Isolated. That’s the word that often comes to mind when people speak of Cannoneers Island. It’s an acquired taste, but some say it offers a welcome change from the city’s imperial palaces.
Kanonersky Island sits in the southwest of St. Petersburg. It is part of the working-class Kirovsky District. Until 1983, the only way onto Kanonersky Island was by ferry or private boat. That year the Kanonersky Tunnel opened. It connected the island to the mainland.
The Western High-Speed Diameter motorway made the island look post-apocalyptic. Architecturally, there is not much to see. But Kanonersky Island has a monument. It honors wartime sacrifice, as the island was near the frontline during the Siege of Leningrad.
The island’s original name was Kissasaari. That’s Finnish for Cat Island. Locals call Kanonersky Island Canary. They refer to the Canary Islands. Kanonersky Island is not a paradise resort. It has the cold Gulf of Finland. The Western High-Speed Diameter rustles overhead. All buildings have the same address. It is simply Kanonersky Island.
Kanonersky Island has a unique history. In the 1700s, it was an ammunition warehouse. During the Great Northern War, it was a training ground. It got its name from the gunners protecting it. They were canonniers in French. Due to flooding, no one lived here. After the shipyard and Morskoy Canal were built in the 19th century, the land was protected. Workers and their families populated Kanonersky Island.
During Soviet times, shipyard workers called Kanonerka home. The only way to Leningrad was by water tram. It also supplied the only grocery shop. This isolation created a special mentality. People knew each other and did not lock their doors. The movie “The Boys From Kanonersky” shows the life of islanders in the 1960s.
The Kanonersky Tunnel changed everything in 1983. It connected the island to Leningrad. This freedom also brought problems. Tourists littered the beach. In the 1990s, it was a meeting spot for local crime bosses.
Today, Kanonersky Island is calm but desolate. The elevated highway led to some houses being abandoned. The population is now about 4,000. Kanonersky Island offers unusual beauty. You can see the city center from a different angle.
The Kanonersky Tunnel is 927 metres long. It runs under the Sea Canal. The tunnel connects Kanonersky Island to Gutuevsky Island. It was built using the immersed tube method. This involved sinking pre-fabricated concrete sections. Each section was 75 metres long. The tunnel has two lanes and a footpath. It also carries cables and pipes.
The bay shore is a remarkable place. It offers a unique view. You can see Lakhta Center. You can see yachts sailing. The nearby highway gives it a surreal look. Kanonersky Island blends nature with an industrial vibe. The island’s motto is “A place to go back to”.