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\n \n MORSKOY CANAL (the Naval Canal) was constructed along shallow waters of Neva Bay between Gutuyevsky and Kanonersky Islands in 1874-85. The Canal has materially changed the islands' shape. It begins at the Neva Gates on the left bank of the Neva River and runs through the Harbour installations of Lesnaya and Ugolnaya Harbours heading to the southern end of Kotlin Island and Kabotazh Harbour. The Canal is 29.6 km long, 85-120 meters bottom-wide and 12.5 meters deep. The eastern part of the Morskoy Canal is levied to protect it from siltation. The length of developed dams in Neva Bay is 4.3 km, and the length of dams together with flood protective works within the city's precincts is 9.5 km. The Morskoy Canal allows large sea and ocean vessels to enter St. Petersburg ports. The idea to build the Morskoy Canal was first expressed by Peter the Great. The final project was developed by a special committee chaired by Stanislav Kerbedz on the basis of projects by engineers Eduard Totleben, I.A. Zarzhetsky, and Nikolay Putilov. About 9.5 million cubic meters of soil was removed during dredging works; the total construction cost of the Morskoy Canal, its harbours and port was 14.8 million rubles. The opening ceremony of the Morskoy Canal was held in 1885. A commemorative medal was produced to mark this event. During World War I of 1914-18, the Morskoy Canal was not operating as a lot of vessels had sunk there. It was reconstructed in 1918-23. During the Great Patriotic War of 1941-45, the Baltic Fleet battle ships (including the Marat battleship) occupied their defence positions in the Morskoy Canal; 200 fire units were set up in the Canal's dams. After the war, the Morskoy Canal was reconstructed and renovated. In 1960-80s, it was extended, deepened and fitted with modern facilities. Improvement and maintenance works are still continuing.

Reference: Усанов Б. П. Диалог города с морем. Л., 1989.

Y. P. Seliverstov.\n
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Persons
\n \n \n \n Peter I, Emperor\n
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