Samsonovsky Canal

The Samson Canal in the Lower Park of Peterhof was conceived by Peter I in 1715 to connect the Grand Palace with the Gulf of Finland and originally had not only decorative but also practical significance. In the area of the basin, springs were discovered during earthworks, and for the decoration of the canal, wooden semicircular colonnades painted to imitate marble were built according to Miketti's design. After the construction of the Samson Fountain, the canal ceased to be used for vessels, but the sluice was preserved to protect against sea sand and maintain the water level. Both cascades and the brick walls of the canal were fully restored in 1928, and in 1929–1931 they were rebuilt anew along their entire length.