Water transport arteries. Just a few decades ago, they were among the main ones in transport in our country. They were crowded in statistics only by railroad transportation. But if we look a little further into the past, 120 years ago and deeper, water communication was the most important in the life of countries.
Everyone knows about the White Sea Canal. No, not about cigarettes, but about the hydrotechnical structure itself. The full name is the White Sea-Baltic Canal. Built between 1931 and 1933 in record time. Opened on August 2, 1933. The construction was carried out by the forces of the GULAG prisoners. It was one of the significant construction projects of the first five-year plan and the first fully camp construction in the USSR, which connected the White Sea with Lake Onega, a canal with access to the Baltic Sea and the Volga-Baltic waterway. The total length of the canal is 227 kilometers. Includes 19 gateways.
In this northern part of Eurasia, in Karelia, now on modern Finnish territory, there are also canals, which are (according to official history) more than 200 years old.
The so-called Suvorov military canals (Suvorov canals) on Lake Saimaa are part of a line of fortifications built on the border between Russia and Sweden at the suggestion and under the leadership of A. V. Suvorov. The Kutvele, Kauhkää, Kukonharju and Telataipale canals were laid in 1791-1798 and are currently located in Finland in the municipalities of Ruokolahti, Puumala and Sulkava.
According to the Abo Peace Treaty of 1743, the new border between the Russian Empire and Sweden passed along the Saimaa Lake. Russian-Swedish war 1788-1790 did not lead to the transfer of borders, but revealed the shortcomings of Russian defense. Catherine II, concerned about the proximity to the border of the Russian capital - the city of St. Petersburg, ordered to strengthen the border with Sweden. A. V. Suvorov was entrusted with the leadership of the fortification work. As a result of large-scale construction, a grandiose system of fortifications was built, one of which was the Suvorov Canals.
Along the Syme from Wilmanstrand to Nyschlot, it was only possible to pass through the Puumala Strait, which, according to the boundaries of 1743, remained on the Swedish side. The strait was well fortified, and during the war of Gustav III it already showed its strategic importance. In the event of a new war, the Russian Saimaa flotilla would hardly have been able to pass through the strait without obstacles and losses.
To ensure the unhindered passage of the flotilla from Vilmanstrand to Neishlot, A. V. Suvorov proposed to Catherine II to build three small canals. Russian ships could pass through the canals from fortress to fortress without entering Swedish territory. The canals would also be useful in peacetime, since there would be no need to pay a duty when passing through Swedish customs. Catherine II approved Suvorov's proposal, and the construction of the canals began in the fall of 1791. The court councilor Ivan Laube was appointed the immediate head of the construction.
Promotional video:
The canals retained their military significance for a little more than 10 years, since after the annexation of Finland to Russia in 1809, the Russian border moved far to the west. In 1816, the canals from the military department were transferred to the civil one, and they were allowed to be used by the local population - peasants and merchants.
Kutvele (Kutvelenaypole)
61 ° 19 '37.33 "N 28 ° 20' 33.30" E
It is located on the border of Taipalsaari and Ruokolahti municipalities. The length of the canal is about 130 m. The channel has a 2.4 m deep channel.
Kutvele canal, view from the ferry.
Käuhkää (Kevkensild Canal, Kevka Canal)
61 ° 25 '27.40 "N 28 ° 31' 14.60" E
It is located in the territory of Ruokolahti municipality. The length of the canal is about 260 m, there is no fairway along the canal. Not far from the canal is the sunken hull of a ship that sank during the construction of the canal.
Käyhkää canal, view from the bridge.
Kukonharju (Kukontaypole Canal)
61 ° 29 '44.94 "N 28 ° 31' 28.97" E
It is located on the border of Puumala and Ruokolahti municipalities. The length of the canal is 800 m, the canal is partially cut through the rock. The fairway is 1 m deep. In 2005, archaeological excavations were carried out on its banks. There is an information stand, forest paths passing by the foundations of Russian buildings.
Kukonharjun channel
Kukonharju, canal bank.
Telataipale (Telataipa)
61 ° 39 '14.37 "N 28 ° 36' 5.67" E
It is located in the territory of Sulkava municipality. The length of the canal is about 200 m, there is no fairway along the canal.
Telataipale canal, view from the bridge.
The canal was preserved better than others, or rather it was restored to a greater extent. The banks are lined with stone, there is a dock for boats with the sign “open”, a beer shop upstairs, closed in the evening, the territory is well-groomed, there is a gazebo, flowers and, of course, an information board with text in Russian. A deserted highway passes by, a bridge is thrown across a ditch (the local name for canals).
Other channels, which, perhaps, have nothing to do with the Suvorovskys. according to the official history, only four of them were dug.
Raikuun Channel
62 ° 2 '40.14 "N 29 ° 27' 52.26" E
Vasaransaaren channel
Place Kivisilta
61 ° 46 '53.94 "N 29 ° 19' 26.39" E
A very beautiful stone bridge.
It feels like this is a mound along which the road goes.
Didn't check this place according to historical data, maybe so.
Oravi feed
62 ° 6 '41.52 "N 28 ° 36' 24.67" E
Haponlahden channel
62 ° 5 '53.58 "N 28 ° 39' 42.71" E
Perhaps this canal is a construction of the recent past. It stands out for its width.
Channel Varistaival
62 ° 32 '41.97 "N 28 ° 38' 19.85" E
It can be seen that the masonry is clearly not modern, it was laid when there was no concrete. The locks could be wooden, later they were reconstructed into metal.
Excellent masonry, comparable to the quality of processing of granite blocks of St. Petersburg forts.
The official year of the construction of this canal and locks is interesting.
Taivallahden channel
62 ° 33 '46.45 "N 28 ° 40' 9.55" E
Also, the gateway is made in magnificent stonework. Did the Finns know how to work stone like the builders of St. Petersburg?
Kaavinkoski channel
62 ° 53 '20.54 "N 28 ° 37' 59.84" E
There are such unnamed channels
Surprisingly, many canals have been dug even to small lakes.
These are not all channels in Finland on Lake Suomi
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As you can see, in modern Finland, which was part of Russia in the 19th century, there are channels that are not mentioned in modern history. Perhaps these hydraulic structures were built after Catherine, and possibly existed before her. We like to pass off everything ancient as recently built and recently built - for deep antiquity … One more question: how could A. Suvorov keep up with everything - fight and win battles going one after another, participate in protracted campaigns, defeat Pugachev's troops and also supervise such a construction site? Or was it a person of great energy and am I wrong? Was this person credited with a lot of things that he had nothing to do with?
Author: sibved