Karelia is a place where you can see pristine nature and enjoy the beauty of the Ruskeala waterfalls and the Marble Canyon. Read about this in the article.
Karelia
This region is called the country of numerous lakes and rivers, the pearl of the Russian North. Karelia, with its relict forests and bottomless lakes, attracts beauty lovers.
Here the lakes are blue, the rivers are rapids, and the rocks are harsh. Nature is characterized by untouched purity. The Marble Canyon and Ruskeala Waterfalls, which are a nature reserve and custodian of folk art and antiquity, evoke admiration.
Ruskeala Park
It is a natural landmark of Karelia. Translated from Finnish it means “brown or brown rock.” The location of the Ruskeala mountain park is in the vicinity of the village of the same name. The center of the composition is the Marble Canyon, which is currently a natural monument and cultural heritage of the country.
The canyon is four hundred and sixty meters long and up to one hundred meters wide. The depth in some places is more than fifty meters. The quarry is filled with groundwater, the transparency of which reaches fifteen to eighteen meters.
In addition to the Marble Canyon, there are other interesting places in the park that can be approached along paved paths. The park is equipped with observation decks, lighting, and rope slides. There are signs everywhere so that tourists don't get lost. It's always clean and well maintained here.
History of the formation of Marble Canyon
Ruskeala is a village in the Sortavala region of Karelia. Its history begins at the beginning of the sixteenth century, when the Swedes were engaged in marble mining. After the annexation of the lands to Russia, at the end of the Northern War, all work was suspended. But the St. Petersburg palaces needed to be decorated; marble was required. Its mining resumed in the second half of the eighteenth century.
St. Isaac's Cathedral and St. Michael's Castle are decorated with Ruskeala marble. Later they were used to line the Primorskaya and Ladozhskaya metro stations. The beginning of the twentieth century was marked by the war with the Finns. When they left our country, the marble quarries were flooded. These places were no longer used for industrial purposes. Tourists did not visit them either.
How was the mountain park created?
The beginning of the nineties is the second birth of Ruskeala. One of the private companies took it upon itself to equip a marble quarry for a tourist complex. Here they began to lay routes, build hotels, and parking lots for cars. Experts have developed programs for excursions and leisure activities for future tourists. This is how the Ruskeala mountain park was created - a favorite vacation spot for tourists from various parts of Russia.
Marble Canyon
The Marble Canyon and Ruskeala Waterfalls are a landmark of Karelia. The canyon is clearly visible from the entrance to the park. The spectacle surprises with its beauty. The rugged shores are framed by sheer gray-white marble cliffs that drop straight into crystal clear turquoise water, similar to the Northern Lights.
Currently, only one mine remains unflooded. It is clearly visible from above if you climb the hiking trail. It can be seen if you take a trip around the lake. Using a boat, you can get to any place, and even swim under the rocks. The park can be visited at any time of the year, only the schedule changes. In winter, the water in the canyon is covered with ice. As soon as darkness sets in, the artistic lighting turns on. The canyon is extremely beautiful at this time; it glows with bright colors of different shades.
The Tokhmajoki River is distinguished by many waterfalls and steep rapids. There are three waterfalls in the Ruskeala complex. The largest and most beautiful waterfall is Akhvenkoski. It is called the Okunev rapids or the waterfall at three bridges. The banks of the river bed where the waterfall discharges its waters are rocky. But there is a small area with a sandy shore. It is used by tourists as a beach.
Driving along the highway, the banks of the river overgrown with pine and spruce trees are clearly visible. It's an impressive sight. There is car parking, gazebos for relaxation, and shops selling souvenirs.
If you go down the river, you can see the Rymäkoski waterfall. It is difficult to get to it, so tourists go to see the beauty on foot. This waterfall is the remains of a Finnish hydroelectric power station. There is another waterfall in the village of Ruskeala. The noise and splashes of foaming water spread throughout the area.
Ruskeala waterfalls got their name from the village located next to them. The waterfalls are powerful, full-flowing, with rapids up to three to four meters high. They are characterized as flat. Ruskeala waterfalls are famous for the fact that such a box-office film as “The Dawns Here Are Quiet” was filmed in these places. The film "The Dark World" was also filmed here.
Tourists admire the Ruskeala waterfalls from the observation deck. But if you cross the river on the bridge and go deeper into the forest, you can see the waterfalls on the other side. The natural beauty is simply mesmerizing.
