Neva river in St Petersburg, Russia

Neva, river, 46 miles (74 km) long, NW European Russia, connecting Lake Ladoga with the Gulf of Finland, an inlet of the Baltic Sea. St. Petersburg is situated in its delta. The Neva is connected by canal systems with the Volga River and with the White Sea.

The majestic appearance of St. Petersburg is achieved through a variety of architectural details including long, straight boulevards, vast spaces, gardens and parks, decorative wrought-iron fences, monumental and decorative sculptures. The Neva River itself, together with its many canals and their granite embankments and bridges, gives the city a unique and striking ambience. These bodies of water give Saint Petersburg the name of 'Venice of the North'.

In central St Petersburg every foot of river has a tale to tell of former days – palaces, cathedrals and churches and fine bridges all jostle for attention.

St Petersburg is known as the city of 300 bridges.


  Embankments of Neva river  

  White nights  

St. Petersburg's position near the Arctic Circle, on the same latitude as nearby Helsinki and Stockholm (60° N), causes twilight to last all night in May, June and July. This celebrated phenomenon is known as the 'white nights.' The white nights are closely linked to another attraction - the nine drawbridges spanning the Neva river. Tourists flock to see the bridges drawn and lowered again at night to allow shipping to pass through the city.


  One of St Petersburg's canals