Lenin Volga–Don Shipping Canal (Russian: Волго–Донской судоходный канал имени В. И. Ленина, Volga-Donskoy soudokhodniy kanal imeni, V. I. Lenina, abbreviated ВДСК, VDSK) is a canal which connects the Volga River and the Don River at their closest points. Opened in 1952, the length of the waterway is 101 km (63 mi) (45 km (28 mi) through rivers and reservoirs).