Olya Ivanova: Water Memory

Olya Ivanova: Water Memory

The Moscow Canal was built to connect the Moscow River with the Volga River. In the 1930s it helped to deal with the shortage of water in Moscow. Now it delivers more than 60 percent of the drinking and industrial water to the city of Moscow. During the Second World War, when the Nazis came close to the canal, water was flushed through the dam and locks were blown up by Soviet soldiers to stop the passage of the Germans. The canal (128 km in length) was constructed from 1932 to 1937 by GULAG prisoners. During the process, more than 23,000 prisoners died.

This short biography of the river echoes the history of Moscow and the whole nation: sprawling geography and imperial ambitions, an overpopulated city, the scars of war and a tragic heritage of repression. I repeated the way of the Volga – from Dubna, through the locks, bridges and reservoirs to the Moscow River in Strogino, to fix the flow of the river and history. In the wake of the northern spring, life by the water is quiet. Time passes like the flow of the river. I’m trying to make ripples on the surface of water.

Olya Ivanova was born in 1981 in Moscow, Russia. Works as freelance photojournalist worldwide. Her works are in museums and private collections.

Website: www.olyaivanova.com

Soviet sculptures on Moscow canal in Orevo, Moscow region

Soviet sculptures on Moscow canal in Orevo, Moscow region

Park near Moscow canal in Khlebnikovo

Park near Moscow canal in Khlebnikovo

Klyazma reservoir in Dolgoprudniy

Klyazma reservoir in Dolgoprudniy

Klyazma reservoir on the way of Moscow canal

Klyazma reservoir on the way of Moscow canal

View from the bringe to Shukino district near the canal

View from the bringe to Shukino district near the canal

Vodniki settlement in Dolgoprudniy, view to Moscow canal flowing into Klyasma river

Vodniki settlement in Dolgoprudniy, view to Moscow canal flowing into Klyasma river

Lock ¹8, where Moscow canal flows into Moscow river

Lock ¹8, where Moscow canal flows into Moscow river

Park Northern Tushino, at the Khimki resrvoir

Park Northern Tushino, at the Khimki resrvoir

Khimki reservoir on the way of Moscow canal

Khimki reservoir on the way of Moscow canal

Khimka river flowing into the Moscow canal, Strogino, Moscow

Khimka river flowing into the Moscow canal, Strogino, Moscow

View from the Strogino bridge to the park, where Moscow canal flows into Moscow river.

View from the Strogino bridge to the park, where Moscow canal flows into Moscow river.

Skhodnya diversion canal is a part of Moscow canal. Its main purpose is the discharge excess water entering the city limits from the Volga river through a canal.

Skhodnya diversion canal is a part of Moscow canal. Its main purpose is the discharge excess water entering the city limits from the Volga river through a canal.

Bridge under the lock ¹8

Bridge under the lock ¹8

Klyazma reservoir on the way of Moscow canal

Klyazma reservoir on the way of Moscow canal

via: Submissions

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