Dnieper

Dnieper
Russian: Днепр (Dnepr) Belarusian: Дняпро (Dnyapro) Ukrainian: Дніпро (Dnipro)
River
The Dnieper River in Kiev, Ukraine
Countries	Russia, Belarus, Ukraine
Tributaries
- left	Sozh, Desna, Trubizh, Supiy, Sula, Psel, Vorskla, Samara, Konka, Bilozerka
- right	Drut, Berezina, Prypiat, Teteriv, Irpin, Stuhna, Ros, Tiasmyn, Bazavluk, Inhulets
Cities	Dorogobuzh, Smolensk, Mogilev, Kiev, Cherkasy, Dnipropetrovsk
Source
- location	Valdai Hills, Russia
- elevation	220 m (722 ft)
- coordinates	55°52′00″N 33°41′00″E / 55.86667°N 33.68333°E / 55.86667; 33.68333
Mouth	Dnieper Delta
- elevation	0 m (0 ft)
- coordinates	46°30′00″N 32°20′00″E / 46.50000°N 32.33333°E / 46.50000; 32.33333Coordinates: 46°30′00″N 32°20′00″E / 46.50000°N 32.33333°E / 46.50000; 32.33333
Length	2,145 km (1,333 mi)
Basin	504,000 km2 (194,595 sq mi)
Discharge	for Kherson
- average	1,670 m3/s (58,975 cu ft/s)
Dnieper River drainage basin

Dnieperside settlements Towns/villages blank spaces indicate as place above (")
Legend
Bocharovo Verkhnedneprovsky Dorogobuzh Smolensk Russia-Belarus border Dubroŭna Orsha Kopys Shkloŭ Mogilev Bykhaw Rahachow Žlobin Streshin Rečyca Loyew Komarin Belarus-Ukraine border Radul Liubech Vyshhorod Kiev Hydroelectric Power Plant Kyiv Kozyn Ukrainka Rzhyshchiv Pereiaslav-Khmelnytskyi Kaniv Kaniv Hydroelectric Power Plant Cherkasy Svitlovodsk Kremenchuk Kremenchuk Hydroelectric Power Plant Komsomolsk Verkhnodniprovsk Dniprodzerzhynsk Dniprodzerzhynsk Hydroelectric Power Plant Dnipropetrovsk Zaporizhia Dnieper Hydroelectric Station Vasylivka Dniprorudne Enerhodar Nikopol Kamianka-Dniprovska Novovorontsovka Velyka Lepetyha Hornostayivka Beryslav Kakhovka Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant Nova Kakhovka Dnipriany Tsiurupynsk Kherson Bilozerka Hola Prystan Ochakiv End of Dnieper Estuary — Black Sea (the few settlements further along the debatable estuary to the two points mentioned in the routemap are on inlets or far inland)

The Dnieper River /ˈniːpər/ or /dəˈnjɛpər/ (also known as: Dnepr, Dnyapro or Dnipro) is one of the major rivers of Europe (fourth by length), rising near Smolensk, Russia and flowing through Russia, Belarus and Ukraine to the Black Sea. It is the longest river of Ukraine and Belarus and the fourth longest river in Europe. The total length ranges between 2,145 km (1,333 mi)^[1] and 2,201 km (1,368 mi)^[2][3][4][5] with a drainage basin of 504,000 square kilometres (195,000 sq mi). 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. Arheimar, a capital of the Goths, was located on the Dnieper, according to the Hervarar saga.

Etymology

Human representation of the Dnepr river (known as Borysthenes) on an Ancient Greek coin of Pontic Olbia, 4th–3rd century BC

The name Dnieper is derived from Sarmatian Dānu apara "the river on the far side".^[6] (By contrast, the Dniester derives from "the close river".) According to V. Abaev (expert on Scytho-Sarmatian languages) the name Dnieper derives from Scythian Dānu apr (Dānapr) "deep river", while the name Dniester is combination of Scythian Dānu (river) and Thracian Ister, the old name of Dniester.^[7]

In the three countries through which it flows it has essentially the same name, albeit pronounced differently:

• Russian: Днепр (Dnepr, [dnʲepr]);
• Belarusian: Дняпро (Dnyapro, [dnʲaˈpro]) or Днепр^[8] (Dnyepr, [dnʲepr]);
• Ukrainian: Днiпро (Dnipro, [dnʲiˈpro]) or Дніпер^[9] (Dniper, [ˈdnʲipɛr]).

