Astrakhan region is a picturesque and marvelous land, where distant and mysterious past
is harmoniously intertwined with the future.
Astrakhan once stood at the crossroads of ancient caravan routes, was part of the Silk Road and offered merchants and traders a gateway to the East.
Astrakhan once stood at the crossroads of
ancient caravan routes, was part of the Silk Road
and offered merchants and traders a gateway to
the East. The land inhabited by nomads was renowned for
its wealth, warmth and enigmatic beauty of the
river delta. These places remember the times of the Golden
Horde, the period of the Astrakhan Khanate, and
Tsarist Russia. Walking along the city's oldest streets and along
the banks of the Volga River, you can still imagine
the bustling bazaars and colourful ships today.
For centuries, Astrakhan region has retained its status as the historical and cultural centre of the Volga region. And what the locals particularly value is their handicraft past. All Astrakhan people are literally fishermen from birth. Since ancient times, fishing has been the livelihood for those who lived on the lower Volga.
XIV century
XIV century
Historical sources state that sturgeons were being caught on the Volga as early as the 14th century. Perhaps back then they only knew about the exceptional taste of these fish, but in no way about how ancient and valuable these species are. Only centuries later, scientists will prove that the first ancestors of the sturgeon appeared even before the dinosaurs - 170 million years ago.
History says that sturgeons were hunted on the Volga back in the 14th century, in the era
of the Astrakhan Khanate. Then these ancient and valuable species, whose ancestors lived on
Earth even before the dinosaurs, inhabited the Caspian waters in abundance.
Catching a sturgeon has always been considered good luck. These fish often reached enormous sizes. A large sturgeon was enough to feed an entire village, or it could be sold at a profit. Astrakhan was renowned for its good catches. Filled with fish and caviar, the ships left Astrakhan for other cities and countries.Astrakhan was renowned for its good catches. Filled with fish and caviar, the ships left Astrakhan for other cities and countries.Sturgeons were called "red fish" - not because of their colour, but because of their special value. The Caspian sturgeon species have gone down in history. Since then, fish and caviar production has been identified with Russia.
The Caspian sturgeon species have gone down
in history. Since then, fish and caviar production
has been identified with Russia.
For a very long time this fishing had no limits: before the outbreak of the First World War, for example, the Caspian sturgeon catch exceeded
20,000 tonnes every season.It could not go on like this forever. The human intervention had already made itself felt by the middle of the 20th century.But it is not only centuries of fishing, but also the artificial regulation of rivers and the creation of reservoirs that have forever changed the habitual environment of sturgeons, cut off the natural pathways of fish and caused an irreparable blow to the resources of the Lower Volga, from which our nature is still struggling to recover.
Catching a sturgeon has always been considered good luck. These fish often reached enormous sizes. A large sturgeon was enough to feed an entire village, or it could be sold at a profit. Astrakhan was renowned for its good catches. Filled with fish and caviar, the ships left Astrakhan for other cities and countries.Astrakhan was renowned for its good catches. Filled with fish and caviar, the ships left Astrakhan for other cities and countries.Sturgeons were called "red fish" - not because of their colour, but because of their special value. The Caspian sturgeon species have gone down in history. Since then, fish and caviar production has been identified with Russia.
The Caspian sturgeon species have gone down
in history. Since then, fish and caviar production
has been identified with Russia.
For a very long time this fishing had no limits: before the outbreak of the First World War, for example, the Caspian sturgeon catch exceeded
20,000 tonnes every season.It could not go on like this forever. The human intervention had already made itself felt by the middle of the 20th century.But it is not only centuries of fishing, but also the artificial regulation of rivers and the creation of reservoirs that have forever changed the habitual environment of sturgeons, cut off the natural pathways of fish and caused an irreparable blow to the resources of the Lower Volga, from which our nature is still struggling to recover.
XXI century
New history of sturgeons
As the sturgeon appeared on the verge of extinction, there were those who could not stand by and watch the fading era of these fascinating
fish.