The Upper Pond in Kaliningrad is an artificially created pond, located near one of the most famous sights of the city. Its history begins in the 13th century. Over the years it has been an excellent place for recreation and fishing.
There are many lakes in Kaliningrad. There are reservoirs in which carp, perch, tench, eel, pike live. These places have long been chosen by anglers. The upper lake in Kaliningrad in the nineties of the last century, like other recreation areas, was in a state of disrepair. Later, the reservoir was put in order.
Today it is a fairly well-maintained area, which is visited by both local residents and guests of Kaliningrad. We will certainly tell you about what is located near the Upper Lake. However, let's start the story with an event that occurred in ancient times. Then, when the inhabitants of the ancient castle "Königsberg" came up with the idea to block the tributary of the Pregol River with an earthen dam.
Knights of the Teutonic Order
Representatives of the military-monastic organization appeared onterritory of Prussia at the beginning of the 13th century. Here they built several castles, which later became the most important historical and architectural monuments of the city. Among them was Koenigsberg. In the era of the Crusades, it was considered a pious deed to destroy the pagans. The knights of the Teutonic Order were very successful in this matter. They spent their free time from the righteous struggle in the castle, located at the confluence of two branches of the main river of the city of Kaliningrad. These are extremely picturesque places. Even modern infrastructure could not spoil them.
The Knights of the Teutonic Order exterminated Prussian pagans in large numbers, but otherwise they were people of the right views. They did not recognize an idle way of life. And therefore, as soon as they settled in the new castle, they created a pond nearby. This body of water was later named Upper Lake. The lower one was created four decades earlier - in the twenties of the XIII century. One of the most ancient reservoirs in Kaliningrad is Lake Superior. Only the Lower, located a few kilometers away, has a longer history.
XX century
For six centuries, the territory around the Upper Lake in Kaliningrad has hardly changed. At the end of the 19th century, the reservoir was still outside the city. At the beginning of the last century, the city began to actively expand. Where Chernyakhovsky Street is today, and it is located south of the reservoir, there were once defensive structures. Later they were demolished, and in the interwar period, luxurious villas appeared next to the Upper Pond. Such a neighborhood of the reservoir benefited. It's been cleared. Sea sand was added to the bottom.
Near the Upper Lake in Kaliningrad in the thirties, several cozy restaurants appeared. Here, representatives of the Prussian aristocracy rested with their children, held business and romantic meetings, talked about the likelihood of another war, and, finally, admired the sunset falling on the silky surface of the lake. They could not have imagined that just two decades later they would be replaced by vacationers speaking exclusively in Russian, and in half a century not a single perch would remain in the pond.
Cauer sculpture
Several small monuments appeared near the lake in the 20th century. During the Soviet years they were destroyed, but not so long ago restored. These sculptures are discussed in more detail below. There was another attraction here. Namely, the sculpture of S. Cauer - an unsurpassed master in the manufacture of stone carvings. This work was called "Mother and Child". In Soviet times, the work of the German artist was transferred to the local museum of local lore.
Our time
The Upper Lake in Kaliningrad has changed a lot in recent years. The area around the reservoir was landscaped, today it resembles the embankment of a large resort town. There is a small fountain for children, a lot of benches. The upper lake has become a full-fledged recreation area. Soon, a Ferris wheel will be installed here. Nearby is the park "Youth".
Sea animals
Beautification of the city at the beginning of XXcentury is associated with the name of the German artist Hermann Thiel. His most famous works can be seen by the lake, which is discussed in this article. In 1913, stone figures depicting a walrus, a seal, an elephant seal and other sculptures corresponding to the theme were installed here. The Soviet period, during which almost no restoration work was carried out, managed to survive only two of Til's works. Today, only they give a touch of antiquity to these places. The architecture of the embankment is made in a modern style, however, an old tower rises a little further away, in the building of which the museum has been located for more than half a century.
There is a large playground near the Upper Lake. Here you can rent a simple vehicle for a child. Adherents of an active lifestyle also visit these places - they are primarily attracted here by catamaran walks. Renting a six-seater option costs a thousand rubles per hour. Among the catamarans there are models resembling cars. From the outside, these vehicles look rather unusual.
Fishing in Kaliningrad
In the nineties, there were few fish in the reservoir due to environmental degradation. Not so long ago the situation was corrected. Perch, carp, pike, tench live here. Still, fishing on the legendary lake is practiced sluggishly today. Kaliningraders go out of town for a big catch.
Lakes, rivers and quarries of the Kaliningrad region are also popular among residents of nearby regions. Moreover, there are often fishermen from Europe. Mostpopular places are Lake Vishnetetskoe, the Rzhavka and Matrosovka rivers, the Mari Lakes.
Basic data
The pond has an irregular elongated shape. It lies 22 meters above Pregolya. It occupies a rather vast territory - in length it extends at a distance of a little less than a kilometer. The area of the reservoir is 41 hectares. The depth of the Upper Lake in Kaliningrad is seven meters. In the immediate vicinity of the pond, once created by the knights of the Teutonic Order, there is the Amber Museum.
How to get to the Upper Lake in Kaliningrad? The reservoir is located in the very center of the city. Bus number 144 regularly runs here from the airport. In the center of this large historical city, of course, there is no shortage of fixed-route taxis. You can use any of them. People usually get from the station by buses No. 44, 37, 17, 11, 19, 21, 159.