The river is mentioned by the Ancient Greek historian Herodotus in the 5th century BC as Borysthenes (Βορυσθένης), as well as by Strabo; this name is Scythian (cf. Iranian *varu-stāna) and translates as "wide land", referring most likely to the Ukrainian steppe. The late Greek and Roman authors called it Δάναπρις - Danapris and Danaper respectively - (dana in Old Persian meant "river"); this form is derived from Sarmatian Dānu apara "the river on the far side".^[6] Its Old East Slavic name used at the time of Kievan Rus' was Slavuta or Slavutych, the Huns called it Var,^[10] and Bulgars - Buri-Chai. The name in Crimean Tatar: Özü.^[11]

Geography

satellite image of the Dnieper river estuary, captured 8-Aug 2015

The total length of the river is 2,145 kilometres (1,333 mi),^[1] of which 485 km (301 mi) are within Russia, 700 km (430 mi) are within Belarus,^[1] 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,^[12] 118,360 km² (45,700 sq mi) are within Belarus.^[1]

The source of the Dnieper is the turf swamps (Akseninsky Mokh) of the Valdai Hills in central Russia, at an elevation of 220 m (720 ft).^[12] 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.

On the Dnepr River to the south of Komarin urban-type settlement, Braghin District, Gomel Region the southern extreme point of Belarus is situated.^[13]

Tributaries of the Dnieper

The Dnieper has many tributaries (up to 32,000) with 89 being rivers of 100+ km.^[14] The main ones, in orographic sequence, are:

Dnieper basin showing peoples in the ninth century

Many small direct tributaries also exist, such as, in the Kiev 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.^[14]

Rapids

Dnieper Rapids were part of trade route from the Varangians to the Greeks, first mentioned in the Primary Chronicle. 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 Dnieper Hydroelectric Station was built in 1932, they were inundated by Dnieper Reservoir.

Channel

There are a number of channels:

- Channel Dnieper - Donbass;

- Channel Dnepr - Krivoi Rog;

- Kakhovsky channel (south-east of the Kherson region);

- Krasnoznamenskaya irrigation system in the south-west of the Kherson region;

- North Crimean Canal - will largely solve the water problem of the peninsula, especially in the arid northern and eastern Crimea;

- Ingulets irrigation system.

Fauna

The river is part of the Quagga mussel's native range.^[15] The mussel has been accidentally introduced around the world where it has become an invasive species.^[15]

Reservoirs and hydroelectric power

From the mouth of Prypiat River to Kakhovka Hydroelectric Station is a cascade of dams and hydroelectric stations.^[14]

The most noted was the Dnieper Hydroelectric Station or (DniproHES) near Zaporizhia, built in 1927–1932 with an output of 558 MW. It was destroyed during the Second World War, and rebuilt in 1948 with an output of 750 MW.

The others are: Kakhovka (1950–56), Kremenchuk (1954–60), Kiev (1960–64), Dniprodzerzhynsk (1956–64), Kaniv (1963–75).

Those dams that used to generate hydroelectric power of ten percent of Ukraine's total electricity, form water reservoirs.

The reservoirs are Kiev (922 km² or 356 sq mi), Kaniv (675 km² or 261 sq mi), Kremenchuk (2,250 km² or 870 sq mi), Dniprodzerzhynsk (567 km² or 219 sq mi), Dnipro (420 km² or 160 sq mi), and Kakhovka (2,155 km² or 832 sq mi).

Regions and cities

Satellite image of the Dnieper and its tributaries

Regions

• The Dnieper River in different regions
• 

  The Dnieper River in Kherson, Ukraine

• 

  The Dnieper River in Dorogobuzh, Russian Empire, before 1917

• 

  The Dnieper River in Kremenchuk, Ukraine

Cities

Major cities, over 100,000 in population, are in bold script. Cities and towns located on the Dnieper are listed in order from the river's source (in Russia) to its mouth (in Ukraine):

Arheimar, a capital of the Goths, was located on the Dnieper, according to the Hervarar saga.^[16]

Navigation

Almost 2,000 km (1,200 mi) of the river is navigational (to the city of Dorogobuzh).^[14] The Dnieper is important for the transport and economy of Ukraine: 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 Kiev and thus create an important transport corridor. 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.

