"Sometimes it happens that it is better not to build than to constantly leave something unfinished. At least the embankment leaves the impression of unfinished construction. If you look only at the Ob, you get the impression that everything around is beautiful and cozy, but if you turn your gaze one hundred and eighty degrees, you immediately return to the realities of the industrial zone of our city. The toilets here are in terrible condition and need to be replaced. There are garbage cans and trash cans, but for most people it is not a problem to litter around them. The advantages of this place are a beautiful river and a monument to Stalinist repressions."

Александр Загоренко

"The Ob River embankment in Surgut is a pilgrimage site for residents of all ages. Just like thirty years ago, small boats arrive to pick up passengers for nearby villages and hamlets, as well as distant towns. Gone are the days when the Ob River was the only transportation artery connecting the settlements of Western Siberia. Today, the flow of passengers has dried up, but not ceased. Although it's much quicker to reach Khanty-Mansiysk by bus, some people still want to make the journey on a hydrofoil. The pier in Surgut is modest and small, now located somewhat apart from the former river terminal, about two hundred meters downstream. The embankment has been extended, and efforts have been made to create a semblance of beauty. But frankly, for a developed city like Surgut, this is clearly not enough. At a minimum, a good access road and paved parking near the embankment and pier would be appreciated. And the pier itself is somehow flimsy, more suited to a large village than the city of Surgut: a standard pontoon with handrails, a spit-stained, filthy pavilion of crooked metal, flimsy wooden gangways... joyless and dismal. However, the Ob, as always, is majestic and beautiful. Looking at my beloved river, I understand how frail our civilization is in the eyes of eternity. We are but dirty foam on the beautiful canvas of the world. Strength, power, and vital, all-conquering, austere beauty—that is our Ob River. Proud, all-powerful, and invariably benevolent, even in its incorruptible cruelty to people, even in the ice, and especially like this: full-flowing and powerful. I breathed deeply, filled my soul with the Ob's power and majesty, and then I met my travelers: my daughter and her friend, who had sailed the nine hours from Khanty-Mansiysk to Surgut. It turned out they were the first in the ship's crew's memory to make such a long journey on the river. They were given commemorative booklets as a souvenir. And the unforgettable impressions will stay with them for a long time. The Ob is beautiful!"

Наталья Дмитриева

"A well-maintained place. You can stroll, sit on benches, ride a bike, and push a stroller. The water is calming and invigorating."

Наталья Прожога