Tohmajoki freezes in December, but the waterfalls continue to live until February. Ruskeala waterfalls are beautiful in winter: cascading streams of red water hit the rocks with force. Foam spray freezes into icicles on tree branches. Peat water resembles silky hair braided. Looking at the water, the soul is cleansed, as if bells are ringing or a fire is burning, the sparks of which pierce the heart.
How to get from St. Petersburg to the city of Sortavala?
Ruskeala waterfalls and the Marble Canyon of Sortavala can be visited by car, regular bus or minibus. The distance from the cultural capital of the country to the city of Sortavala is three hundred kilometers. From here to Ruskeala - thirty. The entire journey takes up to four and a half hours.
If you want to visit the Ruskeala waterfalls, how to get there, read the article. Traveling by car is the most common form of transport. First you need to get to the city of Priozersk, following the highway of the same name. Then turn onto highway A-129 and get to the city of Sortavala. From here follow the A-130 highway to Vyartsilya, from where the road leads directly to the village of Ruskeala. Travel time from the city of Sortavala takes twenty minutes.
If for some reason traveling by private car does not suit you, you can take a regular bus, which departs every day at ten o’clock in the morning from the Devyatkino metro station. People go back to St. Petersburg by the same bus, which departs from the city of Sortavala at sixteen o'clock. Flights are daily. If you have the funds, you can go on a trip by minibus. Flights are daily. Stop any taxi, negotiate a price, and off you go.
If this is not the first time you’ve been in St. Petersburg, you’ve gone through the entire checklist of the city’s attractions and even all the underground clubs, then it’s time to see something new. Editorial incidentally I did just that, and went to Karelia, to look at the Ruskeala mountain park and everything along the way.
What is it and why does a tourist need it?
Ruskeala is an old marble quarry with a lake inside. Previously, marble was mined there for the needs of St. Petersburg (here is the one that was used for cladding metro stations, and even earlier - for St. Isaac's Cathedral). It looks incredibly beautiful at any time of the year, so there are always a dime a dozen tourists there. About ten years ago, they decided to develop the park and turn it into a full-fledged place for recreation, which the management did very well. Now it is not only a beautiful quarry with a lake, but also a large area for walking, Karelian forests, boat rides, a rope park and even a zipline ride over the canyon. And also souvenir shops, master classes, food courts and other pleasures.
In fact, the Ruskeala mountain park is very similar to the same “Kievan Rus Park”, only surrounded by marble and amazing Karelian nature. And now the details.
Where is it and how to get there?
“Ruskeala” is located almost on the border with Finland, so you can enter not only from St. Petersburg or Petrozavodsk, but also from north-eastern Finland, if you have already arrived there. The nearest Russian city is Sortavala, even though the name is Finnish. It’s another 30 kilometers from Sortavala to the mountain park, so if you’re not a seasoned hitchhiker and don’t get the thrill of traveling in the spirit of “let’s take the train to Sortavala, and then we’ll figure it out, catch a ride or take a taxi,” then you have two options to get to the park . This is to take an excursion from St. Petersburg or travel by car. The main part of the route runs along a very good road, with bumpers, markings and a new surface without holes, so getting there by rental car is quite possible.
The road from St. Petersburg without stops will take about 4-5 hours, but there is also something to see along the way, we will talk about this further. There is a parking lot in the mountain park itself, although on weekends there is a chance to spend time looking for a parking space. A detailed description of the route is on the park’s website, and there are also signs. We chose a two-day bus excursion from St. Petersburg. On the same website there is a list of options (they differ in the number of days and program). The cost is quite reasonable - from 2,250 rubles for a one-day excursion, which already includes tickets, breakfasts, guides and other pleasures, to three-day tours of Karelia around 8,500 rubles per person. We only had to pay extra for the entrance fee for the second day and for food, but this is not a mandatory option.
What to see along the way?
These attractions are included in the bus tour program. But if you are traveling by car, you can take your time and spend as much time here as you want.
Korela Fortress- the northernmost fortress of the Novgorodians, built in the middle of the 14th century for defense against the Swedes. The fortress is well located, so it was besieged so many times that it’s surprising how it still survived, and during its existence it was alternately ruled by the Russians, then the Lithuanians, then the Swedes, or who knows who the hell, conquering and recapturing the outpost. Korela is also known for the fact that Emelyan Pugachev and his entire family were kept here and the Decembrists were constantly exiled.
