Hubbry Logo
FontankaFontankaMain
Open search
Fontanka
Community hub
Fontanka
logo
7 pages, 0 posts
0 subscribers
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Fontanka
Fontanka
Fontanka
View on Wikipedia
from Wikipedia
Water system of Ligovsky Canal
Legend
Dudergofskoye lake
Dudergofka River
1718-1721
Left arrow To Moskovskoye s.
Three highways interchange
Ring Road
Right arrow To Bronka
Three highways interchange
Dachnaya street
Three highways interchange
Diameter
Right arrow To seaport terminal
Left arrow To Predportovaya
Right arrow To Ulyanka, Ligovo
Left arrow To Predportovaya
Right arrow To Leninsky Prospekt
Left arrow To Predportovaya
Right arrow To Leninsky Prospekt
Left arrow To Konstitutsii square
Leninsky Pr.
Right arrow To Leninsky Metro
Krasnenkaya River
Left arrow To Konstitutsii square
Krasnoputilovskaya
Right arrow To Avtovo
Moscow Gate Square
Moskovsky Avenue
Tsarskoselskaya Railway
Kubinskaya Street
Obvodny
Y. V. Aqueduct
Aviatorov Pound
Znamenskya Square
Nevsky Prospect
Ponds
Fontanka
 Panteleymonovsky Aqueduct
Fountains of the Summer Garden
Ponds in Tauride Garden
Steam pump
Water inlet
1720s
Neva
Moyka

The Fontanka (Russian: Фонтанка), a left branch of the river Neva, flows through the whole of Central Saint Petersburg, Russia – from the Summer Garden to Gutuyevsky Island [ru]. It is 6.7 kilometres (4.2 mi) long, with a width up to 70 metres (230 ft), and a depth up to 3.5 metres (11 ft). The Moyka River forms a right-bank branch of the Fontanka. Lined along the Fontanka Embankment stand the former private residences of Russian nobility.

Description

[edit]
Fontanka River Perspective. View to Trinity Cathedral.
Fontanka is located in Central Saint Petersburg
source
source
mouth
mouth
class=notpageimage|
Fontanka course in central St Petersburg

The river, one of 93 rivers and channels in Saint Petersburg, was once named Anonymous Creek (in Russian, Bezymyannyi Yerik, Безымянный ерик). In Russian, yerik is a secondary or intermittent river-channel (creek or brook). In 1719 the river received its present name, because water from it supplied the fountains of the Summer Garden.

Until the mid-18th century the Fontanka River marked the southern boundary of Saint Petersburg. Along its banks stood the spacious messuages of members of the Russian Imperial Family and of the nobility, the most brilliant being the Summer Palace and the Anichkov Palace. In 1780–89, architect Andrey Kvasov supervised the construction of the granite embankments and approaches to the river. The river-bed was regularised as well.

Examples of Baroque architecture along the banks of the river include the Sheremetev Palace, Beloselsky-Belozersky Palace, Naryshkin-Shuvalov Palace, and the Church of St Panteleimon (built 1735–1739). Notable Neoclassical structures from the 18th century include the Catherine Institute [ru], the Anichkov Palace and the Yusupov Palace on Sadovaya Street [ru].

Some of the mansions contain museums of the writers and composers who lived there: Gavrila Derzhavin (1743–1816), Alexander Pushkin (1799–1837), Ivan Turgenev (1818–1833), Anna Akhmatova (1889–1966) and others.

Fifteen bridges span the Fontanka, including the 18th-century Lomonosov Bridge and the extravagant Egyptian Bridge. The most famous bridge, the Anichkov Bridge, carries the Nevsky Prospekt over the river.

