KRONSTADT, kron'stat, or CRON STADT, Russia, a maritime fortress in the government of Saint Peteriburg, and about 25 miles west of that city. It stands in the nar rowest part of the Gulf of Finland, opposite to the mouth of the Neva, on a height of the long. narrow, rocky island of Kotlin, forming, both by its position and the strength of its fortifica tions, the bulwark of the capital, and the most important naval station of the empire. It was founded by Peter the Great in 1710, and has spacious, regular streets, with many handsome houses; Greek, Lutheran, English and Roman Catholic churches; very large marine establish ments, a navigation school, a naval arsenal, a cannon-foundry, a barracks, building-yards, docks, etc. •The harbor consists of three sepa rate basins —a merchant haven, capable of con taining 1,000 ships; a central haven for the re pair of ships of war, and the war haven, which, in addition to the other works of the place, is defended by the strong fort of Kronslot, built on two small adjoining islands. The chief dis
advantage of Kronstadt as a port is the long period during which the harbor is blocked up by ice. The construction of a canal affording better access by sea to the capital has dimin ished the trade of Kronstadt, which in conse quence will cease to be a commercial port. A revolt of the fleet personnel took place in May 1917. The local administration passed to the hands of the Committee of Workmen's and Soldiers' Delegates on 2 June 1917. The pro visional govermnent at Petrograd was defied by the president of the local committee. Drastic measures were decided upon by the former, but the fall of the Kerensky government gave the malcontents and others an opportunity of escaping from the consequences of their acts. See SHIP CANALS; WAR, EUROPEAN.