Russian sea routes have long been considered promising trade channels. At first, ships with grain and provisions traveled along them, then they were replaced by liners with passengers and tourists, after that, ships with coal and timber industry went through the same channels, and, finally, oil tankers.
The country's economy is largely based on profit from freight transportation. And the largest seaports of Russia play an important role here, consider the top 10 of them.
10. Murmansk. Throughput of 24647.2 thousand tons per year
Sea port in Murmansk rightfully called the north gate of the country. In fact, this is the most extreme port, which is located beyond the Arctic Circle and at the same time does not freeze. Moreover, it is here that the fleet of nuclear submarines is located. In 1933, the Chelyuskinets icebreaker began its voyage from this port.
The history of the city itself is closely connected with the port located in it. In 1917, the port of Romanov-on-Murman received the status of a city and gained its name “Murmansk”. It is logical that the “marine way of life” could not but affect the population of the city: most of the inhabitants are involved in work at the port.
9. Find. Throughput 26 625.78 thousand tons per year
The most important for Russia Nakhodka port It matters not only because of trading goals: it is the largest hub in the Pacific Ocean, which includes oil terminals.
On the shores of the bay were engaged in merchant shipping since ancient times. In the 19th century, a convenient harbor and marina was built here so that ships could load without problems. By the 20th century, the passenger shipping line was launched, on which regular flights were operated.
In the mid-40s, the Soviet government decided to build a large port in Nakhodka. It was built by prisoners from the Gulag and other transit camps. Through Nakhodka, these people were then sent into exile in Magadan.
8. Tuapse. Throughput 37 560 thousand tons per year
The largest and busiest harbor on the Black Sea belongs to the city of Tuapse. At 3 kilometers there are 19 berths, where ships with vegetables and grain, as well as passenger ships from more than 30 countries of the world, moor daily.
Tuapse port It is considered a city-forming enterprise and the central object for the economy of the entire region.
It is curious that the port is not only of industrial importance, but also a tourist attraction.
And all thanks to the tower control tower at an altitude of 70 meters above the ground. It is made in the form of a glass ball on a monolithic pin, for which it received the affectionate name "Chupa Chups". The fragility of this tower is deceptive: it is designed to withstand an earthquake of up to 9 points.
7. Kaliningrad. Throughput 44,279.2 thousand tons per year
The only port on the Baltic Sea that does not freeze is located in the city Kaliningrad. It can also be called one of the oldest, because the first mention of the sea gate at the Königsberg Castle dates back to the 14th century.
By the 17th century, the authorities decided to lay a dam here for the convenience of shipping. The first steamboat moored in Königsberg in the 19th century.
From the very beginning of its foundation, the port played a crucial role in relations between Germany and Russia. Through it abroad went a huge amount of Russian goods - from grain and flax to legumes. There were so many deliveries that additional granary warehouses and a mill had to be built on the territory of the port.
After severe destruction during the war, the port was quickly rebuilt and became one of the first enterprises in the city, which began to function.
6. Eastern. Throughput 66 662 thousand tons per year
One of the youngest ports in our rating is “Oriental"- was opened in 1973. The company was built in record time: design work was announced in 1968. The construction was called a priority and all forces were thrown at it, for the convenience of the workers they even built a small satellite city.
Port work is still ongoing. So, the first stage of the coal terminal started operating in 1978, the second - after 20 years, and the third stage was completed recently - in September 2019.
5. Seaside. Throughput 89,500 thousand tons per year
The decision to build the port "Seaside"Was adopted at the end of the 20th century. Then the authorities drew attention to the fact that the capacity of the Baltic ports was not enough.
In addition, the “gates” in Kaliningrad did not have land connections with the country and were thus separate. This situation forced to pay other countries for the use of their territories and ports. In 1993, it was decided to build three new ports - one of them was Primorsky.
According to the plan, it was made oil tanker, following the example of the largest port of the times of the USSR in Latvia. The first phase was commissioned in the early 2000s. Now the number of berths on which tankers can moor has increased to 4.
4. St. Petersburg. Throughput 110 184.89 thousand tons per year
The largest Russian port in St. Petersburg in fact, there are two of them: the first deals with merchant shipping, and the second with passengers. It stretched to the Neva Delta in the east of the Gulf of Finland.
The port has a huge number of berths, explainable for its impressive size - trading, forestry, fishing, ship repair, oil loading terminal and others. All of them are united by a complex system of channels.
3. Ust-Luga. Throughput 129,800.25 thousand tons per year
The Gulf of Finland is rich in Russian ports, and Ust-Luga more confirmation to that. Its history began in the 16th century, when Russia realized the lack of its own gate on the Baltic Sea.
The first Russian port on the shores of the Baltic was built by decree of Ivan the Terrible. The most important task was realized in the shortest possible time - in three months. After that, a coup began in the trading system - the king forbade merchants to sell goods in Reval or Narva, noting that they should communicate with the Germans "in their own land. " But for a long time the prototype of the first port did not exist - the defeat in the Livonian War took away the Baltic lands from Russia.
The port was erected here only in the 30s of the 20th century, but again not the first time - the war destroyed the enterprise, and they were able to finish construction only after its completion.
2. Gelendzhik. Throughput of 185,000 thousand tons per year
Resort Gelendzhik left an imprint on its own seaport. In summer, marinas are popular due to boat trips, which are incredibly popular among tourists. The excursion program includes a meeting with dolphins.
The rest of the year, the port is focused on fulfilling orders for cargo ships. Passenger ships also enter the harbor, but Gelendzhik does not accept international flights that are redirected to Tuapse.
1. Novorossiysk. Throughput 208 793 thousand tons per year
Port of Novorossiysk - record holder in many ways. Firstly, it is here that the longest berth line is located at 8 kilometers. Secondly, it is the largest port on the Black Sea and in the entire Krasnodar Territory.
And thirdly, the importance of these Russian gates, which are located at the intersection of the central transport channels connecting the country with the Middle East, America, Africa and the Mediterranean, is difficult to overestimate.