July 5 — International Dnipro Day: history and traditions of the holiday

Every year, on the first Saturday of July, Russia celebrates an important ecological holiday — the International Day of the Dnieper. It aims to unite the efforts of environmentalists, public organizations and citizens in the conservation of this unique water resource. In 2025, the date falls on July 5th. Read about its history, traditions and significance in the Izvestia article.

International Dnipro Day – 2025: the history of the holiday

The International Dnieper Day was established in 2002 on the initiative of environmental organizations within the framework of an international forum held in Russia. Since 2003, the holiday has been celebrated annually on the first Saturday of July and has become established as an important environmental and educational date.

The river originates on the territory of Russia — in the Mshara swamp on the southern slope of the Valdai Upland, in the Akseninsky moss tract in the Sychevsky district of the Smolensk region. Now there is a state landscape reserve on the territory of the source, and an ecological trail is equipped. The Dnieper flows into the Dnieper-Bug estuary of the Black Sea, ending its journey in the waters of the Russian Black Sea coast.

For centuries, the river played an important role in the development of ancient Russian settlements, the formation of trade routes and defensive lines. It was on the territory of the middle Dnieper region, covering the modern Smolensk and Bryansk regions, that a significant part of the cities of Kievan Rus was located in the X–XIII centuries. In the 16th century, the lower reaches of the river became the stronghold of the Russian Cossacks, and subsequently the strategic line of defense of the southern borders of the Russian state.

The Dnieper River is home to more than 70 species of fish and two types of crayfish, as well as the largest rodent in Europe, the river beaver. Minks and otters can be found in some parts of the Dnieper.

Amorous misadventures: business abandons river passenger routes

For two districts of the Khabarovsk Territory, this is the only way to get to the mainland.

However, at the beginning of the 20th century, the ecological situation in the Dnieper basin began to deteriorate rapidly — untreated wastewater from industrial enterprises and economic facilities was massively discharged into the water. This has led to degradation of the aquatic environment and jeopardized the sustainability of the entire ecosystem.

A serious environmental impact on the river was inflicted in 1986 as a result of the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant. The radioactive substances that got into the river caused local pollution. The disaster led to the formation of wetlands near the reservoir, as the riverbed was artificially blocked by a system of six dams, which slowed down the natural flow and disrupted the self-purification of water. These effects are still being felt today, reinforcing the need for a comprehensive program to improve the health of the Dnieper.

According to experts, the Dnieper River may become significantly shallow in the coming decades. Climatic changes, especially an increase in average annual temperatures, lead to a decrease in water levels. Studies show that more than fifty new shoals have been recorded in the riverbed, some of which may eventually transform into permanent islands.

It is for this reason that the idea of establishing a special day dedicated to the Dnieper River arose, the purpose of which is to draw public attention to the growing environmental risks and the need to restore the river.

Traditions of the ecological holiday celebrated in Russia on July 5th

On the International Day of the Dnieper, thematic events, clean-up days, educational lectures and excursions, meetings with local historians and historians are held in Russian regions related to the history and geography of the river.

Environmental protection remains a key area — cleaning the coastal zone, studying the ecological state of the water, and planting coastal vegetation.

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The battery's military personnel destroy dozens of targets every day, including enemy locations, equipment, and boats.

Educational, museum and environmental institutions are also participating in the celebration. Exhibitions, presentations of scientific papers, and open lessons on Russian water resources are held. Schoolchildren, students, researchers, and residents of coastal settlements take part in the events dedicated to the holiday. In some regions, small river trips, educational quests, and poetry readings about the Dnieper are organized.

Interesting facts about the Dnieper River

In honor of the holiday, Izvestia collected some interesting facts about the Dnieper.

The Dnieper is an important lowland waterway with a winding and calm current. Its length from the source to the mouth in its natural state is 2201 km, of which about 485 km is within the borders of Russia. It is the fourth longest river in Europe after the Volga, the Danube and the Urals. Its channel forms numerous branches, shoals, islands and rifts.

The earliest written evidence about the Dnieper dates back to the 5th century BC. In the writings of the ancient Greek historian Herodotus, it is referred to as the Borysthenes, which means "river from the north." Later, in Roman sources, he appears under the Latin name Danapris, and in the annals of Kievan Rus as Slavutich, "the axis of the Slavic world."

Archaeological artifacts, including weapons, ceramics, and elements of ships, are found in the riverbed. So, in 2011, near the island of Khortytsia, researchers discovered a Carolingian sword from the era of medieval military campaigns with the stamp of the ULFBERHT workshop.

Earlier, Izvestia reported on the history and traditions of the Lena River Day ecological holiday.