User:Behind the loop/sandbox

The Bogatyanovsky spring

The Bogatyanovsky spring

Богатый колодезь
Location	Rostov-on-Don, Rostov region
Opening date	the late of XVIIth century

The Bogatyanovsky spring, a.k.a. The Rich Well or Bogaty Kolodez’ (Russian: Богатый колодезь) is the historical and natural heritage site, situated alongside the Bogotyanovsky Downhill St. between Sedova St. and Beregovaya St. in Rostov-on-Don.

Historical Description

According to the legend, young tsar Peter I together with the generals of his army and the Cossack elders travelled around the surroundings of the place where now Rostov-on-Don is situated. He watched the fleet moving towards the shipyard in Temernik river, but suddenly noticed some springs spouting out of the limestone slope. When he tasted the water from the most affluent of them, he exclaimed: “Rich well!” (Russian: “Богатый колодезь!”).

After the seizure of Azov, the first maps of the region were composed and this place was marked exactly how young tsar had called it.

In 1749 the Temernik customs was founded near the Rich Well and later it became a landmark for the builders of the Fortress of St. Dmitry of Rostov. They erected one of the castle walls exactly next to the spring, so that the fortress faced the bank of river Don.

For a long time, spring water was used by soldiers, officers, dwellers of the fortress and of Poludenka – the village that was situated not far from it.

The Rich Well itself was located near the pier of the fortress. That’s why water from the spring was poured in barrels and then delivered to the central part of the fortress through the special underground tunnel.

The Rich Well, which was then called The Bogotyanovsky Spring, was the main water source for the city of Rostov until the beginning of XX century. The first water supply system, launched in 1860, used the spring water too. Since 1920 this water has been used only for technical needs.

In the XIX century water taking system with a drinking fountain and the rotunda were constructed at the spring. The rotunda, being repeatedly reconstructed, existed until the mid-nineties of XX century.

In 1988 the spring was declared the cultural and historical heritage site since it is closely linked with the history of Rostov-on-Don.

In 1996, on the threshold of the 250th Rostov-on-Don anniversary the site was renovated upon the project by B. Pivtorak and the commemorative plaque was installed there in honor of the legend, connected with city foundation.

Bibliography

• Волошинова В. Ф., Волошинова Л. Ф. 100 уникальных мест Ростовской области: Иллюстрированный справочник. Ростов-на-Дону: Ростиздат, 2011.-176 с., ил. ISBN 978-5-7509-0631-4