These names are all cognate, deriving fromOld East SlavicДънѣпръ(Dŭněprŭ). The origin of this name is disputed but generally derived from eitherSarmatian*Dānu Apara("Farther River") in parallel with theDniester("Nearer River") or fromScythian*Dānu Apr("Deep River") in reference to its lack offords,[11][12]from which was also derived theLate Antiquename of the river,Danapris(Δαναπρις).[13]
Another Scythian language name of the Dnipro was*Varustāna, meaning "having broad space," from which were derived:[14]
the Graeco-Roman name of the river,Borysthenes(ΒορυσθενηςBorusthenēs;Latin:Borysthenes). This name was connected to the Graeco-Roman name of theVolgariver,Oarus(Ancient Greek:ΟαροςOaros;Latin:Oarus), which was derived from Scythian*Varu, meaning "Broad."
FromBorystheneswas derived the river's poetic Latin name,Boristhenius[15]
theHuns' name for the river,Var, from Scythian*Varu, "Broad."
The total length of the river is variously given as 2,145 kilometres (1,333 mi)[3]or 2,201 km (1,368 mi),[18][19][20][21]of which 485 km (301 mi) are within Russia, 700 km (430 mi) are withinBelarus,[3]and 1,095 km (680 mi) are withinUkraine. Its basin covers 504,000 square kilometres (195,000 sq mi), of which 289,000 km2(112,000 sq mi) are within Ukraine,[22]118,360 km2(45,700 sq mi) are within Belarus.[3]
The source of the Dnieper is the sedge bogs (Akseninsky Mokh) of theValdai Hillsin central Russia, at an elevation of 220 m (720 ft).[22]For 115 km (71 mi) of its length, it serves as the border between Belarus and Ukraine. Its estuary, orliman, used to be defended by the strong fortress ofOchakiv.[citation needed]
The southernmost point in Belarus is on the Dnieper to the south ofKamaryninBrahin Raion.[23]
Tributaries of the Dnieper
Belarus section of the Dnieper river
The Dnieper has manytributaries(up to 32,000) with 89 being rivers of 100+ km.[24]The main ones are,from its source to its mouth, with left (L) or right (R) bank indicated:
Dnieper basin showing peoples in the ninth century
Many small direct tributaries also exist, such as, in the Kyiv area, the Syrets (right bank) in the north of the city, the historically significantLybid(right bank) passing west of the centre, and the Borshahivka (right bank) to the south.
The water resources of the Dnieper basin compose around 80% out of all Ukraine.[24]
Rapids
Rapids at Dnieper in 1915
Tractus Borysthenis or Dnieper (from Bovzin city to Chortyca island) in 1662
The Dnieper Rapids were part of the trade route from the Varangians to the Greeks, first mentioned in the Kyiv Chronicle.[clarification needed] The route was probably established in the late eighth and early ninth centuries and gained significant importance from the tenth until the first third of the eleventh century. On the Dnieper the Varangians had to portage their ships round seven rapids, where they had to be on guard for Pecheneg nomads.
Along this middle flow of the Dnieper, there were 9 major rapids (although some sources cite a fewer number of them), obstructing almost the whole width of the river, about 30 to 40 smaller rapids, obstructing only part of the river, and about 60 islands and islets.
After the Dnieper hydroelectric station was built in 1932, they were inundated byDnieper Reservoir.
Canals
There are a number of canals connected to the Dnieper:
The Krasnoznamianka Irrigation System in the southwest of theKherson region;
TheNorth Crimean Canal—will largely solve the water problem of the peninsula, especially in the arid northern and easternCrimea;
The Inhulets Irrigation System.
Fauna
The river is part of thequagga mussel's native range.[25]The mussel has been accidentally introduced around the world, where it has become aninvasive species.[25]
Estuary
Satellite images of the Dnieper estuary, captured 8 August 2015
The city ofKhersonis nearest to the Dnieper estuary. It has no large port facilities.
Almost 2,000 km (1,200 mi) of the river is navigable (to the city ofDorogobuzh).[24]The Dnieper is important fortransportationin theeconomy of Ukraine[citation needed]: Its reservoirs have large ship locks, allowing vessels of up to 270 by 18 metres (886 ft × 59 ft) access as far as the port ofKyiv, and thus are an important transportation corridor.[citation needed]The river is used by passenger vessels as well. Inland cruises on the riversDanubeand Dnieper have had a growing market in recent decades.[citation needed]
Historically, a connection with the Western European waterways was possible, but aweirwithout any ship lock near the town ofBrest, Belarus, has interrupted this international waterway. Poor political relations between Western Europe and Belarus mean there is little likelihood of reopening this waterway in the near future.[27]River navigation is interrupted each year by freezing and severe winter storms.
The Dnieper river in Ukraine from ahelicopter, 2004
Cities
Major cities, over 100,000 in population, are in bold script. Cities and towns located on the Dnieper are listed in order from the river's source (in Russia) to its mouth (in Ukraine):
The River Dnieper has been a subject of chapter X of a story byNikolai GogolA Terrible Vengeance(1831, published in 1832 as a part of theEvenings on a Farm Near Dikankashort stories collection). It is considered as a classical example of description of the nature in Russian literature. The river was also described in the works ofTaras Shevchenko.
In the adventure novelThe Long Ships(also translatedRed Orm), set during theViking Age, aScanianchieftain travels to the Dnieper Rapids to retrieve a treasure hidden there by his brother, encountering many difficulties. The novel was very popular in Sweden and is one of few to depict a Viking voyage to eastern Europe.
Visual arts
The River Dnieper has been a subject for artists, great and minor, over the centuries. Major artists with works based on the Dnieper areArkhip KuindzhiandIvan Aivazovsky.
Films
The River Dnieper makes an appearance in the 1964 Hungarian drama filmThe Sons of the Stone-Hearted Man(based on the novel of the same name byMór Jókai), where it appears when two characters are leavingSaint Petersburgbut get attacked by wolves.
In1983, the concert program "Song of the Dnieper" from the "Victory Salute" series was released, dedicated to the 40th anniversary of the liberation of the city ofKievfrom the German fascist invaders. The program includes songs by Soviet composers,Ukrainian folk songs, and dances performed by the Song and Dance Ensemble of the Kiev Military District led by A. Pustovalov,P. Virsky Ukrainian National Folk Dance Ensemble,Kyiv Bandurist Capella, the Military Band of the Headquarters of the Kiev Military District led by A. Kuzmenko, singersAnatoliy Mokrenko,Lyudmila Zykina,Anatoliy Solovianenko,Dmytro Hnatyuk,Mykola Hnatyuk. Filming on the battlefield, streets and squares of Kiev. Scriptwriter - Victor Meerovsky. Directed by Victor Cherkasov. Operator - Alexander Platonov.[30]
