan for the implementation of works, incorrect hydraulic engineering solutions, insufficient funding and inconsistency of interests of local and central authorities. The problem of river navigation was solved only in the early 1960s after the creation of the Volgograd reservoir. Already in the 21st century, there is an active development of channel processes and there are problems typical of the period before the creation of the reservoir.

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