Which river's waters carry over half of all Russian river commerce?

Often called "Mother Volga," this colossal river serves as the central artery of European Russia. At over 2,190 miles, it is the longest river in Europe, but its length is only part of the reason for its commercial dominance. Its strategic importance comes from a vast network (Review) of canals, including the Volga-Don and Volga-Baltic waterways, which link it to Moscow and provide access to five different seas: the Caspian, Black, Azov, Baltic, and White Seas. This creates a unified deep-water system connecting the country's major industrial and agricultural centers.

This interconnected waterway allows for the transport of immense quantities of bulk cargo like timber, grain, oil, and construction materials far more economically than by rail or road. A series of massive dams and locks, constructed primarily during the Soviet era, transformed the river into a cascade of reservoirs. This engineering feat tamed its flow and made it navigable for large, modern vessels along most of its length. This combination of natural geography and human engineering is why it remains the undisputed king of Russian waterways, shouldering a staggering volume of the nation's inland shipping.