Neva Bay, Eastern bay at Gulf of Finland, Russia
Neva Bay is an eastern bay of the Gulf of Finland near Saint Petersburg, stretching about 329 square kilometers between Kotlin Island and the Neva River estuary. The water has low salinity of about six parts per thousand, which shapes its character and marine life.
The bay developed as a strategic location for naval activities and served as an important training ground for the Russian Navy. Later, a dam about 25 kilometers long was built to separate the water from the sea and create a controlled system.
Local people call this body of water by a name that recalls Jean Baptiste de Traversay, a French officer who used these waters for naval training. The name reflects the bay's connection to the city's maritime traditions.
The water typically freezes for three to five months each year due to its low salt content. Visitors should keep this seasonal change in mind when planning to explore the bay during the coldest months.
The entire shoreline falls under Saint Petersburg's administration rather than the surrounding Leningrad region. This unusual boundary makes the bay an integral part of the city's territory.
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