| Medveditsa | |
| Mouth Coordinates: | 49.5763°N 42.6385°W |
| Subdivision Type1: | Country |
| Length: | 745km (463miles) |
| Discharge1 Avg: | 69m3/s |
| Basin Size: | 34700km2 |
| Tributaries Right: | Balanda, Tersa |
The Medveditsa or Medveditza (; Russian: Медведица|r=Medvedica|p=mʲɪdˈvʲedʲɪtsə) is a river in Volgograd and Saratov Oblasts in Russia, a left tributary of the Don.[1] The name means she-bear, and according to legend, it alludes to the large population of bears in the area in earlier times. It is 745km (463miles) long, with a drainage basin of 34700km2.[2]
The river has its sources on the Volga Uplands, in the northeastern parts of Saratov Oblast, and flows mainly in a southwestern direction. It joins the Reka Don in Volgograd Oblast near Zatonski. Its largest tributaries are, from the right: Balanda and Tersa, and from the left: Idolga, Karamysh and Archeda.[1]
The towns of Petrovsk, Atkarsk, Medveditsa, Zhirnovsk, and Mikhaylovka are situated on the Medveditsa. The river is navigable to Atkarsk.
A variety of fish is found in the Medveditsa River: catfish, pike, bream, asp, perch, chub, perch, tench, roach, gudgeon and others. In the late 80s there were a lot of sterlet.
Forests along both banks of the river have a wide variety of birds, medicinal herbs, wild berries, fruits and flowers.