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Dnieper

Longest river of Ukraine and Belarus / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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The Dnieper (/(də)ˈnpər/)[lower-alpha 1], also called Dnipro (/dəˈnpr/)[lower-alpha 2], is one of the major transboundary rivers of Europe, rising in the Valdai Hills near Smolensk, Russia, before flowing through Belarus and Ukraine to the Black Sea. It is the longest river of Ukraine and Belarus and the fourth-longest river in Europe, after the Volga, Danube, and Ural rivers.[2] It is approximately 2,200 km (1,400 mi) long,[3] with a drainage basin of 504,000 square kilometres (195,000 sq mi).

Quick facts: Dnieper, Native name, Location, Countries, Ci...
Dnieper
Dnieper_is_one_of_the_major_rivers_of_Europe.jpg
Dnieper Reservoir downstream from Dnipro city, Ukraine
Dnipro_Basin_River_Town_International.png
Dnieper River drainage basin
Native name
Location
Countries
  • Russia
  • Belarus
  • Ukraine
Cities
Physical characteristics
Source 
  locationValdai Hills, Russia
  coordinates55°52′18.08″N 33°43′27.08″E
  elevation220 m (720 ft)
MouthDnieper Delta
  location
Ukraine
  coordinates
46°30′00″N 32°20′00″E
  elevation
0 m (0 ft)
Length2,201 km (1,368 mi)
Basin size504,000 km2 (195,000 sq mi)
Discharge 
  locationKherson
  average1,670 m3/s (59,000 cu ft/s)
Basin features
Tributaries 
  leftSozh, Desna, Trubizh, Supiy, Sula, Psel, Vorskla, Samara, Konka, Bilozerka
  rightDrut, Berezina, Pripyat, Teteriv, Irpin, Stuhna, Ros, Tiasmyn, Bazavluk, Inhulets
Protection status
Official nameDnieper River Floodplain
Designated29 May 2014
Reference no.2244[1]
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In antiquity, the river was part of the Amber Road trade routes. During the Ruin in the later 17th century, the area was contested between the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth and Russia, dividing Ukraine into areas described by its right and left banks. During the Soviet period, the river became noted for its major hydroelectric dams and large reservoirs. The 1986 Chernobyl disaster occurred on the Pripyat River, a tributary of the Dnieper, just upstream from its confluence with the Dnieper. The Dnieper is an important navigable waterway for the economy of Ukraine and is connected by the Dnieper–Bug Canal to other waterways in Europe. During the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, certain segments of the river are part of the defensive lines between territory controlled by Russians and Ukrainians.[4][5][6]