Exploring Modern Russia: A Photo Journey Through Everyday Life

7. Rescue the Hares

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Often noticed by onlookers in the centre of St. Petersburg, close to the bridge linking to the Peter and Paul Fortress, is a little yet moving monument. This small bronze sculpture shows a thinking hare sitting on a log rising from the sea. Although this monument seems like a humorous addition to the cityscape, it has more meaning since it honours a sometimes disregarded period in St. Petersburg's history and folklore. Known as the "Hare Flood Memorial," the monument honours the many hares that formerly called the island where the Peter and Paul Fortress now sits home. This region was a low-lying island in the Neva River delta called Zayachy Ostrov, or Hare Island, prior to the building of the fortitude. The name was not arbitrary; the island was home to a sizable hare population that thrived in its natural, unspoiled condition. The powers of nature, especially the turbulent Neva River, define St. Petersburg's history in intimately intertwined manner. Devastating floods dogged the city during the 18th and 19th centuries. These were big tragedies that changed the metropolitan scene and claimed many lives, not little annoyances. Particularly vulnerable to these flood occurrences were the low-lying islands including Hare Island. The island's hare count was in great risk during these floods. Many hares died as rivers swelled and swallowed their habitat. The monument reminds us of these extinct species and the wider influence of natural disasters on the local animal and human communities. The monument also reflects, nonetheless, a sliver of hope and fortitude against hardship. A common myth holds that a hare saved itself during one especially terrible flood by jumping onto Peter the Great's boot, the founder of the city. Whether or whether this story is true, St. Petersburg's folklore now revolves around it. It represents survival against all the odds and has made the modest hare the unofficial mascot of the city's fortitude. Specifically important is Peter the Great's boot's selection as the hare's haven in this myth. Towering in Russian history, Peter the Great is well-known for his efforts to modernise Russia and founding of St. Petersburg as a "window to Europe." The picture of a small, helpless creature finding safety with this strong historical figure creates a striking narrative of protection and kindness. Sculptor Vladislav Markov designed and placed the Hare Flood Memorial statue in 2003. Its intentional proximity to the Peter and Paul Fortress links the artwork to the mythical survival story as well as the historical habitat of the hares. Often partially submerged depending on the water level, the small size and placement of the statue make it easy to overlook. Like one would search for a hare in the wild, this subtlety is part of its appeal and calls for people to deliberately hunt it out. Popular among residents as well as visitors, the monument has grown to be a beloved sight in St. Petersburg. Particularly students before tests, many guests brush the hare's ears for good fortune, therefore perpetuating the custom of seeking hope and comfort in this little bronze figure. Apart from its function as a memorial and lucky charm, the Hare Flood Memorial has several significant purposes in the St. Petersburg cultural scene. It reminds us of the complicated relationship the city has with nature, especially the constant risk of floods. Built on a marsh under Peter the Great's direction, St. Petersburg has always been subject to the vagaries of the Neva. The monument gently honours this continuous fight between natural forces and urban growth. The monument also invites contemplation on the changes the urban growth brings about in the surroundings. From a natural habitat to the site of a fortitude, Hare Island's metamorphosis represents the larger changes that took place as St. Petersburg developed from a vision in Peter the Great's head to the vast city it is today. It begs issues concerning the cost of development and the need of protecting natural surroundings in cities. Local folklore and oral traditions are preserved in part by the Hare Flood Memorial as well. Giving the legend of the hare and Peter the Great physical shape helps to preserve this narrative in the public awareness. Passed down through centuries, these stories represent a significant component of the cultural identity of a city and help modern residents to link with their past. More broadly, the monument addresses the human inclination to interpret natural phenomena for story and purpose. The personification of the hare, giving it the traits of resilience and fast thinking, represents our wish to see ourselves — our hardships and victories – reflected in the natural world. The Hare Flood Memorial is a calm memory of the past and a symbol of optimism for St. Petersburg's future as the city develops and confronts fresh difficulties including the continuous threat of climate change and rising sea levels. It captures the essence of a city that has always remained in a delicate balance with the natural environment, overcoming hardship with resiliency and a little of whimsicality. Within this little bronze hare we discover a monument to the continuing vitality of St. Petersburg and its people, a custodian of local knowledge, and a symbol of survival.