Tsar Cannon
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Tsar Pushka (Царь-пушка in Russian, literally "Tsar-cannon") is a huge cannon, commissioned in 1586 by Russian Tsar Fedor, son of Ivan the Fourth. The cannon weighs nearly 42 tons and has a length of 5.34 metres (17.5 feet), a calibre of 890 mm (35 inches), and an external diameter of 1200 mm (41 inches).
The cannon was intended to fire grapeshot and to defend the Kremlin in times of war. It is believed to never have been used, however, and may in fact have been intended as a showpiece of military might and engineering from the beginning.
It is decorated with reliefs, including one depicting Tsar Feodor Ivanovich on a horse. The original wooden carriage was made in the early 19th century but was destroyed by fire in 1812.
The new carriage and cast iron cannonballs were founded in 1835. The cannon is placed inside the Moscow Kremlin next to the Tsar Bell. It was last restored in 1980. The Guinness Book of Records lists it as the largest howitzer ever made.
The cannonballs on display by the Tsar Cannon were never intended for use, and are in fact of a larger diameter than the cannon will accept. According to legend, the cannonballs were manufactured in St Petersburg one inch too big, with an intended humour value in the friendly rivalry between Moscow and St Petersburg.
A replica of the cannon was manufactured in 2001 at the Izhevsk machine-building factory. It was given to the Ukrainian city Donetsk and now is installed near the Donetsk city administration building.
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| Russian Tsar (Царь) projects | |
| Tsar Bell | Tsar Bomb | Tsar Cannon | Tsar Tank |
 Moscow Kremlin  |
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| Dormition Cathedral | Archangel Cathedral | Annunciation Cathedral |
| Church of the Twelve Apostles | Church of the Virgin's Robe | Church of the Saviour |
| Chudov Monastery | Ascension Convent |
| Ivan the Great Bell Tower | Tsar Bell | Tsar Cannon |
| Grand Kremlin Palace | Palace of Facets | Terem Palace | Amusement Palace | Patriarchal Chamber |
| State Kremlin Palace | Senate | Arsenal | Armoury | Diamond Treasury |
| Hill | Sobornaya Square | Ivanovskaya Square |
| Wall | Towers | Armorial Gate | Necropolis | Stars | Chiming Clock |
