REFILE: Frosty winter turns St. Petersburg’s iconic canals into ice rinks and cycling paths

Record ID: 2338495

  • Title: REFILE: Frosty winter turns St. Petersburg’s iconic canals into ice rinks and cycling paths
  • Date: 7th February 2026
  • Summary: ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA (FEBRUARY 7, 2026) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF FROZEN CANAL IN CENTRAL ST. PETERSBURG, PEOPLE ON ICE VARIOUS OF PEOPLE WALKING ON ICE PEOPLE WALKING NEXT TO CRACK IN ICE VARIOUS OF CYCLISTS NEXT TO BICYCLES CYCLIST DRAGGING PERSON ON SNOWBOARD VARIOUS OF PEOPLE SLIDING ON ICE BOY KICKING SOCCER BALL WHILE ANOTHER CHILD CLEARING SNOW WITH HOCKEY STICK ICE S
  • Embargoed:
  • Keywords: Canals Russia St. Petersburg Winter Winter activities
  • Location: ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA
  • City: ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA
  • Country: Russia
  • Topics: Europe,Human Interest/Brights/Odd News,Society/Social Issues
  • Reuters ID: LVA001357007022026RP1
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Canals in central St. Petersburg froze over, delighting local residents as the Russian city experiences a relatively cold winter, with average daily temperatures hovering around minus 12°C (10°F).
    Local residents told Reuters on Saturday (February 7) that while the canals do freeze occasionally, the ice is often too thin to walk on safely. This winter, however, the cold has lasted for several weeks, giving the ice enough time to thicken.
    Residents and visitors have taken to the frozen canals, turning them into an impromptu attraction. The activities on the ice mixed summer and winter sports rarely seen together elsewhere, with cyclists towing snowboarders and skiers, and hockey and soccer players sharing the same goals.
    The frozen waterways also offered a chance to see the familiar city from an unusual angle.
    “The city seems totally different from here — maybe because you are looking at it from down below, from an unusual perspective, and against the clear sunny sky,” said Yulia.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2026. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register