Beautiful winter sunset on Kanonersky Island

Kanonersky Island is one of the small low-lying islands in the delta of the Neva River. It is a part of the city, but for a long time it remained deserted. During autumn storms the territory of the island was completely flooded, and it was dangerous to settle on this island. The construction of a protective dam changed the situation, but no dense residential development appeared on the island.

At the end of the 20th century, a few residential houses were built on the part of the island closer to the mainland. The far part of the island remained a protected area. This part of the island is overgrown with low shrubs and grasses. Birds stop here during their autumn migrations south to warmer regions. Along the shore there is a field road, several paths cross the island at different angles.

This place is very fond of city fishermen. On this day the field road was well tamped with tyres - many fishermen chose this day to go ice fishing. Part of the way to the far cape, the best fishing spots, can be reached by car, but further on you have to walk another kilometre or a kilometre and a half.

This winter has been abnormally warm, but for several days in February the weather was frosty and the ice on the bay became quite firm. The fishermen immediately built a walking trail across the ice to the far cape and the neighbouring small island. A ski track has been laid next to the walking trail, but most fishermen prefer to travel on foot.

There is a fenced-in space on the shore for boat sheds. On the wall of one of the boat sheds someone has drawn a cute white cat. Maybe it's a character from some cartoon? I don't know. This cat reminded me that I've been meaning to look at and photograph the horse sculptures in the playground for a long time. The horses stand a bit off to the side of the convenient road, and I've forgotten to approach them a few times.

Meanwhile, the last glimmers of sunset had faded in the sky and it started to get dark and cold quickly. Fortunately, the way back to the city from this almost country walk is quick and convenient. The island is connected to the mainland by a car tunnel, and I took a regular city bus.