Celebrate the Volga River: Join the Eco-Friendly Festivities Along Its Shores

This year, celebrate the heart of Russia’s waterways in an eco-conscious way. Supporting the national Ecology project, a dedicated campaign to clean the Volga River’s banks will take place, inviting communities to protect and cherish this vital river.

The tradition of honoring the Volga River began in 2008 in Nizhny Novgorod. Last year, on May 21, an inaugural environmental cleanup event was held along the banks of Europe’s largest river, gathering 10 tons of waste in support of the national Ecology initiative.

For the second consecutive year, the campaign is organized by the Autonomous Nonprofit Organization “National Priorities” with support from the Russian Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources and the volunteer movement “Water of Russia.”

This year, key events will be hosted in Kazan, Nizhny Novgorod, Samara, and Volgograd. Each city will transform its Volga embankments into vibrant eco-festivals featuring interactive zones and youth activities designed to educate participants on the impact of pollution on aquatic ecosystems and teach effective waste sorting techniques. Entertainment will include photo zones, live music, quizzes, and eco-friendly prize giveaways.

Participants not only help clear their beloved riverbanks but also engage in a nationwide cleanup initiative, earning points through simple tasks such as sharing the event on social media with hashtags #NationalEcologyProject and #VolgaRiverDay2022. These points can be redeemed for eco-friendly merchandise like sticker packs, thermal bottles, waist bags, T-shirts, and other memorabilia bearing the campaign’s branding.

Sophia Malyavina
CEO of the Autonomous Nonprofit Organization “National Priorities”

"The campaign’s core mission is to raise awareness among residents of the Volga regions and all Russians about the vulnerability of river ecosystems to human activity and to emphasize the importance of protecting our natural heritage. Last year, over 2,500 dedicated individuals joined the Volga River Day events. In 2022, we aim to involve even more participants and eventually expand this initiative to other rivers across the country."

Residents of all Volga regions are encouraged to join and help make their riverbanks cleaner. Organizing a local Volga River Day event requires only a riverbank and community enthusiasm. For more information and to apply for organizing a cleanup event, visit the official website at dayofvolga.rf.

Major businesses in the Volga region are also supporting the initiative. For example, in Tver, the campaign is led by AtomEnergoSbyt, a subsidiary of the State Atomic Energy Corporation Rosatom. In Nizhny Novgorod, Rosatom’s Engineering Division and the network of Atomic Energy Information Centers are backing the event. Gazprom Transgaz Saratov will conduct cleanups in Saratov, while EuroChem-VolgaKali, part of EuroChem Group, supports efforts in Kotelnikovo, Volgograd region.

Ilya Razbash
Director of the Russian Water Management Complex Development Center

"The Volga is the lifeblood of European Russia, home to nearly a third of the country’s population and spanning 39 regions from the Perm Krai in the north to the Astrakhan region in the south. Its well-being is crucial not only for millions of people’s health but also for key economic sectors like agriculture, energy, and utilities. Protecting its purity is essential. We aspire for Volga River Day to become a nationwide celebration, with numerous cleanup events organized under the Water of Russia campaign. Central hubs include Nizhny Novgorod, Samara, Kazan, and Volgograd, but anyone can join any of the 13,000 planned cleanups this year."

In Kazan, the Volga River Day festivities will commence at 11:00 AM at the popular “Nizhnee Zarechye” city beach (Proletarskaya Street), offering stunning views of the Kazan Kremlin at the confluence of the Kazanka and Volga rivers. The event will feature participation from Alexander Valeryevich Shadrikov, Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources of Tatarstan, and Olga Ivanovna Pavlova, honored coach of Russia, GTO ambassador, and vice-president of the Russian Synchronized Swimming Federation.

In Nizhny Novgorod, the event starts at 11:00 AM at 3 Sibirskaya Street (Solyanaya Birzha Restaurant). Denis Borisovich Egorov, Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources of Nizhny Novgorod region, will welcome participants. The event is supported by Rosatom and the local branch of Sberbank.

Samara’s celebrations will begin at 11:00 AM at the beach near Sovetskaya Armiya Street in the Oktyabrsky district. Alexey Alexandrovich Veselov, Minister of Forestry, Environmental Protection, and Nature Management of Samara region, along with cultural, sports representatives, and community organizations, will take part.

Volgograd’s activities will start at 10:00 AM at the picturesque Krasnoslobodsk city settlement beach near Bobry beach.

Across all regions, the campaign will include participation from regional environmental ministries, Russian theater and film stars, renowned athletes, the environmental NGO ECA, volunteer groups, music projects, media representatives, and concerned citizens. The day will conclude with awards for the most active volunteers, a food zone, entertainment areas, workshops, and concerts featuring popular local bands.

For more details and to register for Volga River Day 2022, visit dayofvolga.rf.

Content provided by the press service of the Autonomous Nonprofit Organization “National Projects.” The editorial team of Lifehacker is not responsible for the publication.

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