What is the name of the longest river in Europe? A) Danube B) Rhine C) Volga D) Elbe
VerifiedAnswer: C) Volga
Explanation:
The Volga River is indeed the longest river in Europe, stretching approximately 3,531 kilometers (2,194 miles) from its source to its mouth. This mighty river flows entirely within Russia, making it not only Europe's longest river but also one of the most significant waterways on the continent.
The Volga originates from the Valdai Hills in northwestern Russia, specifically from a small lake called Lake Seliger. From there, it flows in a generally southeastern direction through the heart of European Russia before emptying into the Caspian Sea. The river passes through several major Russian cities, including Tver, Yaroslavl, Nizhny Novgorod, Kazan, Samara, Saratov, and Volgograd, serving as a vital transportation and economic lifeline for millions of people.
To understand why the other options are incorrect, let's look at their lengths. The Danube River, which flows through ten countries in Central and Eastern Europe, is about 2,850 kilometers long, making it the second-longest river in Europe. The Rhine River, famous for flowing through Germany and several other Western European countries, measures approximately 1,233 kilometers. The Elbe River, which flows through the Czech Republic and Germany, is much shorter at about 1,091 kilometers.
The Volga has immense cultural and historical significance for Russia. Often called "Mother Volga" by Russians, it has been celebrated in countless songs, poems, and stories throughout Russian history. The river system supports a huge drainage basin covering about 1.35 million square kilometers, which represents roughly one-third of European Russia's territory.
From an economic perspective, the Volga serves as a crucial transportation route for goods and passengers. It connects with other major waterways through canals, creating an extensive inland water transport network. The river also supports hydroelectric power generation, with several major dams and reservoirs along its course, and provides water for irrigation and industrial purposes across the region.
