Lockage of the Lower Don: history, problems, purposes

Abstract

This paper presents the physical and geographical characteristics of the Lower Don as well as the history of its lockage. During the low water levels in the upper and lower reaches of the Volga and on the Don River below the Tsimlyansk water-engineering system, ship companies are experiencing difficulties with vessels being loaded at full load because of insufficient depth. The use of flexible impounding dams is proposed, which during low-water seasons induce the water level rise in navigable rivers and during flooding, they are arranged in the apron of the channel.