Panorama of Fontanka centred on St Panteleimon's Bridge and Summer Garden behind it

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Fontanka

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
The Fontanka is an artificial river and canal in central , , formed as a southern of the Neva River and spanning approximately 6.7 kilometers from the to the Malaya Neva. Originally a marshy in the early , it was engineered during the city's founding under to supply water for the fountains in the , from which it derives its name—a of "fontan," meaning in Russian. Historically, the Fontanka served as the southern boundary of Saint Petersburg until the mid-18th century, separating the affluent northern districts from the more modest southern areas, and it played a key role in the city's early development as a navigable waterway for transport and defense. Granite embankments were constructed along its banks between 1780 and 1789 under the direction of architect Alexey Kvasov, transforming it into a picturesque urban feature lined with palaces, such as the Sheremetev Palace and Anichkov Palace, as well as cultural institutions like the Fabergé Museum. The river's drawbridges, including the iconic Anichkov Bridge adorned with Klodt's "Horse Tamers" sculptures and the Egyptian Bridge flanked by sphinxes, were vital for maritime traffic until the 19th century, though modern shipping has rendered them largely ornamental with draw mechanisms removed. Today, the Fontanka remains a of , celebrated for its scenic beauty and historical landmarks, including the of Peter I, Mikhailovsky Castle, and the whimsical Chizhik-Pyzhik sparrow monument installed in 1994. With a width varying up to 70 meters and a shallow depth that limits large vessel navigation, it supports recreational , seasonal tours, and events like the annual Fontanka SUP in July, drawing visitors to explore the city's imperial heritage along its tree-lined quays.

Geography

Course and Dimensions

The Fontanka River originates as a left branch of the Neva River at the in the heart of St. Petersburg, marking the start of its urban course. It follows a meandering path southward through the central districts of the city, spanning a total length of 6.7 km before rejoining the Neva at Gutuyevsky Island near the Smolny Cathedral area. Throughout its trajectory, the Fontanka divides central St. Petersburg into northern and southern sections, contributing to the city's distinctive island-like layout formed by its waterways. The river's width varies from 50 m to 70 m, while its depth ranges from 2.6 to 3.5 m, with a maximum of 3.5 m, allowing for small vessel navigation but limiting larger commercial use. As a key element of St. Petersburg's canal system within the , the Fontanka's topographic features include gentle curves that integrate with adjacent channels like the Moyka, enhancing the interconnected hydraulic network of the region.

Hydrology and Connections

The originates as a left branch of the , diverging near the in central St. Petersburg and rejoining the approximately 6.7 kilometers downstream near Gutuyevsky Island. Its water primarily derives from the 's upstream inflow from , which sustains the river's base flow through the delta system, though tidal influences from the can reverse direction during storm surges. The river has an average discharge of approximately 100 m³/s. As part of the 's intricate network, the integrates with St. Petersburg's urban , channeling water that supports both navigational and ecological functions within the . The Fontanka connects directly to the Moyka River via a straightened canal constructed in 1711 near the Summer Garden, facilitating water exchange and enabling bidirectional flow between the two waterways to regulate levels and support early urban drainage. This linkage, part of Peter the Great's initial canalization efforts, enhanced the interconnected hydraulic system of St. Petersburg's rivers and canals, allowing for controlled water movement across the central district. Flow characteristics exhibit seasonal variations, with higher volumes during spring thaws from snowmelt that can elevate levels and pose flood risks through ice jams, contrasted by lower water depths in summer due to reduced precipitation and evaporation. Autumn storm surges from the Gulf of Finland often exacerbate these risks, pushing Neva backflow into the Fontanka and causing overflows. In the , the Fontanka played a central role in St. Petersburg's initiatives, where granite embankments were constructed under Catherine II starting in the 1780s to stabilize banks, prevent flooding from overflows, and supply water for urban fountains and gardens. These works, supervised by engineers like Friedrich Bauer, transformed the river from a natural boundary into a managed , mitigating propagation while enabling water diversion for city needs such as and . Today, hydrological relies on the broader Bay flood protection complex, commissioned in 2011, which includes , shipping locks, and regulators to control surges affecting the Fontanka indirectly through the Neva; no dedicated locks exist on the Fontanka itself, but the system's 25-kilometer barrier has successfully prevented numerous potential since activation.

