Samara Bend

The Samara bend (Russian: Самарская Лука) is a large hairpin bend of the middle Volga River at the confluence of the Samara River (). It is situated in Samara Oblast, Volga Federal District of Russia.

The Samara River valley offers an easy passage to the Ural River valley, and historically has been a major locus for interchange between eastern European and Central Asian cultures. It is also a classic invasion route. What is now the city of Samara was founded in 1586 as a tsarist defense outpost.

A number of archaeological cultures have been centered here:

See also