rä`), river, c.540 mi (870 km) long, rising E of Penza, S central European Russia. It flows generally north to empty into the Volga River. It is navigable for about 100 mi (160 km) upstream.surah
or suraAny chapter of the Qur'an. According to Muslim belief, each of the 114 surahs, which vary in length from several lines (known as ayahs) to several pages, encompasses one or more divine revelations of Muhammad. All but three lines are in the form of a direct address from God. The tone of each varies but is generally moralistic, demanding obedience to a transcendent but compassionate God. Except for the opening surah, known as fatihah (the “opening”), they are arranged in descending order of length and numbered serially. They carry conventional names (e.g., Cow, Spider, Blood Clot) deriving from some image contained in them that is not necessarily indicative of their meaning or theme.
Sura
an urban-type settlement in Nikol’sk Raion, Penza Oblast, RSFSR, located at the confluence of the Inza and Sura rivers. Sura has a railroad station on the Inza-Ruzaevka line. The settlement has a distillery, a woodworking plant, and an industrial combine.
Sura
a river in Ul’ianovsk, Penza, and Gorky oblasts of the RSFSR; in the Mordovian ASSR, in the Chuvash ASSR, and in the Mari ASSR; a right tributary of the Volga.
The Sura is 841 km long and drains an area of 67,500 sq km. Originating on the Volga Upland, it flows westward along the upland and then primarily toward the north. The Sura is fed mainly by snow. High water is in April and May. The mean flow rate 63 km from the mouth is 253 cu m per sec; it is 260 cu m per sec at the mouth. The maximum flow rate is 7,240 cu m per sec, and the minimum flow rate, occurring from January through March, is 10.5 cum per sec.
The Sura freezes in November or December, and the ice breaks up in late March or in April. The main tributaries are the Uza, the Alatyr’, and the P’iana, on the left, and the Inza and the Barysh, on the right. The lower reaches of the Sura are navigable and are used for floating timber. The river is a source of water for industrial use. The cities of Sursk, Penza, Alatyr’, and Iadrin are located on the Sura; the landing of Vasil’sursk is situated at the mouth. The river attracts many tourists.
Sura
(also surah), a chapter of the Koran. The Koran has 114 suras of varying length—from three to 286 ayat (verses). The title of each sura is taken from one of the words found in it, such as “The Cow,” “The Spoils,” “Thunder,” and “Women,” or from the letters with which the chapter begins.
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