The Siverskyi Donets – Donbas Canal (Ukrainian: Канал Сіверський Донець — Донбас, romanized: Kanal Siverskyi Donets — Donbas; Russian: Канал Северский Донец — Донбасс) is a canal in Eastern Ukraine, connecting the Siverskyi Donets with the Kalmius River. The canal was built in the 1950s to improve the area's water supplies.[1]
| Siverskyi Donets – Donbas Canal | |
|---|---|
 The Northern terminal of the canal, connecting with Siverskyi Donets
  Start End Start and end points of the canal | |
 | |
| Location |  Sloviansk Raion, Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine |
| Specifications | |
| Length | 133.4 km (82.9 miles) |
| History | |
| Date completed | 1958 |
| Geography | |
| Direction | South |
| Start point | Siverskyi Donets |
| End point | Kalmius River |
| Beginning coordinates | 48°54′54″N 37°45′04″E / 48.915°N 37.751°E |
| Ending coordinates | 48°06′22″N 37°52′37″E / 48.106°N 37.877°E |
 | |
Location
editThe starting point of the canal is near the village of Raihorodok, about 12.2 miles (19.6 km) northeast of Sloviansk, at the Siverskyi Donets. The canal travels south, and ends near the city of Yasynuvata, about 11.6 miles (18.7 km) northeast of Donetsk, at the Kalmius River.[2]
History
editDuring the 20th century, Soviet industrialization depleted the supplies of fresh water in the Donbas region. The production of many industrial products, including cast iron, steel, and coal mining, require large amounts of fresh water. At the same time, The mining industry in the area further disrupted groundwater, making them even more scarce.
In 1955, the construction of a canal began in the Donetsk Oblast to improve the supplies of freshwater, and completed by 1958. The canal was expanded in 1979 to increase its water capacity.[3] In 2014, the canal was heavily damaged due to the War in Donbas. As of 2021, the canal is run by the state-owned company "Water of Donbas" (Вода Донбасу).[4]
Characteristics
editThe total length of the canal is 133.4 kilometres (82.9 mi), where 107 kilometres (66 mi) consist of conventional canals, and another 26.4 kilometres (16.4 mi) are pipe bridges. There are also 4 pump stations to carry water over higher elevations, and a total of 5 reservoirs to ensure smooth operations.[3]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Donets-Donbas Canal". Internet Encyclopedia of Ukraine. 1984.
- ^ "Kalmius" (in Russian). Geographical encyclopedia.
- ^ a b "Ukraine: Water Infrastructure is the Strategic Prize in Donbas". Daily Kos. September 4, 2022.
- ^ "КП «Компанія «Вода Донбасу» контролює якість питної води" (in Ukrainian). dn.gov.ua. January 15, 2021.