Lower Svir River Lock
Posted by: 
NevaP
N 60° 48.336 E 033° 42.488
36V E 538533 N 6741342
This is the lock closest to St Petersburg on the Volga-Baltic Waterway.
Waymark Code: WM3E89
Location: Russia
Date Posted: 03/22/2008
Views: 10
Depending on which way one is traveling this is either the last or the first lock reached on a waterway trip between Moscow and St. Petersburg. The Svir river drops about 95 feet between the two large lakes which are part of the Volga-Baltic Waterway. Two dams, with associated locks and power plants, are needed for ships traveling the water route between Moscow and St. Petersburg. The downstream or lower lock is near the town of Svirstroi, about 50 miles upstream from Lake Ladoga.
Construction of the dam and lock began in 1927 even though an unfavorable report by American engineers, who were invited to consult on the project, deemed the underlying clays too soft to support the structures. The complex was operation by 1933 but during the war the soviets blew up the lock gates releasing the waters of the reservoir behind, flooding the valley below, and halting the advance of German troops. This enabled the downstream town of Lodeynoye Polye to maintain resistance to the Germans for the next three years, keeping open a route across Lake Ladoga to the besieged and blockaded city of Leningrad.
The lock was rebuilt after the war and does not seem to be having problems with soft footings. The lock chamber is 650 feet (198 M) long, a bit shorter than most of the locks on the Volga-Baltic waterway. It raises/lowers ships 40 feet. The approach to the lock is bordered by gardens and walkways.
Waterway Name: Svir River
Connected Points:
The river connects Lake Onega and Lake Ladoga in Northern Russia
Type: Lock
Date Opened: 01/07/1933
Elevation Difference (meters): 12.00
Site Status: Operational
Date Closed (if applicable): Not listed
Web Site: Not listed
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