David F. Baucom is a retired U.S. Navy Rear Admiral (RADM) who leads supply chain operations at Vintun. Having traveled extensively in Europe, David Baucom particularly enjoys taking riverboat cruises.
The Volga stretches nearly 2,300 miles through western Russia and encompasses Europe's most extensive river system. Frozen across the majority of its length throughout the winter, the Volga is responsible for draining western Russia and has been turned into numerous reservoirs that offer hydroelectric power and irrigation.
The Volga is also the center of a fertile river valley that combines minerals and natural resources that fuel the petroleum industry. The area has large-scale wheat farms, and the Volga Delta is home to Astrakhan, the epicenter of the traditional caviar industry.
Volga holds interest for history buffs, as the river basin was central to early migration of people from Asia to Europe. In addition, the city of Volgograd was the site of the Battle of Stalingrad, which marked a major victory by the Soviets over Germany in World War II.
