The historical origins of the contemporary ecological problems of Middle Volga region

The article devoted to the processes of the 1920-1950s, which initiated the formation of a number of environmental problems in Middle Volga region: mass deforestation, construction of hydroelectric dams, and oil development etc. The analysis of historical documents provides the author with the basis to make a conclusion that these processes had a significant environmental impact in the region, and their negative effects persist even now.