The article "Ladoga Canals" showed one of the largest artificial water systems in Russia in the 18-19th centuries. There are many questions related to its construction. For example: the actual number of workers in the construction of both canals; presence / absence of mechanization; the lack of photographs of the works during the construction of the Novoladozhsky Canal in the 19th century, the question of the need to duplicate the old canal, etc. And there is even a version that this is all the restoration of the old channels, more ancient.
Everyone who has been to Peterhof knows that the following canal flows from Petrodvorets into the Neva Bay:
Fountains are working. Over 150 fountain structures are located on the territory of the Upper Park and the Lower Garden of the Great Peterhof Palace with a total area of 117 hectares. How did they work before, without pumps and electricity? It turns out, through a channel, by gravity and through a pipe system - into the fountains.
Here is the official historical information about the presence of a water conduit to supply water to the fountains of Peterhof:
The construction of the water conduit began with the beginning of the construction of Peterhof itself, which presumably started in 1709. The impetus for the organization of a fountain ensemble in this place was the fact that not far, 20 km from the site of the future development, there were two villages, from which it was possible to establish a water supply. And since the liquid was flowing by gravity, it turned out to be more profitable than all other methods. A little later, in order to efficiently use water and ensure its constant circulation, a storage pond was created. However, the two rivers flowing into it could not provide the necessary amount of liquid. And then a place was discovered, located at a distance of just over two tens of kilometers, which, due to its inclination, ensured the gravity of water. The result of these investigations was the construction of the Ropsha (now Star-Peterhof) canal, laid at a depth of 2 m. The English pond, used as a reservoir, became the power source for the fountains. The Verkhnesadsky Canal was laid from it to Kvadratnye Ponds. After the completion of construction, the system was first tested in 1721, but it only became fully functional two years later.
Promotional video:
Scheme of the Peterhof water conduit.
I propose to go through this channel
Peterhof. Canal near Olginy Pond:
A dam was made to maintain the water level in the canal.
In one part of the canal there are pipes to supply water to fountains.
Samsonovsky water conduit. The pipes are of venerable age and are still in use. Maybe modern utilities pay attention to this experience?
Initially, it was just a channel. Later, pipes were laid along it. And they don't rot, they knew how to do it.
Why is the channel doubled?
We reach Lugovoy Park with a system of ponds. By the way, another channel flows out of these ponds, but it looks like a straight river that goes to the upper park of Peterhof:
Turning into a river that flows through the English Park.
But back to the main channel:
In the area of Lugovoy Park, the channel becomes wider and has two channels.
Second channel.
Repair of the Mill Pond canal. May 2012.
On the left is the bank “dressed” in stone.
To the south, near the settlement of Nizino, the channel narrows and looks like a stream.
The lake at Nizino bypasses from the northern and western shores.
A hydraulic structure has been built here, which regulates the volume of water in the canal. In this area, the channel is already called Staro-Peterhof.
Concrete, and maybe stone banks (it is difficult to see in the photo).
No joints in the stone structure are visible - most likely concrete.
Another lock upstream.
To the south, the river (and here it is already called the Shingarka) flows under the road, the Ring Road.
And after about four kilometers, concrete shores again begin.
Concrete banks run in sections.
Strengthening of the banks is made of such vertically placed slabs. Apparently, they did it not so long ago.
The channel-river bends around the Porzolovskoye bog and goes along the power transmission line in several straight sections. These absolutely straight sections continue upstream.
A little to the north of the village of Orzhitsa, the river turns into a stream and is lost in this place.
On one old map, I saw how some canal goes from Peterhof to the south-west to Koporye.
But to Koporye in a straight line from this place remains as much as 40 km. Even an elementary water system does not reach there.
But here's what we managed to find near the Koporsk fortress. Such a deep ravine comes right up to it:
And a stream with small waterfalls flows in it:
But this brook going east is also lost. And it has strange straight sections.
Here you can see that a system of rectilinear ravines, reminiscent of irrigation canals, diverges from it.
Taking into account the fact that the Baltic shield is rising, the sea is retreating, most likely, the water systems also change: dry up, disappear, etc. Or maybe it is covered with clay like the old city buildings, built in the early 19th century. And even if there was a canal running from the coast of the Gulf of Finland to Koporye, then finding it so easily through Google maps will no longer work.
Author: sibved