Encyclopedia
Bolaq The modern length of Bolaq is 1550 m, width is 24 m. As a
street Bolaq, or, more correctly , Uñ yaq Bolaq/Pravobulachnaya and Sul yaq Bolaq/Levobulachnaya streets is a major arterial road in Central Kazan.
Etymology
Bolaq or
Bulak, the Russian spelling, refers also for two streets, that are the embankments of the channel: Left Bolaq and Right Bolaq . The origin of the word
bolaq is disputive. Some claim that this comes from
balaq, i.e. "arm". Another state that "bolaq" is a Old Tatar/Bulgar for "brook" and could be found in several modern hydronyms of
Tatarstan.
Natural history of Bolaq
Bolaq, as a part of Qaban
lake system once was a part of
Volga's
riverbed, but then Volga came some kilometers to the west.
By the results of geological and hydrological researches nearby thousand years ago Bolaq was a natural river . Bolaq had delta of many distributaries. With time Bolaq became shallow. The number of branches in delta decreased and for several recent centuries there were only two: Zur Bolaq and Çerek Bolaq.
In
15th century Bolaq's
valley was covered with
brake. A water of Bolaq was used for drink and dough that time.
The shore protection of Bolaq was firstly realized in the
Khanate's epoch. Cheremis workers set logs to the bottom of natural river. That period Bolaq was navigable channel, sluice in the mouth kept the level of Bolaq stable. The berths of Bolaq supplied for the Tasayaq trade fair. During the storm of Kazan Kazan Chronicle reported that Bolaq was already swamped and served only as defence zone. In 19th century as the result the of city's economical development Bolaq was reconstructed, embankments were built on apartments and depots, first wooden bridges were built. By Aksakov, the traditional fair on the Bolaq was preserved, but unlike the Tasayaq it had only local significance. The distinctive of this fair were boats that penetrated to the Central Kazan by
spring tide. The majority of tradesmen were local
peasants and they trade was straight from
boats.
The first arched stone bridge was built in 1907 by the project of Lev Kazimirovich Khrshchonovich.
In 1940s tramway was installed at the embankment and in one site it was preserved until
2000s.
In 1940s-1950s 5 bridges of reinforced concrete were built, the embankment was covered with iron grate, slopes were matted by the project of Ü.G. Alparov and Ye.Yu. Brudny. With the infill of Kuybyshev Reservoir and the constructing of check dams the lower stream of Bolaq was covered up with earth and divided from Kazanka in 1955-56. In 1967 the subterranean channel was constructed to connect Bolaq and
Volga. As natural the level of Bolaq and Qaban is much lower that that of Kuybyshev Reservoir, pumps throw out the effluent water.
The last reconstruction by the project of Y. V. Grebnyov was started in 1986. It was proposed to make embankment vertical. But socially active people protested, as it was in dissonance with Kazan traditional architecture. Only the ends of canal still have vertical embankment, the major part is still has matted slopes. The reconstruction was finalized in 1993. Fountains were set all over Bolaq.
In the 1980s Bolaq was considered to be a dead reservoir, as the poisoned by chemicals plants water of Qaban penetrated the channel. Today the main pollution source is traffic of cars. Nevertheless some
fishes and
wild ducks live in channel.
Human history of Bolaq
The earliest human history of the area is unclear, but probably, Bolaq played major role in
fishing and transporting, as well as defense. By legends, a
water of Bolaq was used for drink and dough in 15th century. With the growth of Kazan channel was
polluted, but it became a
navigable channel. Some report about mills at the dykes in Bolaq's
mouth. If thre any grain of truth in legends, Khan's court sailed to summer residence on the Argi Qaban by Qaban and Bolaq. A district, named Köräyes settlement of first half of 16th century, was situated at the bank of Bolaq. The
fair and bath-houses were situated at the channel.
After the fall of Kazan in 1552 Tatars had right to settle only beyond the Bolaq, as a city themselves was settled by Russian personnel. So, this channel became a natural ethnic border between
Tatars and
Russians in Kazan until any ethnic borders finally crashed in
20th century, after the revolution of 1917 and ban of
religion. But even in 19th century Russian settled beyond the Bolaq, as well as Tatars settled in mailnly Russian part of the city. The
fair of Bolaq was preserved until 19th century.
In 1918 national-democratic movement tried to establish
Idel-Ural State, but
Bolsheviks arrested chairmen of the congress, proclaimed those republic. In response, congress proclaimed
Transbolaqia Republic , i.e. the rule of the congress over Tatar part of the city. After the confrontation with Bolshevik and mass Bolshevik recruiting of Tatars Transbolaqia signed peace with Bolsheviks and later declined.
Later Bolaq saw industrialization of
1930s and deindustrialization of
1990s, increase of cars in
2000s, that was reflected on channel's
ecology.
Historical hydrology
Although modern Bolaq has only 2 connections to other reservoirs, both subterranean, once it had a complex
hydrology. Bolaq had a tributary, a brook that had flew from a former lake in the modern Paris Commune public garden. In the course of year Bolaq flew from Qaban to Kazanka. During Kazanka's spring tide, that followed Qaban's spring tide, Bolaq flew from Kazanka to Qaban. Then flow course normalized. Ten days later, during Volga's spring tide, Bolaq flown from Kazanka, Volga's tributary to Qaban again. At the south Qaban also became connected with Volga.
At the winter's end Bolaq waters had 45 m above
sea level, at Volga spring tide 50-53 and even 56 m. At summer the normal level was 49,5 m.
As the result of this changing of the course, Bolaq's bottom had little
silt. Since 1950s Bolaq silts rapidly.
30 August
For 364 days Bolaq is a major arterial road, but on 30 August, the Republic Day in Tatarstan and City Day in Kazan the embankments of the channel became pedestrian area. Embankments and bridges are usually decorated with
flags,
balloons and posters of
Tatarstan symbolic and many booths and open-air cafés are installed here. Many contests and karaoke entertain crowds of people.
Notes
References
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Photos
