Fontanka Square - Saint Petersburg, Russia

Traffic and people move along the embankment of the Fontanka River (Фонтанка) in Saint Petersburg, Russia, and this camera looks across the water and the grand old buildings that line it, as the river freezes over in the long winter.

The Fontanka is a branch of the Neva about 4.2 miles (6.7 km) long, crossed by 15 bridges. The most famous is the Anichkov Bridge, which carries the city's main street, Nevsky Prospekt, over the river.

Until the mid-1700s the river marked the southern edge of the city. Noble families later built grand palaces along its banks, including the Anichkov, Sheremetev and Beloselsky-Belozersky palaces, and several old mansions are now museums.

Did You Know? The river was once known as Anonymous Creek. In 1719 it was renamed Fontanka because its water fed the fountains of the tsar's Summer Garden.

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