History

Origins and Early Development

The Fontanka River began as a natural swampy stream in the marshy terrain of the River delta during the , originally known as Bezymyannyi Yerik, or "Anonymous Creek," due to its unnamed status on early maps. This waterway meandered through boggy lowlands, forming part of the intricate network of streams and backwaters in the sparsely populated Ingrian region, which was captured by Russian forces during the . With the founding of St. Petersburg by on May 27, 1703, the area encompassing the Fontanka transformed from desolate marshland into the core of a new capital city, strategically positioned in the Neva delta to provide access to the [Baltic Sea](/page/Baltic Sea). The site's low-lying, flood-prone marshes, rising only 1 to 2 meters above , posed significant challenges, yet Peter envisioned it as a "window to the West," initiating rapid urbanization amid the delta's 42 islands and channels. As one of the delta's left tributaries branching from the , the Fontanka served as a natural boundary, delineating the nascent northern settlements from the expansive southern marshes and preventing uncontrolled sprawl into the undeveloped wetlands. Early human modifications commenced in the 1710s to support city expansion, including the construction of Peter the Great's (1710–1714) on its banks, which marked the first permanent structure along the river and necessitated initial channel improvements for access. By the early , as St. Petersburg's population surged from a few thousand in 1703 to around 40,000 by 1725, growth along the Fontanka's banks prompted basic infrastructure like wooden embankments erected in the , which functioned as both navigational aids and rudimentary fortifications against flooding and southern expansion. Further engineering in the involved clearing, deepening, and straightening the meandering channel to enhance , transforming the swampy erik into a vital artery for urban development. In 1719, the river was renamed Fontanka, reflecting its emerging role in channeling water to the Summer Garden's fountains.

Naming and 18th-Century Expansion

The Fontanka River, originally an unnamed creek branching from the , was officially renamed in 1719 to reflect its primary function as a conduit for water to power the fountains in Peter the Great's . This renaming occurred shortly after the installation of a water-lifting in 1718, which drew water from the creek to supply the garden's elaborate hydraulic system, a key element of the tsar's vision for a European-style residence. Peter the Great's decrees on urban infrastructure, including the canalization of waterways to support city development, directly facilitated this transformation, turning the natural stream into a engineered channel integrated with the emerging capital's layout. Beyond its initial role in the , the Fontanka's utility expanded in the early to meet broader water needs for the burgeoning city, including household consumption and early industrial uses among the nobility's estates along its banks. As St. Petersburg grew under Peter's directives, the river served as a vital resource for and daily life, with its regulated flow preventing flooding while distributing water to nearby palaces and gardens. This extension underscored the waterway's evolution from a peripheral feature to an essential urban artery, supporting the tsar's emphasis on inspired by Dutch and Venetian models. By the mid-18th century, the Fontanka demarcated the southern boundary of developed St. Petersburg, confining urban expansion to its northern banks until projects like the embankment construction began shifting the city's limits southward. The rapid population influx, driven by Peter's policies relocating nobility and merchants to the new capital, prompted comprehensive in the under Empress Elizabeth, with the river influencing the layout of radiating streets and canals. Key events, such as the 1762–1769 general city development plan led by architect Aleksei Kvasov, integrated the Fontanka into formal grids, marking its transition from a canalized creek to a defined river by the 1760s and spurring neighborhood growth in areas like the Liteyny District.