Upstream from Kiev, 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 a ship lock near the town of Brest has interrupted this international waterway. Poor political relations between Western Europe and Belarus mean there is little likelihood of re-opening this waterway in the near future.^[17]

Navigation is interrupted each year by freezing in winter, and severe winter storms.

The Dnieper in the arts

• The Dnieper in the arts
• 

  Catherine II leaving Kaniów in 1787 by Johann Gottlieb Plersch

• 

  Ice in the Dnepr by Ivan Aivazovsky, 1872

• 

  Moonlit Night on the Dniepr by Arkhip Kuindzhi, 1882

• 

  Dniepr by Arkhip Kuindzhi, 1881

• 

  Sapphire Dnieper by Jan Stanisławski, 1904

• 

  Evening on the Dnieper river by Vladimir Ovchinnikov, 1956

• 

  Dnieper river by Vladimir Ovchinnikov, 1956

Visual arts

The River Dnieper has been a subject for artists, great and minor, over the centuries. Major artists with works based on the Dnieper are Arkhip Kuindzhi and Ivan Aivazovsky.

Popular culture

• The river is one of the symbols of the Ukrainian nation.^[18] There are several names that connect the name of the river with Ukraine: Overdnieper Ukraine, Right-bank Ukraine, Left-bank Ukraine, and others.
• Some of the cities on its banks—Dnipropetrovsk, Dniprorudne, Kamianka-Dniprovska—are named after the river.
• The Zaporozhian Cossacks lived on the lower Dniepr and their name refers to their location "beyond the cataracts".^[19]
• The folk metal band Turisas have a song called "The Dnieper Rapids" on their 2007 album The Varangian Way.^[20]
• Leon Bolier featured a track called "Dnipro" in his debut 2-CD album Pictures. The track is said to be inspired by his visit to Kiev in May 2008.
• The river is described in the works of Taras Shevchenko as Dnipro (He roars and groans the Dnipro wide) and mentioned in the national anthem of Ukraine.
• The river is referred to as Dnipro, in the song "Hey, Dnipro, Dnipro".^[21]
• Briefly mentioned in the science fiction/adventure novel The Crisis Pendant by Charlie Patterson.
• Roberto Bolaño's novel 2666 features the Dnieper as a significant feature of the village of Hans Reiter.

Ecology

The Dnieper River is close to the Prydniprovsky Chemical Plant radioactive dumps (near Dniprodzerzhynsk), 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.

See also

• Threat of the Dnieper reservoirs
• List of rivers of Russia
• List of rivers of Ukraine
• Trade route from the Varangians to the Greeks

References and footnotes

External links

• "Комсомольская правда" об угрозах плотины Киевской ГЭС и водохранилища
• "Аргументы и факты" о реальных угрозах дамбы Киевского водохранилища и ГЭС
• "Известия" о проблематике плотины Киевского водохранилища и ГЭС
• Эксперт УНИАН об угрозах дамбы Киевского водохранилища

Dnieper River Tributaries1 Drut Berezina Sozh Pripyat Horyn Sluch Ubort Teteriv Irpin Desna Stuhna Trubizh Ros Tiasmyn Supiy Sula Pslo Vorskla Samara Konka Bilozerka Bazavluk Inhulets Zolotonoshka River Reservoirs Chernobyl Reservoir Dnieper Dniprodzerzhynsk Kakhovka Kaniv Kiev Kremenchuk Hydroelectric stations Dnieper Dniprodzerzhynsk Kakhovka Kaniv Kiev HPP Kiev PSP Kremenchuk Canals North Crimean Dnieper - Donbas Main Kakhovka Magistrale Dnieper - Kryvyi Rih Dnieper - Inhulets Cities Dorogobuzh Smolensk Mahilyow Kiev Cherkasy Dnipropetrovsk 1 Italics indicate left tributaries