Dnieper

The Dnieper, also known as the Dnipro in Ukrainian and the Dnepr in Russian, is one of Europe’s major rivers. It flows from Russia, through Belarus, and across Ukraine to the Black Sea. Its length is commonly cited as about 2,200 to 2,290 kilometers (roughly 1,360 to 1,420 miles), and its drainage basin covers around 504,000 square kilometers. The river’s Ukrainian name, Dnipro, is widely used in that country, while Russian and other languages refer to it as Dnepr.

The Dnieper rises in the western part of Russia, in the Valdai Hills region, and generally travels southwest, passing through major cities including Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine, and Dnipro. It then reaches its southern end in the Kherson region, where it forms a delta before emptying into the Black Sea. The delta comprises numerous channels and islands and supports diverse wetland ecosystems.

Hydrology and infrastructure along the Dnieper include a series of reservoirs and hydropower facilities that regulate flow, aid navigation, and generate electricity. The river has long been an important transportation route, linking interior regions with the Black Sea and connecting to canal networks such as the Dnieper–Bug Canal, facilitating regional trade.

Historically, the Dnieper has played a central role in trade and cultural exchange in Eastern Europe. It figured prominently in medieval commerce between the Baltic and the Black Sea and remains a key waterway for energy, agriculture, and settlements in the regions it traverses.