Vistula - a river with the greatest length, not only in Poland but also in the Baltic Sea.Water content, it is second only to the Neva.The origins of the Vistula are in Baranja mountain at an altitude of more than one thousand meters above sea level in the Western Carpathians (Moravian-Silesian Beskids).Its main sources - is Black and White Viselka Viselka.The total length of the river - 1047 kilometers, and the area of its basin - 198.5 thousand square kilometers.Vistula empties into the Baltic Sea near the city of Gdansk.The depth of the Vistula River in some places up to 7 meters.The most important tributaries of the San, the Western Bug, Narew and Pilica.The maximum width of the channel - 1000 meters.The main water supply Wisla receives from tributaries flowing from the Carpathians.The flood of the river depends on meltwater.And in the winter, and in summer there are floods.High and rapid rise of water and ice jams can lead to flooding.Wisla on the map of Europe is in the middle.
Vistula River Formation
on planet Earth in the Quaternary geological period there was the Vistula River.Map today does not transmit any size or direction of flow of the waterway.Since glaciation occurred 8 times in the territory of Poland, and every time has slipped Valley.His current settings Wisla took about 14 thousand years ago, when the last Scandinavian ice left the mainland.But today, the river continues to form, talking about this accumulation of sediments on the entire length of the channel and significant coastal erosion.The main peculiarity of the Vistula among European rivers - in asymmetry.This is a consequence of the "work" of glaciers.On the left side of the basin accounts for only 27% when the right - 73%.Along the Vistula there are 3 types of terrain: the area of the Carpathian highlands hill West European and East European Plain.
history of the river and surrounding areas
Vistula River for the first time mentioned in historical chronicles of Pliny the Elder.In the II century BC Ancient Greece Ptolemy scientist wrote that it is a natural border between the lands of the Sarmatian territories and Germans.In ancient Rome, the Vistula River basin considered lands of the Germanic tribes.Check Slavs of these territories occurred in VI-VIII centuries.Vistlyane created three state capitals: Krakow, Sandomierz and Straduve.In the X century the country was conquered another tribe of the Slavs - glades, who created the present-day Poland.Krakow remained the capital.Polish kings were crowned here until 1610, when the state became the center of Warsaw.Wisla has always been an important waterway from inland areas of Europe to the Baltic Sea.
economic importance of the Vistula
Wisla (Poland) - the largest water artery of the country.It contains up to 60% of all water resources, and its basin covers half of the state.The economy of Poland Vistula River plays an important role.She developed a cargo and passenger shipping for vessels of up to 500 tons.On the Vistula are several hydroelectric power plants, the largest of which - Wloclawek hydroelectric power station.Its capacity - 160 MW.Besides supply of housing stock in Poland, the river provides water to industry, such as Iron and Steel Works "Novaya Guta" and a giant metal "Kotowice" petrochemical plants in Plock, shop FAS (Warsaw factory cars), nitrogen fertilizer plant in Vlotslavike and many others.
Attractions, leisure and tourism
Wisla - river, attractive for a variety of holidays.This hiking and boating, as well as river cruises.On it are two wonderful landscaped park: in the mouth and "Wieprz."The river flows through a large Polish cities such as Warsaw, Krakow, Gdansk, Wloclawek, Plock, Tarnobrzeg, Torun, and others.Interestingly peninsula in the Gulf of Gdansk Westerplatte, where the first battles of the Second World War.Traveling on the Vistula, you can see the amazing monuments of architecture and history: the Cathedral of Wawel Cathedral in Krakow, Old Town in Tarnobrzeg, Royal Castle, Lazenskovsky and presidential palaces - in Warsaw, Bridge of Solidarity in Plock, a town hall and the royal chapel in Gdansk, homethe famous astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus in Torun, palace and park ensemble in the Czartoryski of Pulawy.Tourist route along the Vistula in recent years, very popular among Russians.