Infrastructure

Embankments

The embankments of the Fontanka River were initially constructed between 1780 and 1789 under the supervision of architect Andrey Kvasov, in collaboration with engineer Friedrich Wilhelm Bauer, featuring facing to provide both flood control and aesthetic enhancement to the urban landscape. This engineering effort involved high limestone mortar-based stone walls clad in massive blocks, supported by wooden pile grillages of piles to stabilize the foundations against the river's flow. The design not only reinforced the banks against but also integrated seamlessly with St. Petersburg's radial grid layout, defining the river as a key boundary in the city's central district. Spanning approximately 6.7 km in total length to parallel the river's course, the embankments consist of a left (northern) measuring about 6.4 km and a right (southern) at roughly 5.7 km, with the two sides exhibiting differences in due to varying historical development and urban pressures on each shore. The northern maintains a more uniform neoclassical profile, while the southern incorporates diverse elements reflecting later expansions and adjacent land uses. In the , during the reign of Nicholas I (1825–1855), the embankments underwent significant enhancements, including the addition of cast-iron railings with simple forged lattice patterns on pedestals, installed around the under the guidance of architect Andrei Stackenschneider, alongside gas lamps and widened paths to improve public access and illumination. These modifications elevated the embankments from functional barriers to elegant promenades, further aligning them with the city's imperial aesthetic while bolstering their role in prevention. Today, the Fontanka embankments are preserved as integral components of St. Petersburg's Historic Centre and Related Groups of Monuments, recognized by World Heritage status since 1990 for their contribution to the city's 18th- and 19th-century urban ensemble, with ongoing restorations adhering to historical documentation and authentic materials to maintain structural integrity and visual harmony.

Bridges

The Fontanka River in St. Petersburg is crossed by 15 bridges, consisting of fixed structures and historical types designed to accommodate along the waterway. These crossings, essential for linking the city's central districts, were predominantly constructed between the 18th and 19th centuries as St. Petersburg expanded rapidly under imperial development. Early wooden spans gave way to more durable stone and metal designs, reflecting advancements in that prioritized both functionality and aesthetic integration with the urban . Among the most iconic is the Anichkov Bridge, rebuilt from 1841 to 1850 under the supervision of Emperor Nicholas I, featuring four dynamic horse-tamer sculptures by artist Peter Klodt installed in 1849–1850 to symbolize the taming of wild forces. This three-arched structure, with its elaborate cast-iron railings, exemplifies neoclassical engineering adapted for heavy urban traffic along Nevsky Prospekt. The Lomonosov Bridge, constructed in 1785–1787 to a standard design for Fontanka crossings, showcases neoclassical elements through its Doric pavilions and basket-handle arches, serving as a pivotal link for pedestrian and vehicular movement. The Egyptian Bridge, erected in 1825–1826 as one of the city's first metal suspension spans, collapsed in 1905 due to overload and was rebuilt in 1908 as a fixed bridge; it is distinguished by its cast-iron sphinx sculptures guarding the granite abutments, embodying the era's fascination with Egyptian Revival motifs. The bridge underwent restoration in 2024, including cleaning of the sphinxes. Later 19th-century bridges incorporated for enhanced strength and decorative potential, allowing wider spans and ornate railings that improved load-bearing capacity while facilitating smoother traffic and pedestrian flows across the river's 70-meter average width. These innovations were critical for integrating the Fontanka's embankments into the city's grid, supporting commerce and daily transit without impeding river traffic. Several bridges endured significant disruptions during , particularly the Siege of Leningrad (1941–1944), when artillery and bombings caused structural damage. The Anichkov Bridge, for instance, suffered heavy impacts, leading to the temporary removal and burial of its sculptures for protection; it was repaired and the statues reinstalled by 1945 as part of broader post-war restorations. Similar repairs across the Fontanka's spans ensured their preservation, maintaining their role in the city's infrastructure.

