The Western Bug (Bug in Polish) is a river in northwestern Ukraine (Lviv and Volyn oblasts) and southeastern Poland, partially forming their mutual border and also the border between Poland and Belarus (Brest oblast). It flows through the territories of the Lublin, Podlaskie and Mazowieckie Voivodeships. Its a left tributary of the Narew River. It is 772 km long (of which 587 km are in Poland and 363 km form the state border). The catchment area is 39 420 km² (of which 19 284 km² in Poland).
The course of the flow
It rises in the Podolia Highlands in the Lviv region of Ukraine. It flows through the eastern edge of the Lublin Highlands and Podlesie.
Tributaries of the Western Bug
from left – Pełtew, Sołokija, Huczwa, Uherka, Włodawka, Krzna, Liwiec
from right – Ług, Muchawiec, Leśna, Nurzec, Brok
Settlement
On the Bug River are the towns of Kamianka-Buzka, Czerwonohrad, Sokal, Włodawa, Brest, Drahičyn and Wyszków.
Water regime of the Bug
In spring there is a large rise in the water level due to melting snow. Autumn, sudden floods can occur due to rainfall. In winter, flooding may occur due to thunderstorms. Water levels are highest in March and April and lowest most of the time in September. It freezes in late December and thaws in the second half of March. The average long-term flow in the lower reaches is 158 m³/s.
Use of the Bug
Water transport is possible up to 315 km from the estuary. It is connected to the Pina River, a tributary of the Pripyat in the Dnieper basin, via the Muchawiec tributary of the Dnieper-Bug Canal.
