Rybinsk Reservoir

Rybinsk Reservoir is a large artificial reservoir on the Volga River in western Russia, created during the Soviet era by constructing a hydroelectric dam. It is among the biggest man-made lakes in Europe and altered the local landscape significantly.

The reservoir offers extensive shoreline, bays and channels used for fishing, boating and seasonal recreation; boating routes and fishing spots are the main visitor interests. A notable result of its creation was the flooding of towns and villages, which remains an historical point of interest.

Construction of the dam and filling of the reservoir took place around 1941 as part of Soviet hydroelectric and navigation improvements, reshaping rivers and communities in the basin. The project remains important for regional power and transport.

The reservoir lies on the upper Volga near the city of Rybinsk and spans parts of the surrounding oblasts. It is reachable from Rybinsk and nearby towns that serve as gateways for local activities.

• Scale and use: The reservoir is one of the largest artificial lakes in Europe and is widely used for fishing, boating and river transport.

What to See #

• Rybinsk dam: The Rybinsk Hydroelectric Station and associated dam on the Volga created the reservoir as part of a large Soviet hydroelectric project in the late 1930s-1940s.
• Submerged town of Mologa: A submerged town that was flooded when the reservoir was filled; the former settlement's ruins are a noted historical consequence of the reservoir's creation.