An ancient fortress floating in the middle of the sea in Russia with a mysterious history attracts tourists

Located just off the coast of the Gulf of Finland from the Baltic Sea, Fort Alexander stands tall in the sea filled with secrets and a history spanning decades.

Fort Alexander was built in the mid-1800s, to protect the coastal areas of St.Petersburg. The fortress was not built on a natural island but was built entirely on an artificial foundation.

Fortress Alexander stood in the middle of the sea for decades to come.

The base of the fortress was built of concrete, sand and granite. The fortress consisted of an oval main building, with a courtyard in the middle, built as a defensive measure in case of attack. However, this place has never participated in any direct military battles.

It was originally built as a defensive fortress, but during its existence, it never directly faced a war.

In the 1900s, the fortress was repurposed as a plague research facility. The Russian scientists found this isolated location ideal for conducting investigations into infectious diseases such as cholera, tetanus and bubonic plague.

A series of legends claim that extremely cruel experiments were carried out within the walls of the fortress. According to official data, experiments with horses were carried out to develop a vaccine against bubonic plague.

The fortress is also a place to study epidemic diseases.

In the 1980s, the last medical research at the fort stopped. Since 1923, the old building has been used as a military camp. Until the 80s of the last century, the fortress was completely abandoned.

The abandoned landscape here is a place that attracts young people to explore.

Over the decades, the abandoned fortress and its mysterious history have become a spot for young adventurers and thrill-seekers.

The quiet scene inside the fortress.

Visitors can explore the fortress by crossing the frozen ocean during the winter. If visiting during the warmer seasons, people need to travel to the fort by train. Boat excursions to Fort Alexander are available starting in 2011.

Panoramic view of Alexander fortress from above.