The Obvodny Canal, stretching 8 km, is the longest in St. Petersburg. Initially built on the outskirts of the city, it has gradually found itself almost in the center. Originally, the canal served to transport raw materials for industrial enterprises, but today it has become one of the most recognizable symbols of the city.

Construction of the Obvodny Canal began when the border of Petersburg ran along the Fontanka River. Behind it were barracks and buildings of several regiments. However, the development of industry required new factories and warehouses, and intense shipping overloaded the Neva. Therefore, in the mid-18th century, it was decided to build a new canal to relieve the waterways and protect the city from flooding. The construction of the western branch began in 1769 and was completed in 1780 under the guidance of engineer I. K. Gerhard. The canal was reinforced with an earthen embankment, and enterprises were built only on the city side. At the intersection with the Ligov Canal, an aqueduct was constructed, allowing the waters to flow without mixing. Today, the Novo-Kamenny Bridge stands here, while the Ligov Canal has been filled in.

The eastern section of the canal began construction in 1805 by order of Alexander I and was completed in 1833. The work involved engineers P. P. Bazin and B. P. E. Klapeyron. As a result, the canal's length reached 8 km, with a width of 20 to 40 m. The construction took almost 65 years, and the canal became the new southern boundary of the city.

On October 25, 1833, the Obvodny Canal was opened for navigation. Factories, plants, and warehouses quickly appeared along its banks, turning the area into an industrial center. The canal became an important transport artery, and the first railway bridge in Russia was built across it. The Baltic and Warsaw railway stations were constructed here. The canal was used not only for transportation but also for the needs of enterprises requiring large volumes of water. The factory 'Triangle' had a significant influence on the appearance of the canal, as did the gas holders, elevator zone, and the first Central Power Station in Russia.

Along the canal's embankments, apartment buildings and public establishments were constructed. If you stand at the intersection of Izmailovsky Avenue and the Obvodny Canal, you can see the domes of three churches: the Trinity Izmailovsky Cathedral, the Resurrection Church, and the Epiphany Church. Between 1817 and 1819, the Spiritual Academy building was constructed on the territory of the Alexander Nevsky Lavra. After the revolution, it housed a faculty of the Institute of the Peoples of the North, and during the war, a hospital. Today, it is once again a spiritual academy.

Unique cult structures were located along the canal's embankments. In 1855, the Church of St. Martyr Miron was built according to K. Ton's design, but it was demolished in 1934. The Church of the Resurrection of Christ, built in 1905, survived. After the revolution, it housed service rooms, and in 1989, the church was returned to the faithful. In 2013, a monument to Nicholas II and his wife Alexandra Feodorovna was unveiled in the churchyard.

There are 23 bridges spanning the Obvodny Canal, including the American Bridge. Among them, the Shlisselburg and French bridges stand out. The oldest bridge, Novo-Kalinkin, has been mentioned since 1787.

The canal did not rid the city of flooding but relieved other waterways. However, it became an open collector for waste, and soon an unpleasant smell emerged from it. The canal was cleaned in the 20th century, but the odor was not completely eliminated. Due to pollution, there are periodic proposals to fill in the canal, but its cultural and historical value saves it.

Today, the Obvodny Canal attracts visitors with its architecture and history. Buildings from the 19th century have been preserved here, such as barracks, a gas plant, a power station, and others. The former Warsaw railway station, now a shopping complex, is located on the Obvodny Canal. Nearby is the October Railway Museum.

The Obvodny Canal continues to attract guests and residents of Petersburg with its architecture and history. Not far from it is the Volkovskoe Cemetery. Today, the canal is no longer used for navigation but remains one of the city's unusual attractions.