Moyka River

View of the Moyka from the Green Bridge of the Nevsky Prospekt

The 99 m (325 ft)-wide Blue Bridge spans the Moyka near the Marie Palace

The Moyka River (Russian: Мо́йка) is a small river which encircles the central portion of Saint Petersburg, effectively making it an island. The river, originally known as Mya, derives its name from the Ingrian word for "slush, mire". It is 5 km (3.1 mi) long and 40 m (130 ft) wide.

The river flows from the Fontanka River near the Summer Garden past the Field of Mars, crosses Nevsky Avenue and the Kryukov Canal before entering the Neva River. It is also connected with the Neva by the Swan Channel and the Winter Channel.

In 1711, Peter the Great ordered the banks of the river to be consolidated. After the Kryukov Canal linked it with the Fontanka River four years later, the Moyka became so much clearer that its name was changed from Mya to Moyka, associated with the Russian verb "to wash".

In 1736, the first Moyka quay was constructed in wood. Four bridges originally spanned the river: the Blue, the Green, the Yellow, and the Red. The 99 m (325 ft)-wide Blue Bridge, now hardly visible underneath St. Isaac's Square, remains the widest bridge in the whole city.

Among the magnificent 18th-century edifices lining the Moyka quay are Stroganov Palace, Razumovsky Palace, Yusupov Palace, New Holland Arch, Circular Market, St. Michael's Castle, and the last accommodation and museum of Alexander Pushkin.

In 1798, work started to construct a stately embankment faced with red granite and adorned with ornate railings. After construction works were completed in 1811, it was discovered that the water of the river became so muddy that its use for cooking has been officially forbidden ever since.

Currently, there are fifteen bridges crossing the Moyka. Most of these are of historical and artistic interest:

• Green Bridge (Zelyony most, 1806-1808, by William Heste);
• Red Bridge (Krasny most, 1808-1814, by William Heste);
• Potseluyev Bridge (Potseluyev most, 1808-1816, by William Heste);
• Blue Bridge (Siny most, 1818, 1842-1843, by William Heste and George Adam);
• Postoffice Bridge (Pochtamtsky most, 1823-1824, by Wilhelm von Traitteur);
• Big Stables Bridge (Bolshoy Konyushenny most, 1828, by George Adam);
• Tripartite Bridge (Malo-Konyushenny most, 1829-1831, by George Adam and Wilhelm von Traitteur);
• First Engineers Bridge (Pervy Inzhenerny most, 1824-1825, by George Adam and Wilhelm von Traitteur);
• First Sadovy Bridge (Pervy Sadovy most, 1835-1836, by Pierre Dominique Bazaine);
• Yellow Bridge (Pevchesky most, 1839-1840, by George Adam).

Water system of Ligovsky Canal

Legend Dudergofskoye lake Dudergofka River 1718-1721 To Moskovskoye s. Three highways interchange Ring Road To Bronka Three highways interchange Dachnaya street Three highways interchange Diameter To sea port terminal To Predportovaya To Ulyanka, Ligovo To Predportovaya To Leninsky Prospekt To Predportovaya To Leninsky Prospekt To Konstitutsii square Leninsky Pr. To Leninsky Metro Krasnenkaya River To Konstitutsii square Krasnoputilovskaya To Avtovo Moscow Gate Square Moskovsky Prospekt Tsarskoselskaya Railway Kubinskaya Street Obvodny Y. V. Aqueduct Aviatorov Pound Znamenskya Square Nevsky Prospekt Pounds Fontanka River Panteleymonovsky Aqueduct Fountains of Summer garden Pounds in Tauride garden Steam pump Water inlet 1720s Neva River Moyka River

References

• Media related to Moika River at Wikimedia Commons
• Канн П. Я. Прогулки по Петербургу: Вдоль Мойки, Фонтанки, Садовой. St. Petersburg, 1994.