Mid-March Omsk Fortress Changes
ОМСК On a gorgeous mid-March day with blinding sunlight and melting snow, I stepped along the embankment to survey the new area of the fortress complex under construction. Things have changed in a big way since I first walked here in the year 2000, when I meandered along the river on an autumn day. Back then, thick trees lined both sides of the walkway all the way back to the gate. In fact, at that time the buildings that had survived of the fortress were in a state of disrepair. Many of the brick warehouses now are stylish museums. Since then, the embankment has probably been the most popular walk in Omsk, and this year it will have the addition of one of the largest fountain complexes in Russia. An enormous retaining wall will be built in a large curve and the top filled in with fountains and landscaping. While some Omsk historians are balking at the changes, the city is in overwhelming support for the change. Indeed, the gates of the old fortress are all that are left, and with good reason, as the original fortress was no beauty, although larger, in fact, than the fortress of St. Peter & Paul in St. Petersburg. The original walls were of earth and quite strong for defense, but not an object of beauty.Over the years, the walkways have opened up a track where one can walk, I think, about 11 km or more along the river, most of it being parks and gardens, including ending at the spectacular Green Island Park. Plans are to extend it to Neftaniki. The city indeed has seen many changes over the past 20 years!I'm wondering how they are going to build the retaining wall and bring in all the soil. It seems like a large task but is said to be scheduled to be completed by the end of summer.
ОМСК On a gorgeous mid-March day with blinding sunlight and melting snow, I stepped along the embankment to survey the new area of the fortress complex under construction. Things have changed in a big way since I first walked here in the year 2000, when I meandered along the river on an autumn day. Back then, thick trees lined both sides of the walkway all the way back to the gate. In fact, at that time the buildings that had survived of the fortress were in a state of disrepair. Many of the brick warehouses now are stylish museums. Since then, the embankment has probably been the most popular walk in Omsk, and this year it will have the addition of one of the largest fountain complexes in Russia. An enormous retaining wall will be built in a large curve and the top filled in with fountains and landscaping. While some Omsk historians are balking at the changes, the city is in overwhelming support for the change. Indeed, the gates of the old fortress are all that are left, and with good reason, as the original fortress was no beauty, although larger, in fact, than the fortress of St. Peter & Paul in St. Petersburg. The original walls were of earth and quite strong for defense, but not an object of beauty.Over the years, the walkways have opened up a track where one can walk, I think, about 11 km or more along the river, most of it being parks and gardens, including ending at the spectacular Green Island Park. Plans are to extend it to Neftaniki. The city indeed has seen many changes over the past 20 years!I'm wondering how they are going to build the retaining wall and bring in all the soil. It seems like a large task but is said to be scheduled to be completed by the end of summer.