Upper Volga’s incision valleys: geomorphological aspects and development history

The evolution of the upstream part of the Volga River, the Upper Volga, is still uncertain. According to the most popular model, the river emerged after the MIS 2 proglacial lakes, supposedly formed in its basin, were drained 14.5 ka after the Plyos and Tutayev incision valleys formation. To test this hypothesis, we aimed to determine the mechanism of formation and age of the incision valleys using luminescence dating. Also, we used a GIA model to assess one of the possible ways of proglacial lakes formation. We found that the terrace located in the Plyos incision valley dates back to late MIS 6 – MIS 5, proving that the valley is much older than the proposed MIS 2 age. Since no evidence of limnic sediments were found in the valley and the modelling did not show a significant GIA influence on the basin that could lead to the proglacial lake formation, we can assume that the valley was not occupied by lake water in MIS 2. Apparently, previous researchers mistook various loams and silts, widely developed on the slopes and in the bottom of the valley, for MIS 2 lake sediments. According to our dating data, these sediments do date back to MIS 2, but are rather of slope and aeolian origin. Following our GIA modelling results, during MIS 2 the Upper Volga valley was affected by a glacial forebulge formation. Its height was not enough to dam up the Volga, but the forebulge relaxation process caused the valley slope to gradually decrease. Due to that accumulation followed, confirmed by the presence of a river terrace of an appropriate age. During late MIS 2, disappearance of the forebulge led the river to incise. 

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