St. Petersburg, Russia - The Battleship Aurora

SOURCE: Flickr

The Battleship Aurora

This is not the warship still inhabited by Ancients in suspended animation, all connected together through a virtual environment, and is the home of many Ancients who believe their virtual lives are reality - as found in Stargate Atlantis show. This is the real Battleship Aurora (”Аврора”).

Completed in 1900, the Aurora was destined for fame. One of the few survivors of the Tsushima battle of the Russo-Japan war in 1905, it would go on to feature prominently in the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917. The signal to storm the Winter Palace was a shot fired from her decks.

Though damaged during WWII, the Aurora has been fully restored and is now one of St. Petersburg’s premier tourist attractions. Raised from her watery grave after being sunk in September of 1941, visitors can roam her decks and get a tour of 20th century history unlike any other in the city.

Anchored at the Petrogradskaya Embankment on the Petrograd side of St. Petersburg along the Neva River, it has been visited by more than 28 million people in the past 50 years. The city was named Petrograd early in the Soviet era, then later Leningrad. It reverted to its historical name after the dissolution of the Soviet system.

Through the years the ship saw many changes. During the restoration process the funnels were replaced, as was most of the hull below the waterline. But the appearance is much as it was that fateful date in October, 1917 when its crew launched the first naval attack of the Communist Revolution.

The view of the city itself from the forecastle of the Aurora is also much like it was 90 years earlier. It isn’t difficult to imagine the smoke and chaos that engulfed this city of culture along Russia’s northern shore.

During the 900-day Siege of Leningrad of WWII (known to the Soviets as the Great Patriotic War), the guns were removed. They served for almost three years on the front line in defense of St. Petersburg against the invading Germans. They were subsequently refitted, then later fully restored in 1957.

Having served actively for over 50 years in the Russian Navy, the Aurora has found even more lasting fame as St. Petersburg’s only floating museum. Inside there are numerous plaques and other items depicting its long and colorful history.

The ship is nearby the historic wooden cabin of Peter the Great, erected as his first, temporary home when founding the city in 1703. It is now surrounded by a brick enclosure to preserve it and makes for a great side trip while in the area.

The Petrogradskaya Embankment is easily reached by St. Petersburg’s metro. Exit at Gorkovskaya or Ploschad Lenina.

               

St. Petersburg, Russia - Leningrad Zoo

IMAGE SOURCE: Leningrad Zoo

Leningrad Zoo

First completed in 1865, the Leningrad Zoo has had its ups and downs over the past nearly century and a half. It isn’t the equal of the world class zoos such as those in San Diego and the Bronx. Still, it is a great sight to see in St. Petersburg.

In 1873 it was taken over by Ernest Rost who helped build up the collection and restore the declining site to its original glory. He introduced circus performances, orchestral performances and luxurious restaurants. For over 20 years under his leadership it housed giraffes, orangutans, African elephants and dozens of other then-seldom seen species.

After his departure in 1897 the Zoo once again went into a fallow period, finally closing in 1909. After the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917, the zoo was nationalized along with everything else in the country. The Soviets made modest efforts to keep up the collection, even seeing that the elephant was fed when the city’s residents were not.

Subject to extensive damage during WWII, especially the 900-day long Siege of Leningrad, the Zoo was closed to the public until 1944. Still, the collection grew slowly and held a rhino, a hippo, chimpanzees and others.

It drifted along until the dissolution of the Soviet system, when things began to come back to life. Though the residents voted in 1991 to retain the name (St. Petersburg was called Leningrad during the Soviet years), it was not the same old zoo afterward.

The collection now boasts over 2,000 animals comprising over 400 species. Second in size in Russia only to the famed Moscow Zoo, it is alive with anteaters and other exotic types not commonly found in other zoos. The terrarium houses dozens of interesting snake and lizard species.

It offers regular tours, lectures from zoological experts and has one of the country’s most significant animal research departments. Students compete by means of an exam to become part of the zoo’s Young Zoologist Society.

Visitors will find the zoo well worth a visit at any time of the year. In the spring, they’ll get a chance to see many of the cold weather species such as mink, ermine and deer shed their fur. Occasionally, one can even catch a mating in progress.

Many cold-weather bird species molt at that time of the year, also. When the weather warms up, Leningrad Zoo’s aviary residents come alive with thousands of distinctive tunes that fill the air.

But a visit during the winter can be equally rewarding. The sables, ermines, martens, polar foxes and other winter-oriented animals are at their most active during this season. It’s rare to visit a zoo and see such furry creatures ambling around as they might in their natural habitat.

The Zoo can be reached via the city’s metro (subway) system. Exit at Gorkovskaya station.