Northern Ekaterininsky Canal
Encyclopedia
Northern Ekaterininsky Canal , or Catherine's Canal is an abandoned canal in the Komi Republic
and Perm Oblast
in northern Russia, connecting the basin of the Northern Dvina
with that of the Kama
, a tributary of the Volga
.
, was started in 1785 and completed in 1822. Sixteen verst
and 322 sazhen (around 18 km) long, it connected the North Keltma River
,
a tributary of the Vychegda
(which in its turn flows into the Northern Dvian), with the Dzhurich River
, which flows into South Keltma River
, a tributary of Kama. The canal was usable by boats up to 6,000-8,000 pood
(100-130 metric tons), but was officially abandoned in 1838, just 16 years after its opening, due to little use.
It was still occasionally used by the local Komi Zyryan
merchants during the spring and fall high-water seasons until the early 20th century.
Encyclopedia as "a small ditch with fallen banks" (небольшой ров с обвалившимися берегами) still exists. In 2007, members of the Perm Geography Club traveled along the canal in row boats, using chainsaws and axes to clear the logs and tree branches blocking the way. They have filed an application with the appropriate authorities to have the canal listed as a National Historic Site.
A village near the northern (Komi
) end of the canal is still called Kanava, which means 'ditch' in Russian.
Since 1828, the Northern Dvina is also connected with the Volga basin by a navigable route elsewhere, known as the Northern Dvina Canal
.
Komi Republic
The Komi Republic is a federal subject of Russia .-Geography:The republic is situated to the west of the Ural mountains, in the north-east of the East European Plain...
and Perm Oblast
Perm Oblast
Until December 1, 2005, Perm Oblast was a federal subject of Russia in Privolzhsky Federal District. According to the results of the referendum held in October 2004, Perm Oblast was merged with Komi-Permyak Autonomous Okrug to form Perm Krai.The oblast was named after its administrative center,...
in northern Russia, connecting the basin of the Northern Dvina
Northern Dvina
The Northern Dvina is a river in Northern Russia flowing through the Vologda Oblast and Arkhangelsk Oblast into the Dvina Bay of the White Sea. Along with the Pechora River to the east, it drains most of Northwest Russia into the Arctic Ocean...
with that of the Kama
Kama River
Kama is a major river in Russia, the longest left tributary of the Volga and the largest one in discharge; in fact, it is larger than the Volga before junction....
, a tributary of the Volga
Volga River
The Volga is the largest river in Europe in terms of length, discharge, and watershed. It flows through central Russia, and is widely viewed as the national river of Russia. Out of the twenty largest cities of Russia, eleven, including the capital Moscow, are situated in the Volga's drainage...
.
History
The construction of the canal, named after Empress Catherine IICatherine II of Russia
Catherine II, also known as Catherine the Great , Empress of Russia, was born in Stettin, Pomerania, Prussia on as Sophie Friederike Auguste von Anhalt-Zerbst-Dornburg...
, was started in 1785 and completed in 1822. Sixteen verst
Verst
A verst or werst is an obsolete Russian unit of length. It is defined as being 500 sazhen long, which makes a verst equal to 1.0668 kilometres ....
and 322 sazhen (around 18 km) long, it connected the North Keltma River
North Keltma River
North Keltma is a river in Komi Republic, Russia, left tributary of Vychegda River. It is 155 km in length, with area of drainage basin 7,960 km². It starts in extreme south of Komi republic, near the border with Perm Krai. Flows into Vychegda near settlement Kerchomya...
,
a tributary of the Vychegda
Vychegda River
Vychegda is a river in the European part of Russia, tributary to the Northern Dvina. Its length is about . Its source is approximately west of the northern Ural Mountains. It flows roughly in western direction, through Komi Republic and Arkhangelsk Oblast. The largest city along the Vychegda is...
(which in its turn flows into the Northern Dvian), with the Dzhurich River
Dzhurich River
Dzhurich is a river in Perm Krai, Russia, left tributary of South Keltma River. It is 64 km in length with area of drainage basin 385 km². It starts in extreme north of Perm Krai, in Cherdynsky District, near border with Komi Republic. Many swamps along the river. Some small tributaries. It was...
, which flows into South Keltma River
South Keltma River
South Keltma is a river in Perm Krai, Russia, left tributary of Kama River. It is 172 km in length with area of drainage basin 5,270 km². It starts in north of Perm Krai, near the border with Komi Republic, in Cherdynsky District, to the north of village Chepets. River freezes up in the early...
, a tributary of Kama. The canal was usable by boats up to 6,000-8,000 pood
Pood
Pood , is a unit of mass equal to 40 funt . It is approximately 16.38 kilograms . It was used in Russia, Belarus and Ukraine. Pood was first mentioned in a number of documents of the 12th century....
(100-130 metric tons), but was officially abandoned in 1838, just 16 years after its opening, due to little use.
It was still occasionally used by the local Komi Zyryan
Komi peoples
The Komi people is an ethnic group whose homeland is in the north-east of European Russia around the basins of the Vychegda, Pechora and Kama rivers. They mostly live in the Komi Republic, Perm Krai, Murmansk Oblast, Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug, and Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug in the Russian...
merchants during the spring and fall high-water seasons until the early 20th century.
Present state
The disused canal, described by Perm OblastPerm Oblast
Until December 1, 2005, Perm Oblast was a federal subject of Russia in Privolzhsky Federal District. According to the results of the referendum held in October 2004, Perm Oblast was merged with Komi-Permyak Autonomous Okrug to form Perm Krai.The oblast was named after its administrative center,...
Encyclopedia as "a small ditch with fallen banks" (небольшой ров с обвалившимися берегами) still exists. In 2007, members of the Perm Geography Club traveled along the canal in row boats, using chainsaws and axes to clear the logs and tree branches blocking the way. They have filed an application with the appropriate authorities to have the canal listed as a National Historic Site.
A village near the northern (Komi
Komi Republic
The Komi Republic is a federal subject of Russia .-Geography:The republic is situated to the west of the Ural mountains, in the north-east of the East European Plain...
) end of the canal is still called Kanava, which means 'ditch' in Russian.
Since 1828, the Northern Dvina is also connected with the Volga basin by a navigable route elsewhere, known as the Northern Dvina Canal
Northern Dvina Canal
The Northern Dvina Canal is a 64 km long canal in Vologda Oblast in Russia. It connects the Volga-Baltic Waterway to the Northern Dvina River through its tributary, the Sukhona River...
.