The Mother-Volga monument is located in front of the locks of the Rybinsk HPS. The construction of a cascade of 11 Volga hydroelectric power stations in 1930-1940 was a symbol of Russia`s industrialization, so in some places Soviet sculptors erected huge sculptures near the HPSs. Basically, monuments to Lenin or Stalin were erected. A monument symbolizing the Volga River was erected near the Rybinsk HPS.
The Mother-Volga monument is installed on an island 400 meters upstream from the locks of the Rybinsk hydroelectric power station, which are located on the Volga (there are also locks on Sheksna). This island was formed after the rise of the water level in the Volga, and the monument rises very beautifully above the water surface.
Despite the earthworks for the construction of the Uglich and the Rybinsk hydroelectric power stations were carried out by GULAG prisoners, the feat of all the workers who participated in such grandiose construction projects was decided to perpetuate the erection of some grandiose monument.
At first, in the middle of the Volga locks of the Rybinsk HPS, it was planned to erect a monument to Vera Mukhina "Worker and Collective Farmer". It was made in 1937 for the Paris World`s Fair, and then returned to Moscow. Since the work at the hydroelectric power station had not yet been completed, it was installed at the VDNH Exhibition. During disassembly in Paris, the monument was severely damaged. He would not have survived repeated disassembly and assembly, so the monument remained in Moscow at VDNH.
The completion of the construction of both hydroelectric power stations took place during the most difficult months of the Battle for Moscow in 1941, so the idea of erecting a monument was postponed. However, in 1953 the idea became relevant again. The work was entrusted to sculptors Shaposhnikov and Malashkina, and the construction of the Mother Volga monument was led by architect Donskikh.
The height of the Mother-Volga monument is 17.4 meters. It is clearly visible from passing ships, as the fairway passes by the monument. The Mother-Volga monument is visible from the shore, but it is 1 kilometer away. There is no access to the monument itself, as it is located in a closed area of the locks.
