I wanted all of you to see the beautiful park called Petergof (or Peterhof). It was originally the summer palace of Peter the Great the Tsar of Russia. Peter the Great loved the water. He created many canals in Saint Petersburg and wanted every family living there to own a boat. There were no bridges in Saint Petersburg until after Peter the Great's death then his wife had some constructed. He died from pnuemonia which he caught after swimming in the Baltic Sea. Peter the Great's love of water is evident in the beautiful Petergof. It is 1000 acres full of fountains, palaces, pavilions, parks and picturesque views. Today the State Museum-Preserve Petergof is comprised of 20 museums and 4 parks, the creation and restoration of which is a results many years of strenous efforts of architects, restorers, and staff members. It is one of our favorite places in Russia.

This picture is taken looking down on the Great Cascade. You can see the Sea Canal, it is over one-half mile long and goes out to the Gulf of Finland.