Landmarks and Architecture

Palaces and Gardens

The Fontanka River, originating from the in central , is lined with significant palaces and gardens that exemplify the city's early 18th-century urban development under and his successors. These sites transitioned from modest wooden structures to grand stone edifices, incorporating European architectural influences such as French formal gardens and Italian Baroque elements, reflecting the tsars' ambition to emulate Western monarchies. The , founded in 1704 by as his private retreat, marks the river's starting point and embodies the formal French garden style with geometric parterres, alleys, and symmetrical layouts designed by architects like Jean-Baptiste Le Blond and Nicola Michetti. Spanning an island bounded by the , Fontanka, Moika, and Swan Canal, it featured up to 50 fountains in the mid-18th century, supplied by water from the Fontanka—hence the river's name—peaking during the Italian Baroque phase (1727–1762) with elaborate hydraulic systems and sculptures. Despite severe damage from the 1777 flood, which destroyed many fountains and statues, the garden was restored as a public space, preserving its role as a serene green oasis amid the city's palaces. Adjacent to the garden's northeast corner stands the of , constructed between 1710 and 1714 by architect Domenico Trezzini as the tsar's modest two-story residence overlooking the Fontanka. This early stone structure, with its simple yet elegant facades and interiors reflecting Dutch influences, served as Peter's summer retreat for assemblies and personal leisure until his death in 1725, symbolizing the shift from temporary wooden pavilions to permanent imperial architecture along the river. Further downstream, the , built from 1741 to 1754 near the Anichkov Bridge over the Fontanka, represents a progression to more opulent design under Empress Elizabeth, with contributions from architects Mikhail Zemtsov, Gavriil Dmitriev, and Francesco Rastrelli. Its front facade directly faces the river, connected by a and harbor, and it evolved through Neoclassical additions in the late by Starov and Giacomo Quarenghi, before Carlo Rossi's 1809–1814 reconstruction in the , which included garden pavilions and made it a primary imperial residence for heirs to the throne until 1917. The Palace, known as the Fountain House, occupies a prominent site at 34 Fontanka River Embankment, granted to Count Boris Sheremetev in 1712 by , with its current form erected in the late 1740s to 1750s by architect Savva Chevakinsky following designs by Francesco Rastrelli. This two-story stone mansion, expanded with wings in the early by Karl Meyer and others, featured extensive gardens in the 1750s–1760s designed by Fyodor Argunov, including a , Hermitage pavilion, and Chinese adorned with fountains that inspired its nickname. The palace's cast-iron along the embankment underscores its integration with the riverfront, serving as a noble family seat and cultural hub. Architecturally, the palaces along the Fontanka evolved from Peter's utilitarian prototypes, influenced by French and Dutch models, to the lavish and styles of the 18th and 19th centuries, as seen in reconstructions by Rossi and Quarenghi, which replaced wooden elements with durable stone to accommodate growing imperial and aristocratic needs while harmonizing with the river's embankments.

