TheLuga(Russian:Луга) is ariverinNovgorodskyandBatetsky DistrictsofNovgorod OblastandLuzhsky,Volosovsky,Slantsevsky,andKingiseppsky DistrictsofLeningrad OblastofRussia.The river flows into theLuga Bayof theGulf of Finland.It freezes up in the early December and stays under the ice until early April. The length of the Luga is 353 kilometres (219 mi), and the area of itsdrainage basinis 13,200 square kilometres (5,100 sq mi).[1]Its maintributaryis theOredezh(right). The towns ofLugaandKingisepp,as well as the urban-type settlement ofTolmachyovoare located on the banks of the Luga. The mouth of the Luga is the site of theUst-Lugacontainer terminal.
| Luga | |
|---|---|
 Luga River near Zhelezo geographical station | |
 Map of the Luga basin | |
| Location | |
| Country | Russia |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Mouth | Gulf of Finland |
• coordinates | 59°40′38″N28°18′41″E/ 59.67722°N 28.31139°E |
| Length | 353 km (219 mi)[1] |
| Basin size | 13,200 km2(5,100 sq mi)[1] |
| Discharge | |
| • average | about 100 m3/s (3,500 cu ft/s) |
| Basin features | |
| Tributaries | |
| • left | Saba |
| • right | Oredezh,Yashchera |
The source of the Luga is located in apeatproduction area in the northwest of Novgorod Oblast, several dozen kilometers northwest of the city ofVeliky Novgorod.The river flows south, crosses into Batetsky District, and gradually turns west. A stretch of the Luga serves the border between Novgorod and Leningrad Oblasts. There, the Luga flows northwest, in the town of Luga turns north, accepts the Oredezh from the right, and flows through the urban-type settlement of Tolmachyovo. There, it turns northwest and reaches the border of Luzhsky District. A stretch of the Luga forms the borders between Gatchinsky and Volosovsky, Slantsevsky and Volosovsky, and Kingiseppsky and Volosovsky Districts. In the town of Kingisepp the Luga turns north and subsequently northeast. The mouth of the Luga River is located in the settlement of Ust-Luga.
The drainage basin of the Luga includes large areas in the north of Novgorod Oblast (Novgorodsky and Batetsky Districts), as well as in the southwest of Leningrad Oblast (Gatchinsky,Luzhsky, Volosovsky, Slantsevsky, and Kingiseppsky Districts). In particular, it containsShum-gora,an archaeological site near the banks of the river in Novgorodsky Oblast, and theMshinskoye Boloto Zakaznikin Leningrad Oblast, shared between the basins of the Oredezh and theYashchera.
The Luga below the town of Kingisepp is navigable; however, there is no passenger navigation.
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Bridge over the Luga inKingisepp -
The Luga in Zhelezo,Luzhsky District
