Kotlin (; ; ) is a Russian island, located near the head of the Gulf of Finland, west of Saint Petersburg in the Baltic Sea. Kotlin separates the Neva Bay from the rest of the gulf. The fortified city of Kronstadt is located on the island and forms part of a World Heritage Site that is Saint Petersburg and Related Groups of Monuments. The island serves as a gateway to Saint Petersburg and as such has been the site of several military engagements.

History

The island is mentioned in the 13th century treaty of Novgorod with Hanseatic League and Gotland, once as "Kotlign" and twice as "Kotling".

The city of Kronstadt was founded on Kotlin island by Peter the Great, who took it from the Swedes in 1703.

Off Kronstadt is Fort Alexander, an artificial island that housed a research laboratory on plague and other bacterial diseases, from 1898 to 1917.

Geography

In general outline, the island forms an elongated triangle; long by about broad, with its base towards St Petersburg. The eastern or broad end is occupied by the city of Kronstadt, and shoals extend for from the western point of the island to the rock on which the Tolbaaken lighthouse is built.

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File:Kronstadt1June1942.jpg|Luftwaffe aerial reconnaissance photo of Kotlin Island, 1 June 1942

File:Песчаный пляж на северном берегу.jpg|Beach in west Kotlin Island

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Transportation

The low water depth in Neva Bay was an incentive to build a Sea Canal to accommodate large vessels, this canal allows the movement of vessels with a draft of 11 metres (to fresh water), a length of 320 metres and a width of 42 metres.

References

  • Google Earth view of Kotlin Island