Sources on the history of the construction of the Cheboksary hydroelectric power station in the collections of the Russian State Archive of the Economy: historical and archival aspect

the article is devoted to the history of the construction of the Cheboksary Hydroelectric Power Station, which is a vivid example of long-term planning and implementation of large-scale engineering projects in the USSR. The idea of creating a cascade of hydraulic units on the Volga and Kama rivers was proposed in 1931 as part of the “Big Volga” project. Difficulties arose during the process related to design and changes in plans concerning the Volga-Kama cascade, but despite this, the Cheboksary hydroelectric unit remained a key element both in the pre-war and post-war periods of the project's implementation. The construction of the Cheboksary Hydroelectric Power Station began on January 22, 1967. This became possible thanks to many years of effort and coordination with state authorities. The article also analyzes both the positive and negative consequences of the construction. On the one hand, the Cheboksary Hydroelectric Power Station contributed to the improvement of the hydrological regime of the Volga River, the reduction of the threat of spring floods, and the provision of stable power supply. On the other hand, interference with the ecosystem led to significant environmental problems, including the flooding of agricultural lands and deterioration of the state of the environment. As a result, despite achievements in the field of energy, the project provoked dissatisfaction among the local population and researchers, raising important questions about the balance between infrastructure development and environmental protection. The article is based on historical sources from the Russian State Archive of the Economy, which makes it possible to gain a deeper understanding of the socio-economic and environmental aspects of this project.

Cheboksary Hydroelectric Power Station, construction, engineering projects, cascade of hydraulic units, “Big Volga” project, project specification, ecosystem, environmental consequences, flooding, agricultural lands, hydrological regime, power supply, Russian State Archive of the Economy, engineering protection, biodiversity, social problems, population, environmental aspect