The Volga Upland, also known as the Volga Uplands, Volga Hills, or Volga Plateau, is a vast region of the East European Plain in the European part of Russia that lies west of the Volga River and east of the Central Russian Upland. The uplands lie in the cool continental climate zone, characterised by large fluctuations in seasonal temperatures and generally little rainfall. Outside of the cities in the region, population density is generally between 28 and 129 inhabitants per square mile.