_The River Systems of Russia._—No reference to the water transport of Russia would be complete unless it included the river-system of that interesting country, which is stated to be navigable to the extent of 19,000 miles. Rafts, however, can use such waterways to the extent of 38,000 miles. The chief rivers of Russia are the Volga, with a drainage area of 563,000 miles, and a course of over 2000 miles, making it the longest river in Europe; the Ural, with a drainage area of 95,000 square miles, and a course of 1446 miles; the Dwina, with a drainage area of nearly 100,000 miles, and a course of 650 miles; the Petchora, with a drainage area of 127,000 miles and a length of 915 miles; the Don, with a drainage area of 170,000 square miles, and a length of 980 miles; and the Dneiper, with a drainage area of 204,000 square miles, and a length of 1060 miles. In the summer these rivers, with their collateral canals, transport immense quantities of raw material to the south and west, and carry back manufactures of different kinds in exchange. In the winter, however, their navigation is generally closed, and traffic is carried either by railway or by road. There are, of course, many smaller streams, such as the Düna, 470 miles long; the Neva, 34 miles long; the Dneister, 640 miles in length; and the Bug, with a course of 430 miles. FOOTNOTES: [99] Peter the Great, as is well known, was a keen observer of everything that tended to open up the internal commerce of a country, and especially of all that tended to advance maritime progress, in which he took a deep interest. When Peter was residing in England canal navigation was hardly yet begun, but many rivers had been canalised, including the Aire and Calder, the Trent, the Witham, and the Medway. [100] For additional information on this subject consult Tooke’s ‘View of the Russian Empire,’ vol. i., and Cox’s ‘Travels in Poland and Russia,’ vol. iii. [101] Article “Canals,” in ‘Rees’s Encyclopædia.’ [102] Oddy’s ‘European Commerce,’ p. 292. [103] Oddy’s ‘European Commerce.’ [104] Report by Her Majesty’s Ambassador at St. Petersburg, Commercial series, No. 2 1884. [105] Paper read in 1886 before the Society for Promoting Russian Trade. [106] London _Economist_, July 14, 1888. [107] Oddy’s ‘European Commerce,’ p. 69. [108] ‘Inland Navigation in Europe,’ March 1888. CHAPTER XIV. THE WATERWAYS OF AUSTRIA-HUNGARY. “Th’ expanded waters gather on the plain, They float the fields, and overtop the grain.” —_Ovid._