4th April, 1719 began the construction of the Ladoga Canal

On the 4th of April, 1719 in the Russian Empire began the construction of the Ladoga Canal. It had to expand the waterways from the town of Novaya Ladoga to Schlüsselburg where the Neva River originates from Lake Ladoga.

Need for the construction of the canal was due to the fact that one of the sites Vyshnevolotsk waterway that connects the Baltic Sea with the Volga River and passes through Lake Ladoga, was the most dangerous and difficult. Because of the storm winds on the lake sunk numerous ships with cargo. On the 18th of November, 1718 Peter I issued a decree on the construction of the Ladoga Canal. Geographic map shows that the channel connects the river Neva and Volkhov and runs along Lake Ladoga.

According to the draft, it should be a channel without gateways, 111 km long, 2.1 m below the level of Lake Ladoga. At an early stage construction was delayed due to negligence of the contractor. In this regard, in 1723 Peter I took this project under his personal control. In 1725, to the construction were attracted 18,000 regular soldiers and 7,000 employees.

In 1726 was completed 29 km long section of the village Volkhova Black, where ships began to run. This greatly accelerated the pace of construction, because necessary materials were transported by water.

On the 22th of October 1730 the Canal was built and in 1731 was opened for navigation. If you examine the map of Europe, you will notice that at that time it was a large hydraulic structure.

Ladoga Canal differs from what was planned to build. Its depth is less than 1 meter, so in Novaya Ladoga and Schlüsselburg were built gateways to maintain the required water level for navigation.