Historical aspects and dynamic of development of Russian hydropower engineering in 1900 - 1980's (on the example of the Volga hydropower cascade)

In the article the genesis and further development of hydropower engineering in Russia in 1900 - 1980s are analyzed. The major object of the research is the elaboration and practical realization of the Russian political elites plans to make use of the hydropower potential of the Volga River, which resulted in the creation of the Volga hydropower cascade. The historical aspects of the process, main economic indexes of the cascade and tendencies of hydropower engineering on the Volga are revealed.