Kama, Major river system in western Russia
Kama is a large river in western Russia that flows for 1,805 kilometers across several administrative regions, including Perm Krai, Tatarstan, and the Udmurt Republic. Wide sections alternate with narrower valleys, and several dams shape large reservoirs along its course.
Before railroad lines were built, the river served for centuries as the main transport route toward the Urals and Siberia. Traders and settlers followed its course to carry raw materials and goods into remote areas.
The name Kama comes from the Uralic languages and means large riverbed or wide water according to local tradition. People living along its banks use the river today for fishing and recreation at small landing spots scattered along its shores.
The banks are accessible by roads in some places, but sections between dams lie far from larger settlements. Visitors exploring the river should bring maps and prepare for long drives.
At its mouth the river carries more water than the Volga itself, even though it is officially classified as a tributary. This unusual relationship shows the size of its drainage basin and the strength of its feeders.
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