There more than 65 rivers and canals with around 360 bridges crossing them which are located on 42 islands in St. Petersburg. All the bridges over the Neva can be raised to allow large vessels pass through at night between April and October, when the river is navigable. At that same time various pleasure boats ply their way around St. Petersburg. They follow by different routes, so it is possible to see all St. Petersburg’s rivers and canals and to view the city’s sights from the water. The looming silhouettes of the bridges, the grandeur of the waterways, the granite embankments with their various piers and slipways, the 18th and 19th century palaces and parks on the banks of the Neva and the canals, architectural landmarks in the form of the domes and spires of churches and cathedrals, visible from a long way off — all this contributes to the unique appearance of the «Venice of the North», one of the most beautiful cities in the world.