Mologa, Submerged town in Yaroslavl Oblast, Russia
Mologa was a town at the confluence of the Mologa and Volga rivers with a diverse built environment combining residential, stone, and commercial structures. The settlement's architecture ranged from simple wooden buildings to more substantial stone constructions that reflected its economic importance.
First mentioned in chronicles during 1149, the settlement gained district status in 1777 due to its strategic location on major trade routes. This administrative elevation solidified its position as a regional center along the Volga.
The town served as a busy trading hub where merchants and craftspeople shaped daily commerce and local traditions. Its market quarter was where the community gathered for business and social exchange.
The submerged remains are best explored during low-water periods at the Rybinsk Reservoir when portions of the former townsite become visible above the surface. Boat tours departing from nearby Rybinsk provide the primary way to observe these underwater ruins.
The town was intentionally flooded starting in 1935 to create the Rybinsk Reservoir, displacing approximately 130,000 people. Church spires and walls still protrude above the water in certain locations, creating ghostly reminders of what once stood there.
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