Location: The Volga Delta drains into the Caspian Sea, about 60 km downstream of the city of Astrakhan, in the southwest of the Russian Federation.

The Volga River is Europe’s longest river with a catchment of 1,380,000 sq. km. The Delta (the largest inland delta in Europe) plays an extremely important hydrological role. The wetlands of the delta support a rich and globally significant diversity of habitats and species, including rare and threatened species, in particular fish and migratory birds but also rare plant species. During mild winters, the delta supports up to 750,000 waterbirds, including Cygnus olor, Anser anser, Anas platyrhynchos, Aythya spp. and Mergus spp. Censuses of moulting ducks in the summers of 1977 and 1978 recorded up to 400,000 individuals (mainly Anas crecca, A. acuta, A. querquedula and A. clypeata). Breeding wetland birds include the endangered pelican Pelecanus crispus, Ardea cinerea, Casmerodius albus, Plegadis falcinellus, Cygnus olor (10,000 pairs), Pandion haliaetus, Fulica atra, Larus icthyaetus, Chlidonias spp., Sterna spp. and the threatened Haliaeetus albicilla. The delta is also a major staging area for many species of waterbirds, raptors and passerines. The area supports a vital link in the life-cycle of fish species.

The Volga Delta is predominantly a freshwater riverine wetland complex with permanent and seasonal lakes and riverine floodplains. The site comprises the lower part of the Volga Delta, including the shallow waters of the fore-delta.

Biological/Ecological notes: The complex of terrestrial and aquatic habitats in the Lower Volga supports a rich diversity of vegetation, with over 400 plant species from 256 genera and 82 families. Herbaceous communities and reed beds (common reed Phragmites australis) are the most widespread. Approximately 530 benthic and bentho-nektonic animals inhabit the lower reaches of the Volga Delta. The fish in the Volga comprise 124 species and sub-species from 17 families and 8 orders. The main species include Acipenser gueldenstaedti, Huso huso, Acipenser stellatus, Acipenser ruthenus, Cyprinus carpio, Abramis brama, Stizostedion lucioperca, Silurus glanis, Rutilus rutilus caspicus, Esox lucius, Leuciscus cephalus, Scardinius erythrophthalmus and Tinca tinca. Some 30 species of mammals occur in the Volga Delta. The most numerous are Nyctereutes procyonoides, Sus scrofa, Mustela vison, M. erminea and Ondatra zibethicus. The common otter Lutra lutra, European beaver Castor fiber, and red fox Vulpes vulpes also occur.

Hydrological/Physical notes: The Delta’s current relief and deposits are very young formations, dating from the Late Holocene. These are undergoing continuous change under the influence of two systems: the Volga river and the Caspian Sea. The surface of the lowland is dominated by alluvial-marine, lake-marine and lake-alluvial soils. The lower part, is characterised by brackish to freshwater bays overgrown with emergent and submerged plants. The upper part of delta is an extensive network of channels (the largest are Bakhtemir and Buzan discharging 70% of the Volga water) and smaller streams, which divide the lowland into a great number of islands with areas ranging from 200 to 2,000 ha. The hydrological regime is determined by the flow of the Volga River, and is characterised by a pronounced spring-summer flood, summer-autumn low water and winter high water. The natural hydrological regime has been altered by the construction of hydro-electric power stations upstream on the Volga. The delta has an arid, continental climate, with local influences from the Caspian Sea. The annual air temperatures vary from a minimum of -40°C to a maximum of 45°C. The warm period, when the temperature is above zero, lasts for 235-260 days and the ice period 70-113 days. Annual precipitation varies from 160-180 mm on the coast of the Caspian Sea, to 240-310 mm in the north of Astrakhan Region. Evaporation is strongly seasonal. It is low in winter and rises to 175-200 mm per month in summer. The annual potential evaporation is approximately 1,050 mm.

Human Uses: Traditional activities in the delta have relied on the sustainable harvest of wildlife, particularly fish and waterfowl, and the harvesting of reeds. In some areas of the upper part of the delta, production of rice and vegetables has been developed. Cattle grazing takes place on the highest islands in the upper part of the delta. Over 65% of the land in the Astrakhan Region is used for agricultural purposes. Regular monitoring of the delta ecosystems, in particular fish and waterbird populations, has been conducted for more than 70 years. The Astrakhan Biosphere Nature Reserve has a natural history museum and there is a museum of local history in the city of Astrakhan which gives great emphasis to education. Several films aimed at raising public awareness of the delta have been produced.

Conservation Measures: Internationally the site is designated a UNESCO Man and Biosphere Reserve. The site encompasses the Astrakhan Biosphere Nature Reserve which was established in 1919. This now consists of three separate sites which together provide strict protection to a total of 66,816 ha. Two of the sites also have buffer zones totalling 31,000 ha. Protected areas of other types include wildlife refuges (‘zakazniks’) totalling 38,200 ha: the Krestovy, Tunanka, Teplushka and Zhirotopka; and four nature monuments. One of these is an important fish spawning area of 300 ha, and the other three are breeding colonies of Ciconiiformes, totalling 17 ha. In other parts of the Ramsar site, various activities such as recreation, agriculture and hunting may take place. However, it is forbidden to carry out any activities which might threaten the existence of the wetland ecosystems. In 1991, a Strategy and Action Plan to conserve the wetlands of the Lower Volga was developed at an International Workshop held in the city of Astrakhan and organised by IWRB, WWF and Russian conservation agencies. The Ramsar Small Grants Fund allocated a grant to develop and implement a management plan for the area. Several detailed projects which are required to achieve the objectives of the Action Plan were under preparation in 1997.

Adverse Factors: Regulation of the Volga through construction of a series of dams has adversely affected the natural hydrology of the river, causing reduced river flows for much of the year and irregular, aseasonal flooding. The dams have also reduced sediment supply to the delta and prevented the spawning migrations of sturgeon and other fish. The Volga is also subject to serious pollution from industrial and agricultural sources. There are huge unregulated industrial complexes along the Volga dams, while the floodplain of the lower Volga is intensively cultivated, with extremely high levels of pesticide and herbicide use. A further problem, of currently undetermined cause, is the recent and ongoing rise in level of the Caspian Sea. This has led to a northward retreat of the foredelta, so that the Ramsar site is becoming inundated and increasingly dominated by deeper, open water.

Most recent Ramsar Information Sheet/datasheet: 1997; Please see Introduction for more details.