It rises in central [[Russia]] just to the west of the Ural Mountains and wanders rather indiscriminately south until it reaches the western shore of the [[Caspian Sea]] in a wide delta. It is navigable for most of its course; indeed its lazy meanderings through the steppes give it a fall of less than 700 feet over its whole navigable length. | It rises in central [[Russia]] just to the west of the Ural Mountains and wanders rather indiscriminately south until it reaches the western shore of the [[Caspian Sea]] in a wide delta. It is navigable for most of its course; indeed its lazy meanderings through the steppes give it a fall of less than 700 feet over its whole navigable length. |