Museums and Cultural Sites

The Anna Akhmatova Literary and Memorial Museum is housed in the historic Fountain House, part of the 18th-century Sheremetev Palace located at 34 Fontanka River Embankment. The current stone palace was constructed between 1750 and 1755 for the family (descendants of the original grantee, ), under architect Savva Chevakinsky, possibly following designs by Francesco Rastrelli, and later expanded by his descendants, exemplifying late with its stucco decorations and landscaped gardens overlooking the river. Following the 1917 , the property was nationalized by the Soviet government in 1918, initially serving as communal housing and administrative spaces before being designated a cultural institution in the 1940s; the Akhmatova Museum itself opened in 1989 to commemorate the poet's life and the repressive conditions she endured during the Soviet era. The 's collections emphasize Akhmatova's personal history, featuring her apartment furnishings, manuscripts, photographs, and correspondence from the 1910s to 1960s, alongside exhibits on Soviet censorship, the , and her relationships with contemporaries like and . Additional sections cover her son, historian Lev Gumilyov, and the broader Silver Age literary movement, with artifacts including rare books and period artwork that highlight the intersection of poetry and politics. This site plays a crucial role in preserving Russia's modernist literary heritage, offering visitors insight into the personal toll of on creative expression. As of 2025, the museum is open Tuesday to Sunday from 10:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. (ticket office closes one hour earlier), with Wednesdays from 12:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., closed Mondays, and adult admission at 400 RUB, with guided audio tours available in multiple languages. Other notable cultural sites near the Fontanka's upper reaches include the Military Historical Museum of Artillery, Engineers, and Signal Corps, situated close to the and a short distance from the Lomonosov Bridge. Established in 1904 on the grounds of the former but relocated and expanded post-1917 to its current location at 7 Kronverkskoye Place, the museum showcases engineering innovations from the imperial era, such as 19th-century , bridge-building models, and signaling devices used in military campaigns along waterways like the Fontanka. Its collections, numbering over 400,000 items, include restored equipment from the and , illustrating the technical advancements in Russian military engineering. As of 2025, it is open Wednesday to Sunday from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. (ticket office closes at 5:00 p.m.), closed Mondays and Tuesdays, attracting visitors interested in the practical history of infrastructure development in St. Petersburg. The Trinity Cathedral, a prime example of neoclassical design, stands prominently on the Fontanka's embankment near Izmaylovsky Prospekt, constructed between 1828 and 1838 under architect Vasily Stasov to replace a flood-damaged wooden church. Commissioned by Emperor Nicholas I as the regimental cathedral for the Izmailovsky Life Guards, it features a massive Corinthian portico, towering blue domes topped with crosses, and an interior adorned with murals depicting military victories and biblical scenes. Nationalized after the 1917 Revolution and used for storage during the Soviet period, it was restored in the 1990s and reconsecrated in 2002, now serving as an active Orthodox church and cultural venue for concerts and exhibitions. Visitors can access the site daily from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., with free entry to the grounds and a modest fee for interior tours, underscoring its role in maintaining St. Petersburg's architectural and spiritual legacy. Post-1917 conversions transformed several Fontanka-adjacent palaces and estates into public museums, reflecting the Bolshevik emphasis on cultural democratization; for instance, the Sheremetev Palace initially housed the Museum of Noble Life before specializing in literary and musical collections, while similar repurposings at sites like the nearby Shuvalov Palace (now the Fabergé Museum since 2013) preserved from imperial collections. These institutions collectively safeguard St. Petersburg's literary and artistic heritage, particularly through Akhmatova's preserved spaces, which document the resilience of Russian intellectuals amid historical upheavals and draw over visitors annually to explore original memorabilia and contextual exhibits.

Cultural Significance

Role in Literature and Arts

The Fontanka River, as a central in St. Petersburg, features prominently in 19th-century as a backdrop for characters' introspective walks and encounters with urban alienation. In Dostoevsky's (1866), protagonist navigates the city's embankments, including those along the Fontanka, during his tormented peregrinations, symbolizing his psychological descent amid the damp, oppressive atmosphere of the imperial capital. Similarly, Nikolai Gogol's satirical Petersburg tales, such as those in Petersburg Stories (1835–1842), depict the city's canals and rivers like the Fontanka as sites of absurdity and bureaucratic folly, underscoring the grotesque underbelly of Russian society through exaggerated vignettes of everyday life along its banks. Anna Akhmatova's poetry deepens the Fontanka's literary resonance, particularly through her residence at the Fountain House (Sheremetev Palace) on the river's embankment from the mid-1920s to 1952, where she composed much of her work during the Stalinist terror. In her cycle (1935–1940), written in part at this location, the Fontanka subtly evokes the stifling confinement and quiet despair of Leningrad under repression, with dedications like "1940, the House on the Fontanka" anchoring the poems to the site's historical weight as a witness to personal and collective suffering. In , the Fontanka inspired depictions that echoed Venetian styles akin to Canaletto's canal views, capturing St. Petersburg's neoclassical embankments and bridges in luminous, topographical detail during the ; artists like Alekseyev rendered scenes such as the view of the Mikhailovsky Castle from the Fontanka River (1800), blending architectural grandeur with watery reflections to highlight the city's engineered elegance. By the , further immortalized the river's bridges, with early images from the 1880s–1900s, such as those of the Fontanka Embankment near the Vladimir Cathedral, portraying the structures in stark black-and-white tones that convey a fading imperial splendor amid encroaching modernity. Symbolically, the Fontanka embodies urban melancholy and imperial decay in modernist and arts, serving as a liminal space where the Neva's branches mirror the fragmentation of post-revolutionary identity. In Akhmatova's verse and broader Symbolist works, the river's quiet flow contrasts with St. Petersburg's spectral aura, evoking themes of loss and endurance, as seen in Andrei Bely's Petersburg (1913), where canals like the Fontanka amplify the city's apocalyptic unease and historical transience.

