The start of the navigation season in St Petersburg, Russia

St Petersburg in April is all about ice drifting down the Neva River, the smell of freshly caught smelt, city parks coming back to life, the beginning of the navigation season and the first raising of the bridges. Whatever the weather, on this day, long queues appear outside all the most popular locations such as the mooring at Anichkov Bridge, in order to be the first to take a tour down the Neva River and its channels. Passengers are given blankets to keep them warm on board. Boat tours through the waterways of St Petersburg are one of the most popular tourist activities in the city.