Lybid River
Encyclopedia
Lybid is a small river in Kiev
, Ukraine
, a right tributary of the Dnieper, flowing within the "Right Bank" (original) part of the city, just to the west of the historic center. The Lybid has played an important role in shaping Kiev's urban landscape and, later, in aiding the city's drainage
system.
ed for much of its flow, but can be seen along the railway lines south east from the main station of Kiev. It takes a sharp eastward turn and enters the Dnieper several kilometres south of Kiev's centre.
The Lybid has a number of small tributaries, the most notable being the Khreschatyk River, running parallel to modern Kiev's main street, Khreschatyk
, and entering the Lybid from the left. Another notable tributary, with small lakes on its course, joins just as the Lybid turns to the east in the Montajnik area south of central Kiev.
" and is a common East Slavic epithet for elegant women, moving with grace: "she walks as a swan swims" (словно лебедем плывет). Some believe that the river was named after the possibly mythical Lybid, sister of the legendary founders of Kiev, Kyi, Schek and Khoryv. Others state that Lybid was a former ruler of the Kyiv prior to times of Kievan Rus'
.
s were situated on one of these wide places where the river formed a reservoir with small islands on it. The biggest watermill was Mikhaylivska. Before its embouchure there were in total 7 watermills. Due to the milling business the surrounding area began to develop, with inns and small villages. Late in the 19th century, construction of the railway alongside began.
Kiev
Kiev or Kyiv is the capital and the largest city of Ukraine, located in the north central part of the country on the Dnieper River. The population as of the 2001 census was 2,611,300. However, higher numbers have been cited in the press....
, Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
, a right tributary of the Dnieper, flowing within the "Right Bank" (original) part of the city, just to the west of the historic center. The Lybid has played an important role in shaping Kiev's urban landscape and, later, in aiding the city's drainage
Drainage
Drainage is the natural or artificial removal of surface and sub-surface water from an area. Many agricultural soils need drainage to improve production or to manage water supplies.-Early history:...
system.
Course
The Lybid runs east, then south east, then roughly parallel to the Dnieper for part of its city presence, and is now culvertCulvert
A culvert is a device used to channel water. It may be used to allow water to pass underneath a road, railway, or embankment. Culverts can be made of many different materials; steel, polyvinyl chloride and concrete are the most common...
ed for much of its flow, but can be seen along the railway lines south east from the main station of Kiev. It takes a sharp eastward turn and enters the Dnieper several kilometres south of Kiev's centre.
The Lybid has a number of small tributaries, the most notable being the Khreschatyk River, running parallel to modern Kiev's main street, Khreschatyk
Khreschatyk
Khreshchatyk is the main street of Kiev, Ukraine. The street has a length of 1.2 km. It stretches from the European Square through the Maidan and to Bessarabska Square where the Besarabsky Market is located....
, and entering the Lybid from the left. Another notable tributary, with small lakes on its course, joins just as the Lybid turns to the east in the Montajnik area south of central Kiev.
Name
The name literally means "swanSwan
Swans, genus Cygnus, are birds of the family Anatidae, which also includes geese and ducks. Swans are grouped with the closely related geese in the subfamily Anserinae where they form the tribe Cygnini. Sometimes, they are considered a distinct subfamily, Cygninae...
" and is a common East Slavic epithet for elegant women, moving with grace: "she walks as a swan swims" (словно лебедем плывет). Some believe that the river was named after the possibly mythical Lybid, sister of the legendary founders of Kiev, Kyi, Schek and Khoryv. Others state that Lybid was a former ruler of the Kyiv prior to times of Kievan Rus'
Kievan Rus'
Kievan Rus was a medieval polity in Eastern Europe, from the late 9th to the mid 13th century, when it disintegrated under the pressure of the Mongol invasion of 1237–1240....
.
History
In the 19th century the river was widely used for milling. In some places it was quite wide - up to 50 meters. Three watermillWatermill
A watermill is a structure that uses a water wheel or turbine to drive a mechanical process such as flour, lumber or textile production, or metal shaping .- History :...
s were situated on one of these wide places where the river formed a reservoir with small islands on it. The biggest watermill was Mikhaylivska. Before its embouchure there were in total 7 watermills. Due to the milling business the surrounding area began to develop, with inns and small villages. Late in the 19th century, construction of the railway alongside began.