| Velikaya | |
|---|---|
 The Velikaya in the city ofPskov | |
 | |
| Location | |
| Country | Russia |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Mouth | Lake Peipus |
• coordinates | 57°51′30″N28°9′10″E / 57.85833°N 28.15278°E /57.85833; 28.15278 |
| Length | 430 km (270 mi)[1] |
| Basin size | 25,200 km2 (9,700 sq mi)[1] |
| Discharge | |
| • average | 134 m3/s (4,700 cu ft/s)[1] |
| Basin features | |
| Progression | Lake Peipus→Narva→Gulf of Finland |
| Max. depth | 7 m (23 ft) |
TheVelikaya (Russian:Вели́кая) is a river inNovosokolnichesky,Pustoshkinsky,Sebezhsky,Opochetsky,Pushkinogorsky,Ostrovsky,Palkinsky, andPskovsky Districts ofPskov Oblast, as well as in the city ofPskov inRussia. It is the largesttributary ofLake Peipus and belongs to the drainage basin of theNarva. It is 430 kilometres (270 mi) long, and the area of its basin 25,200 square kilometres (9,700 sq mi). The name of the river literally means "Grand" or "Great" in Russian. The towns ofOpochka,Ostrov and Pskov are located on the banks of the Velikaya. The principal tributaries of the Velikaya are theAlolya (right), theIssa (left), theSorot (right), theSinyaya (left), theUtroya (left), theKukhva (left), theCheryokha (right), and thePskova (right).
The source of the Velikaya is located in theBezhanitsy Hills in the northwest ofNovosokolnichesky District. The river flows south through a system of lakes toLake Veryato, where it turns west. It accepts the Alolya from the right and gradually turns north, passing through the town of Opochka. Northwest of the urban-type settlement ofPushkinskiye Gory it turns west, accepts the Sinyaya from the left and turns north. In the city of Pskov the Velikaya accepts the Pskova from the right and turns northwest, forming ariver delta as it enters Lake Peipus.
Thedrainage basin of the Velikaya comprises vast areas in the west and southwest of Pskov Oblast, as well as in the east ofLatvia and in the north of theVitebsk Region of Belarus.
The river has a significant historic importance. Pskov was founded in 903, and the Velikaya provided it with access to the sea, via Lake Peipus and the Narva River.
The Velikaya is navigable in its lower course of length 34 kilometres (21 mi).
Media related toVelikaya River at Wikimedia Commons
