Obvodny Canal, Industrial canal in Saint Petersburg, Russia
Obvodny Canal is an artificial waterway stretching about 8 kilometers through Saint Petersburg and connecting two river systems. Its banks are reinforced with granite blocks, and dozens of bridges cross the water at different points.
The project began in 1769 and was completed in two phases by 1833, serving as the southern boundary of the expanding city. Its completion marked a turning point for Saint Petersburg's infrastructure and trade.
The waterway's banks reveal traces of factories and warehouses that operated here for generations. Visitors can still see the solid brick structures that shaped the city's working life.
Most sections are easy to visit, especially during warmer months when the water is open and accessible. Good viewpoints can be found at the bridges and along the paved banks.
The French Basin, a widened section of the waterway, was built in the 1840s as a specialized anchoring and unloading point for vessels. This expanded zone shows how the waterway was designed with practical trade needs in mind.
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