· Land of Water and Wings
· Special Features
· Did You Know?
· Wild Side
· Cause for Concern
· Looking Ahead

Global 200 Snapshot

The Volga River Delta is one of the largest and most productive deltas in Eastern Eurasia.  

Land of Water and Wings

The Volga River Delta ecoregion is outstanding because of its species diversity, rich soils, mild climate, and large size. In fact, the ecoregion has the distinction of being named a Wetland of International Importance because it provides habitat for many migratory birds.

Special Features

The Volga River starts in the Valday Hills of northwestern Russia and flows 2,300 miles (3,700 km) before creating the delta and pouring into the Caspian Sea. Water entering the delta separates into more than 500 channels, arms, and rivulets and spreads out onto the adjacent floodplain, forming shallow lakes. These flows also carry many nutrients from upstream into the delta. These nutrients allow an abundant plant life to flourish, which provides food for the millions of migratory birds that pass through the delta and also provides a highly productive food base for aquatic life.

	Ever hear of fossils that can swim? Meet the sturgeons. Often called "living fossils," sturgeons evolved 250 million years ago. That means they were around when dinosaurs roamed the Earth. Individuals live a long time, too: some can reach an age of 150 years.

Wild Side

The numbers say it all: about 400 vertebrates, including 127 species of fish and 260 species of birds, as well as 850 aquatic invertebrates, 430 different plants, and more than a thousand species of insects can be found in the delta. The Volga River Delta supports millions of birds, many of which rely on the productive delta to rest and feed during migrations. Flocks of swans, ducks, herons, terns, and ibis nibble on nutritious vegetation and catch small fish and other animals. Other unusual species stand out, such as the Dalmatian pelican, great white egret, and penduline tit. The delta is considered one of the world’s most productive areas for fish, particularly sturgeon. Sturgeon species found in the delta are the Russian, beluga, sterlet, and stellate. Other migratory species include whitefish (Salmonidae) and herrings (Clupeidae). And throughout the Volga swim the rare white-eyed bream and the endemic Volga lamprey.

Cause for Concern

Dams have been built to create electricity and divert water for agriculture. These structures reduce the flow of water and nutrients into the delta and destroy habitat for many species. Both industry and agriculture release chemicals into the water, causing pollution and harming the health of fish and birds. Algal blooms and deoxygenation have increased in recent years.

Looking Ahead

Check back soon for more about the conservation of this ecoregion.