Why is Moscow a port of 5 seas? Moscow Canal

Along with such phrases as "Moscow is the 3rd Rome", "Moscow is a city on 7 hills", one can also hear "Moscow is the port of five seas". To understand the meaning of this expression, you need to go a little deeper into the story.

Why Moscow is called the port of 5 seas

The answer is very simple: through the network of water channels that pierce the capital, you can exit exactly to the five seas - the Azov, Baltic, White, Caspian and Black. It is believed that the author of the expression is none other than Stalin himself.

The leader of the Soviet people used this phrase precisely on the day when she really had the right to characterize Moscow - June 14, 1936. It was on this date that the Volga-Moscow channel was solemnly opened, which later will be renamed into the capital's channel. He is the reason why Moscow is a port of 5 seas, after all, after the construction of the canal the city through it got access to these water areas.

The Volga-Moscow channel

The capital's canal is a navigable artery that connects the Moscow River with the great Volga. And through it from the capital is already possible to access to the White Sea Channel (White Sea-Baltic), the Volga-Baltic and Volga-Don channels.

Historically, the idea of building such a waterway was still owned by Peter I. And the tsarist government intended to implement this project in the XIX century, but sent it on a long-term basis because of its prohibitively high cost. That's why - Moscow is a port of 5 seas, starting only from the thirties of the XX century.

Interesting facts about the Moscow channel

In addition to communication with a well-known expression, the capital's channel is interesting and a lot of other interesting facts:

1. The construction of this structure is associated with the emergence of the word "zek". This derivative of "s / k" is a prisoner of the Channelarmean (most of the builders were prisoners of the Gulag).
2. The channel, thanks to which the question arose, why Moscow is a port of 5 seas, not gravity. He is "energy". Water from the Volga River enters the watershed by pumps.
3. In Soviet times and up to 2006, a large number of passenger ships flew along the waters of the canal. The championship was behind the "Rocket" - a hydrofoil boat. Today, bulk bulk cargo is mainly transported via the canal. However, the cruise routes of the Moscow-Tver, Moscow-Uglich, Moscow-Petersburg, Moscow-Solovki, and other directions were also left.
4. There are more than 240 hydraulic structures in the canal. The most beautiful and recognizable is the Northern Moscow River Station (architects Rukhlyadev, Krinsky and others). In addition, that the channel is the reason why Moscow is a port of 5 seas, it amongst such waterways is distinguished by architectural solutions of its locks. The upper towers of lock No. 4 resemble triumphal arches, and the granite towers of locks No. 3 are decorated with caravan images of old ships reminiscent of Columbus. At the sluice No. 5 there is a sculptural composition "A Girl Carrying a Ship".
5. The canal constructions were used in defense from the fascists in 1941-1942. The defenders of the capital lowered the water from the canal and the adjacent reservoirs along the enemy's way, which significantly delayed it.

The channel to them. Moscow is the main answer to the question why Moscow is a port of 5 seas. At the same time, the expression is rather controversial, because you can say about any city through which such waterways pass.