Rybinsk Hydroelectric Station

The Rybinsk Hydroelectric Station stretches across the Volga River and consists of a concrete structure with locks and six large turbine houses sitting on top of the dam. The buildings connect the left and right banks and together with the reservoir form one of the central pieces of infrastructure in the region.

Construction began in 1935 as part of a Soviet plan to industrialize and electrify the country and continued over two decades. The work was officially completed in 1955 and the plant gradually entered operation.

The creation of Rybinsk Reservoir required the relocation of 150,000 residents and submerged the historic town of Mologa along with numerous villages.

Access to the facility is limited and mainly visible from the outside since it remains an active power plant. The area around the dam and the reservoir offer viewpoints and walking paths along the shore.

The Rybinsk Reservoir reaches depths of about 30 meters (98 feet) in some places and spreads over an area comparable to entire regions. Beneath the water lie the remains of the town of Mologa and numerous villages that disappeared when the reservoir was filled.

Location: Rybinsk

Inception: 1935

Official opening: 1955

Height: 27 m

Length: 524 m

Part of: Volga-Kama cascade

GPS coordinates: 58.08212,38.82491

Latest update: December 5, 2025 22:30