Yauza

The Yauza is a Russian river that flows through the city of Moscow and its surrounding region. It is a left‑hand tributary of the Moskva River, joining it in the southwestern part of the city. The Yauza’s watershed covers an area of roughly 425 square kilometres and its length is about 66 kilometres. The river originates in the highland area near the city’s outskirts, passing through dense forest and urban landscapes before emptying into the Moskva at the Yauzskaya Bridge.

Historically, the Yauza valley has been inhabited since ancient times, with archaeological findings indicating settlement activity dating back to the medieval period. During the Soviet era, the river’s basin was industrialised, leading to significant pollution concerns that prompted environmental remediation efforts in the late twentieth century. Efforts to improve water quality have included the construction of sewage treatment facilities and the reforestation of surrounding banks.

The name Yauza also refers to a district within Moscow. The Yauza District, established in 1939, occupies an area of approximately 12.6 square kilometres and had a population of around 105,000 as of the 2010 census. The district derives its name from the river that runs through its boundaries and is one of the administrative subdivisions of the South‑West administrative okrug of Moscow. The area is characterised by a mix of residential housing, commercial enterprises, and small industrial sites.