Unified Deep Water System of European Russia

The Unified Deep Water System of European Russia (Russian: Единая глубоководная система Европейской части Российской Федерации) is a system of inland waterways in Russia linking the White Sea, the Baltic Sea, the Volga River, Moscow, the Caspian Sea and (via the Sea of Azov) the Black Sea.

The rated depth throughout the system is never less than 4.5 metres (15 ft), allowing passage of not only river craft but many sea-going vessels including warships and even nuclear submarines.

The English acronym is UDWS (the "European Russia" part being elided); the Russian acronym is ЕГТС which transliterates to EGTS.

The system includes these waterways:

• Neva River
• Lake Ladoga
• Svir River
• Lake Onega
• White Sea-Baltic Canal
• Volga-Baltic Waterway
• Moscow Canal
• Volga River
• Kama River
• Volga-Don Canal
• Don River
• Belaya River

Environmental impact

In 1999, the warty comb jelly colonized the Caspian Sea via the Unified Deep Water System. The establishment of this population led to a 60% reduction in the number of sprat, which in turn led to a reduction in the population of sturgeon and seals.^[1]

In total, according to the unified federal/state agency CaspNIRKh (Russian: КаспНИРХ), about 60 alien species of plants and animals penetrated into the Caspian Sea in the 20th century, which has led to significant changes to ecosystems.^[2]

References

1. Zarina Akhmedova (November 8, 2010). "Борьба против вредоносного мнемиопсиса в водах Каспия дала первые результаты - минэкологии" [Initial Results in the Fight Against the Malicious Mnemiopsis in Caspian Waters – Ministry of the Environment]. Trend News Agency. Retrieved September 14, 2016. (Russian)
2. "РЕШЕНИЕ – Пленарного заседания Научного консультативного совета по комплексному использованию водных ресурсов и охране водных экосистем по вопросу: «Экологические последствия предлагаемых вариантов строительства второй нитки Волго-Донского водного пути или канала «Евразия» (18 марта 2009 г., г. Москва)" [Decision – Plenary meeting of the Scientific Advisory Board for the Integrated Water Resources Management and Protection of Water Ecosystems on the Issue: "Environmental Impact of the Proposed Options for the Construction of the Second Line of the Volga-Don Waterway or Canal" Eurasia "(18 March 2009, Moscow)]. Water and the People: 21st Century. Water Safety Science and Technology Center. March 18, 2009. (Russian)