Duderhof Heights

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Panoramic view of Duderhof Heights

Duderhof Heights or Duderhof Hills (Russian: Дудергофские высоты; German: Duderhofer Höhen) is a small highland area in the southwestern part of Saint Petersburg (Krasnoselsky District).

The nearest railway station, Mozhayskaya (formerly Duderhof) of the Ligovo-Krasnoye Selo-Gatchina railroad (constructed in 1859), is situated immediately to the west of the hills.

Geography

The heights are located to the south of the town of Krasnoye Selo, on the northern edge of the Izhora Plateau, which consists of several hills, most notably, the Orekhovaya hill (Russian: Ореховая гора, lit. Hazel Hill, 59°41′51″N 30°07′55″E / 59.69750°N 30.13194°E / 59.69750; 30.13194), the highest point of Saint Petersburg at 176 m (577'), in the south, and the Voronya hill (Russian: Воронья гора, lit. Crow Hill, 59°42′09″N 30°07′38″E / 59.70250°N 30.12722°E / 59.70250; 30.12722), 147 m (482'), in the north. Sometimes other smaller hills are considered part of the area as well: the Lysaya hill (Russian: Лысая гора, lit. Bald Hill) further northward, the Kirchhof hill (Russian: гора Кирхгоф) to the east, and the Kavelakhtinskaya ridge (Russian: Кавелахтинская гряда) further to the south (however, all the smaller hills are situated in Leningrad Oblast rather than in Saint Petersburg).

Flora

Since 1992 the Orekhovaya and Voronya hills have been designated as

European Beech
is able to overwinter in cultivation, albeit suffering considerable dieback.

The vegetation on the hills hasn't remained intact and has been subject to heavy anthropogenic influence for the last two centuries. In the first half of the 19th century a

landscape garden was laid down on the Orekhovaya hill. During the Siege of Leningrad (1941-1944) the battlefront ran through the hills and they became almost completely deforestated. German artillery positions shelling the city were situated on the Voronya hill. The hills are still a popular ski resort
. The surrounding area is totally devoid of forests and mostly built up.

See also

  • Pulkovskiye Heights
  • Highest points of Russian Federal subjects

Further reading