Vesivärava (Vesivärav)

Watergate, named after the lock and sluice system controlling water to the harbor. Odd, at first glance, but not, apparently, à la coals to Newcastle: even harbor-masters wash their hands. The main historical source of water in Tallinn was the Härjapea river, starting at the N tip of lake Ülemiste reaching the sea somewhere N of Petrooleumi. Over time, pollution required cleaner sources, with water piped in from Pirita river. To supply Kadriorg, Peter I had the Kadriorg aka Peetri canal built, supplying the palace, park and fountains. By 1876, however, to ensure fresh water for shipping, a channel was built from the W end of running NW along what became first known as Schleusenstr (sluice, 1876) followed by its Rus. transliteration, Шлюзная (Shlyuznaya), Canal / Kanalstr (1882), through Wasserleitungsgasse (also 1882), Wasserleitungsstr (1893), and Neue Wasserleitungsstraße (1907) and earning its first Estonian name Uus-Veerenni from 1908-10 and its current one in 1923. Over time, the entire watercourse became covered over. All that remains is a solitary drinking-water fountain near Mäekalda.