Modern Usage and Ecology

In contemporary St. Petersburg, the Fontanka River primarily functions as a key for tourist routes, enabling visitors to explore the city's central landmarks via guided excursions lasting 1 to 2 hours along its course and connected canals. These routes, operated by various companies, emphasize sightseeing and often include audio commentary on historical sites visible from the water. Commercial navigation remains limited due to the river's numerous low-clearance bridges, which restrict larger vessels and prioritize recreational over freight traffic. The river's embankments have evolved into vibrant pedestrian promenades, fostering urban recreation and social activities amid the city's historic fabric. These walkways attract locals and tourists for evening strolls, particularly during the annual White Nights festival in late June, when extended daylight hours amplify public gatherings and illuminated boat parades along the Fontanka. The annual Fontanka SUP Festival, held in August as of 2025, draws thousands for stand-up paddleboarding events, blending and cultural celebration. Post-2011 updates to flood control, including the full operationalization of the Flood Protection Barrier across the Neva Bay, have bolstered resilience for inner channels like the Fontanka by mitigating upstream surge risks during storms. Ecologically, the Fontanka contends with from carrying sediments and contaminants into its waters, a legacy of the city's dense . Since the , restoration initiatives led by Vodokanal of St. Petersburg have addressed these issues by redirecting untreated discharges—once totaling thousands of cubic meters daily directly into the river—to centralized treatment plants equipped with advanced and systems. By 2011, the final such outlet along Lotsmanskaya Street was integrated into the network, markedly reducing nutrient loads and improving overall . Local authorities, including the Committee for Nature Use, Monitoring and , conduct ongoing monitoring of the river's as of 2023, tracking parameters like dissolved oxygen and pollutant levels to support , which includes common urban species such as roach and alongside migratory birds; no major incidents have been reported as of 2025. Looking ahead, the Fontanka is being incorporated into broader green city initiatives, such as the development of linear green corridors along embankments to enhance ecological connectivity and recreational access. Cleanup projects, supported by international financing like the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development's efforts to purify urban waterways, align with St. Petersburg's UNESCO World Heritage obligations by prioritizing sustainable water management and habitat restoration.

