354 EUROPEAN RIVERS.
Lithuania , Little Russia , the country of the Zaporo Cos-sacks, and a tract inhabited by the Nagaian Tartars.After forming a lake thirty-four miles in length, and inmany places from two to six in breadth, it discharges itselfinto the Black Sea . Within the space of thirty-five miles,the Nieper, the banks of which are elevated, has not lessthan thirteen falls. At Kiow a floating bridge, onethousand six hundred and thirty-eight paces (upwards ofa mile and a half) in length, has been thrown over it.This bridge is removed towards the end of September, toadmit a passage down the river to the immense masses offloating ice j and is again put together in the spring. Onthis river a great number of mills have been erected^, inboats.
THE NEVA.
This river likewise belongs to the vast empire of Russia ,and issues from the lake Lagoda, flowing with a rapidcourse until it discharges itself into the gulf of Finland.A great part of the city of St. Petersburgh is built 00islands formed by its branches, and by those of the riversFontanca and Moica. It has but one bridge, which isconstructed with large flat-bottomed boats, which arc laidacross the river in the spring, and' removed' in the autumn,at the setting in of the frost. In this way a safe and con-venient passage is formed between the Arsenal and BasihOstrow, or Bazils’ island. The communication betweenthe other islands is by boats and barks; but bridges arebuilt over the Moica and Fontanca, and likewise over thecanals, which are as numerous as at Amsterdam . St.Petersburgh is much exposed to inundations : in September1777, one rose to a very great height, and did prodigiesdamage.