Zasechnaya cherta

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Zasechnaya cherta (Russian: Большая засечная черта, loosely translated as Great Abatis Line) is a chain of fortification lines, created by Muscovy to protect it from the rides of the Crimean Tatars who, rapidly moving along the Muravsky Trail, ravaged the southern provinces of Russia during a series of the Russo-Crimean Wars.

The abatis was built from the felled trees that were arranged as a barricade. It was also fortified by ditches and earth mounds. The width of the abatis mounts up to several hundred meters. In the most dangerous places the abatis was doubled, trebled etc., the gates and small wooden fortresses were created to check the passers.

Stone and wooden fortresses of the towns were also included in the Great Abatis Border. Among these towns were: Serpukhov, Kolomna, Zaraysk, Tula, Ryazan, Belyov. As a fortification construction stretching for hundreds kilometers, the Great Abatis Border is analogous to the Great Wall of China and the Hadrian's Wall.

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