“The Great Volga” Motor Rally
“The Great Volga” Motor Rally
The Russian Geographical Society has always supported initiatives, aiming at promoting domestic tourism, raising environmental awareness, and encouraging active and healthy recreation.
On July 12, 2010 the car of the Russian Geographical Society joined in “The Great Volga” motor rally, which was held for the 6th time by the All-Russia Public Organisation of Small and Medium Entrepreneurship “OPORA Rossii”. The rally continued till July 18, 2010. The cars set off from Lake Seliger; the itinerary took them through the cities of Ostashkovo, Tver, Kostroma, Yaroslavl, Ivanovo, Nizhny Novgorod, Cheboksary, Kazan, Ulyanovsk, Samara, Saratov, Volgograd, and Astrakhan, located along the course of the Volga River. They covered the total distance of more than 3,500 km.
Members of the Russian Geographical Society are incurable romantics and adventurers, they are quick on their feet and don’t think twice if there is a chance to take to the road. But it was not only the call of the road that made the Society’s crew join in the rally along the biggest river in Europe. The Society’s representatives held a number of meetings in the country’s regions to establish contact with partners from local organisations with similar interests and objectives, to share experience and discuss plans for the future.
The Society also took this opportunity to state their long-term objectives, concerning encouraging domestic and inbound tourism in Russia. The Russian Geographical Society and “Opora Rossii” both believe that promoting tourism may help boost the economy and contribute to the steady development of many Russian regions.
The Russian Geographical Society intends to work further in this direction and to work out new programmes in cooperation with specialists and experts. We invite everybody to participate in our projects on preservation of Russia’s cultural and historical patrimony and development of new tourist itineraries, or to become member of the youth movements, supported by the Society, that combine educational and adventure activities. Traditionally, the Russian Geographic Society has advanced thanks to initiatives of its members. We are open to communication and exchange of ideas with everyone who loves their country, who feels the urge to explore and preserve its reaches.
Extracts from the travel journal:
“It seems as if with every kilometre away from Moscow natural beauty becomes more and more eye-catching. You feel like stopping over every 500 metres, pulling out your tripod and capturing these amazing views…But alas, we could take pictures only on the move.”
“One of the most beautiful… no, probably the most beautiful part of the route so far has been the Saratov-Volgograd highway. The car seems to be floating on the waves of the steppe sea, with staggering natural palette of multiple hues and shades. The places are mainly solitary. You feel like vaulting on to a horse and galloping along the vast, never-ending steppe.”
Rally’s organizers
“Driving from Samara to Saratov… It’s hot outside, there are fields all around. Fields that amaze you, fields that drowse you, fields with burnt grass, fields with haystacks, fields near hamlets, fields near factories, fields with sunflowers, with fieldworkers, with tractors, with cows…wide green, yellow, black fields…”
“There’s a wonderful site outside Kazan, with a string of blue water lakes stretching along the Kazanka River and pouring into it. The water in the lakes is supplied from underground springs, where its temperature never rises above 4º C. Ice swimmers can bathe there even in hot summers. The lakes don’t freeze in winter, with vapour wreathing above the turquoise and emerald-green surface. The beauty is unspeakable, you have to see it with your own eyes, and make sure to have a swim!”