References

  1. http://www.saint-petersburg.com/rivers-and-canals/fontanka-river/
  2. https://www.visitrussia.com/citiesguide/spb/places/fontanka
  3. https://www.expresstorussia.com/guide/petersburg-fontanka-river.html
  4. https://www.rusartnet.com/russia/st-petersburg/architecture/canal/river-fontanka
  5. https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/4826826.pdf
  6. https://www.atlantis-press.com/article/125910032.pdf
  7. http://www.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:217992/FULLTEXT01.pdf
  8. https://en.mostotrest-spb.ru/bridges/1-j-sadovyj
  9. https://www.climatechangepost.com/countries/russia/river-floods/
  10. https://www.hydropower-dams.com/articles/the-saint-petersburg-flood-protection-barrier-system-a-review-of-operational-experience/
  11. https://www.cawater-info.net/all_about_water/en/?p=5852
  12. https://www.prlib.ru/en/news/1345367
  13. https://www.britannica.com/place/St-Petersburg-Russia/History
  14. https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/148293/saint-petersburg-keeps-the-sea-at-bay
  15. https://petersburg24.ru/eng/route/fontanka-granicza-paradnogo-peterburga
  16. http://bestspb.ru/en/rivers_and_canals.en.php
  17. https://eng.petersway.org/monuments/russia/saint-petersburg/summer_palace/
  18. https://www.worldhistory.org/article/2304/the-reforms-of-peter-the-great/
  19. https://www.inyourpocket.com/st-petersburg-en/peter-the-greats-st-petersburg_74667f
  20. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/332340070_EVOLUTION_OF_THE_IMPERIAL_RESIDENCE_AND_URBAN_DEVELOPMENT_OF_THE_ST_PETERSBURG_CENTER
  21. https://petersburg24.ru/eng/place/naberezhnaya-reki-fontanki
  22. https://mindtrip.ai/attraction/st-petersburg-russia/fontanka-river/at-3UxzGg9f
  23. https://en.mostotrest-spb.ru/embankments/naberezhnaya-reki-fontanki
  24. https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/540/
  25. https://www.st-petersburg-essentialguide.com/rivers-and-canals.html
  26. https://www.prlib.ru/en/collections/1184066
  27. http://www.saint-petersburg.com/bridges/bridges-of-the-fontanka-river/
  28. http://www.saint-petersburg.com/bridges/unmissable-anichkov-bridge/
  29. http://www.saint-petersburg.com/bridges/unmissable-lomonosov-bridge/
  30. http://www.saint-petersburg.com/bridges/egyptian-bridge/
  31. https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g298507-d302106-Reviews-Egyptian_Bridge-St_Petersburg_Northwestern_District.html
  32. https://www.encspb.ru/object/2855715470?dv=2853951676&lc=en
  33. https://www.tracesofwar.com/sights/15923/War-Damage-Anichkov-Bridge.htm
  34. https://msu-botany.ru/gallery/GHS_Journal_IGNATIEVA.pdf
  35. https://www.encspb.ru/object/2804004398?lc=en
  36. https://www.eghn.org/en/summer-garden-st-petersburg/
  37. https://app.rusmuseum.ru/eng/museum/complex/index.html
  38. https://www.encspb.ru/object/2804002956?lc=en
  39. https://www.akhmatova.spb.ru/en
  40. http://www.saint-petersburg.com/museums/anna-akhmatova-museum-at-the-fountain-house/
  41. https://visitmuseums.ru/en/museum-8a44b097-fa99-4070-a487-aa94e44358ff.html
  42. https://www.expresstorussia.com/guide/petersburg-akhmatova_museum.html
  43. http://www.artillery-museum.ru/en/home
  44. http://www.saint-petersburg.com/museums/museums-of-science-and-technology/
  45. http://www.saint-petersburg.com/cathedrals/trinity-cathedral/
  46. https://www.visitrussia.com/citiesguide/spb/places/trinity_cathedral
  47. https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/anna-akhmatova
  48. https://www.tretyakovgallerymagazine.com/node/7907
  49. https://www.rbth.com/history/331392-petersburg-photo-19th-century
  50. https://books.openedition.org/obp/4644?lang=en
  51. https://news.itmo.ru/en/features/experience_saint_petersburg/news/10358/
  52. https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g298507-d8714008-Reviews-River_Fontanka_Embankment-St_Petersburg_Northwestern_District.html
  53. https://eprints.hrwallingford.com/858/
  54. https://www.vodokanal.spb.ru/en/o_kompanii/istoriya/
  55. https://www.vodokanal.spb.ru/files/documents/press/otchet/en/go_vk_2015_eng.pdf
  56. https://www.vodokanal.spb.ru/files/documents/press/otchet/en/2012_engl.pdf
  57. https://www.ebrd.com/home/news-and-events/news/2013/ebrd-hails-success-of-st-petersburg-clean-river-project.html
  58. https://www.smartcitiesdive.com/ex/sustainablecitiescollective/st-petersburg-towards-integrated-and-sustainable-green-infrastructure/178166/
Add your contribution
Related Hubs
User Avatar
No comments yet.