Kronverksky Kanal, Canal in Saint Petersburg, Russia
Kronverksky Kanal is a waterway in Saint Petersburg that arcs between Petrogradsky and Zayachy islands. This roughly one-kilometer passage is about 50 meters wide and 4 meters deep, cutting through the city's historic center.
Work on this canal began in 1717 under Semyon Kryukov's direction as part of Saint Petersburg's early building efforts. Its construction was tied to developing new islands and supporting the growing ship traffic that the young city needed.
Two bridges cross this waterway: the Kronverksky Bridge on the eastern side and the Ioannovsky Bridge, which was Saint Petersburg's first bridge ever built. These structures mark important moments in how the city developed its ways of moving between neighborhoods.
Walking along the embankments on either side gives you the best view of this waterway and the bridges that cross it. The granite edges make it easy to stroll along without obstacles and to observe the water traffic or the architecture around you.
The granite embankments added in the early 1800s show the skill of Russian water engineers of that time. These solid walls have survived for over two centuries and still define how the canal looks today.
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