Krasnaya Square in Yaroslavl is adorned by a structure that is impossible not to notice. This is the Pozharnaya Kalancha, which recently celebrated its 100th anniversary. Its height is more than 30 meters – almost like a 9-story building. It was built in 1911 based on the design of the city's chief architect, Grigory Sarenko.
Previously, there was a wooden tower on this site, but wood is a material that does not get along very well with the weather, so over time it had to be replaced with stone. For many years, the kalancha served the city faithfully – it was the tallest building in Yaroslavl, and firefighters were on duty here around the clock to detect suspicious smoke or fire in time.
Interestingly, the kalancha used to be the city's largest thermometer as well: when it was below –25°C outside, a flag was hung at the top in the morning, meaning that classes in the gymnasiums were canceled that day.
Since 1974, it was decided to abolish the fire watches, as telephone communication proved to be a more effective signaling method. At present, the building houses the Main Directorate of the EMERCOM of the Russian Federation for the Yaroslavl Region, as well as a federal fire defense unit.
The height of this structure is very appealing to photographers, who can take several good shots of the city right from the historic center.
