{short description of image}  
 

RUSSIAN CITIES - PETROZAVODSK

 
 

JOHN SLOAN

 
 

Here we have photography we made in Petrozavodsk during our visit on the Vantage Volga cruise in July 2005.
This is the capital of the Karelian Republic with a population of 250,000. It is on the shore of Lake Onega about 190 miles northeast of St. Petersburg. Today is a featured stop for the cruise ships between that city and Moscow, largely because it is a convenient place from which to go to Kizhi Island. The region has 20 hours of sunshine during the summer solstice in late June and early July, making it a nice center for Russian tourists as well.
The area from the 16th century has been known for iron deposits and resulting metal industry. This is still the major industry, however, wood products such as furniture are also prominent.
In the 17th century the village here was called Olonets. In 1703 with the Russian capture of the Neva River delta Peter I ordered construction of a cannon foundry here to supply his army during the Great Northern War. Hence from this comes the name, Peetreozavodsk, meaning Peter's factory. He brought skilled armorers from England as well as the arms factories in Moscow. After the Russian victory in that war the factory closed. But it was reopened by Catherine II in 1772 to supply the army during the Russo-Turkish wars. It was then named Alexandrovsky Zavod in honor of her grandson, Alexander. The factories here also produced decorative iron work for the streets and palaces in St. Petersburg. Now the original factory produces tractors. Petrozavodsk became a town in 1777 with a coat of arms showing 3 hammers. During the 19th century the town became a place of exile.
During World War II the town and region was captured by the Finns and Germans - little of the prewar buildings survived, but before that the Soviet government had evacuated most of the factory machinery to Siberia. The city was rebuilt after the war.

 
{short description of image}

The dock on the Lake Onega waterfront of Petrozavodsk. Not much going on in this photo taken shortly after noon, but soon there will be many hydrofoils returning from day trips to Kizhi Island.

 
{short description of image}

The Nikolai Chernisheevskii at the dock by Petrozavodsk.

 
{short description of image}

By the waterfront next to the dock is this memorial to the Russian troops who liberated the city during the last part of World War II.

 
{short description of image}

The Cathedral of Alexander Nevski is now open for worship.

 
{short description of image}

Icon of the Blessed Virgin in the Cathedral of Alexander Nevski in Petrozavodsk.

 
{short description of image}

Cathedral of Alexander Nevski in Petrozavodsk.

 
{short description of image}

Iconostasis in Cathedral of Alexander Nevski in Petrozavodsk.

 
{short description of image}

Elizabeth standing next to the perpetual flame memorial to the dead of World war II.

 
{short description of image}

Some of our tour group listening to the guide discuss the World War II memorial in Petrozavodsk

 
{short description of image}

Statue of Lenin in the downtown square of Petrozavodsk. The local population decided not to take down the Soviet era memorials and statues.

 
{short description of image}

Close-up of Lenin in Petrozavodsk.

 
{short description of image}

State theater on the main square in Petrozavodsk.

 
{short description of image}

The excellent Karelian national folk dance and chorus performance at Petrozavodsk.

 
{short description of image}

The excellent Karelian national folk dance and chorus performance at Petrozavodsk.

 
{short description of image}

The excellent Karelian national folk dance and chorus performance at Petrozavodsk.

 
{short description of image}

The excellent Karelian national folk dance and chorus performance at Petrozavodsk.

 
{short description of image}

The excellent Karelian national folk dance and chorus performance at Petrozavodsk.

 
{short description of image}

The excellent Karelian national folk dance and chorus performance at Petrozavodsk.

 
{short description of image}

The excellent Karelian national folk dance and chorus performance at Petrozavodsk.

 
{short description of image}

The excellent Karelian national folk dance and chorus performance at Petrozavodsk.

 
{short description of image}

The excellent Karelian national folk dance and chorus performance at Petrozavodsk.

 
{short description of image}

The excellent Karelian national folk dance and chorus performance at Petrozavodsk.

 
{short description of image}

The excellent Karelian national folk dance and chorus performance at Petrozavodsk.

 
{short description of image}

The excellent Karelian national folk dance and chorus performance at Petrozavodsk.

 
{short description of image}

The excellent Karelian national folk dance and chorus performance at Petrozavodsk.

 
{short description of image}

The excellent Karelian national folk dance and chorus performance at Petrozavodsk.

 

Return to Xenophon. Return to Ruscity. Return to Rushistory. Return to Ukraine.