Now the fortress is a beautiful, well-kept complex on an island on the Vuoksa River. There are several small exhibitions on site. It is worth taking a guide who will tell you a lot of interesting things and show you the territory, the prison, exhibition halls, etc. Editorial incidentally I was very pleased with the excursion, and this is a rare case when I recommend it to everyone.
Entrance tickets - 100 rubles, excursion - 120 rubles. Fortress website: korelafortess.ru
Ahvenkoski waterfalls - terribly beautiful Karelian waterfalls, very seething and well-equipped - with railings, bridges, photo platforms, etc. Most are known for the fact that a scene from the film “The Dawns Here Are Quiet” was filmed here. Since it is very close to the park, you can stop by on the way back if it is very crowded on your first visit.
Ladoga lake- needs no introduction. You can go out to any place you like, wander around, take photos. For bus tours in Sortavala on the shores of Lake Ladoga, lunch is provided, but if you are traveling by car, do not make the mistake of not having lunch at this point, it is better to look separately and have lunch separately.
Mountain Park "Ruskeala"
There is something to do in the park for a day or two. You can take a tour, but we decided to wander around on our own and found something to do for both days. On this occasion the editors incidentally compiled my top 5 activities in the park.
- Ride the zip line over the quarry. Costs 1000 rubles, but not for the faint of heart.
- Take a boat ride on the lake inside the quarry. Costs 400 rubles per boat for an hour, capacity 4 people.
- Climb on marble blocks, go down to the river on stones, climb into the depths of the forest (carefully - everything for people who are confident in their own abilities)
- Find your way to the old lime kilns, built in the early 19th century.
- Choose a master class and make your own souvenir.
As a bonus, you can choose any place in the sun with a view of the flooded quarry and have a picnic there. The cost of entry to the park is 250 rubles per day, all activities, master classes, dogs and potties are paid separately.
What not to do along the way?
If you take a bus tour, you won't have much choice. If by car, then it all depends on you. We advise you not to waste time on these places, but of course the choice is yours.
Taste tinctures in the city of Lakhdenpokhya. Lahdenpokhya is a stop for many buses on the way to Ruskeala with the goal of getting fifty tourists lightly drunk and convincing them to take out half a drink store. It is worth saying that the drinks there are passable, but it is not worth your time at all. If you are traveling with a group, then you can only pray that it will be adequate and will not hang out in the store with booze for an hour longer than necessary. Instead of tasting the editorial office incidentally I went to explore the town of Lakhdenpokhya and became very immersed in the theme of the famous public page
The Ruskeala Mountain Park has been operating for almost ten years. It was opened for public visits in 2005. Its creation was sponsored by the travel company Kolmas Karelia. "Ruskeala" is very popular today. This place has become so famous for a reason. Tens of thousands of tourists visit it every year.
General information
The monument is called "Marble Breaks of Ruskeala in the 17th - early 20th centuries." Currently, the creation of such a complex is a positive and rare phenomenon in Russia. This example clearly demonstrates how a cultural heritage site can be revived using private funds. The place itself is unique. Here it was possible to recreate a rare symbiosis of the work of past centuries and the natural attractions for which Karelia is famous. "Ruskeala" is a truly unique ensemble. Its natural beauty can be admired at any time of the year.
Special atmosphere
Three quarries were formed here as a result of marble mining. They are located next to the left bank of the Tokhmajoki River. The quarries are interconnected by adits. Soon the stone mining work stopped. The quarries were abandoned. On the site of ancient quarries, picturesque ones arose. They are white marble thickets filled with clear bluish-green water. Currently, inactive adits and mines resemble mysterious grottoes and caves.
Local Attractions
The Ruskeala marble quarry is the main attraction of the complex. This place is a monument of industrial culture of the 18th-20th centuries. Ruskeala Park is officially included in the list of cultural heritage of the Russian Federation. This monument is unique. There is no other complex like this anywhere in Europe. This is a kind of man-made “bowl” made of solid marble. It is penetrated by systems of drifts, adits and mines. Facing blocks for many architectural structures in the city of St. Petersburg were mined here. The majestic St. Isaac's Cathedral is also no exception. A variety of buildings were decorated with Ruskeala marble. It has a stunning color: white with greenish flecks. Some metro stations are still decorated with this marble.
Marble quarry "Ruskeala"
Its length is about four hundred and fifty meters. It's pretty deep. The quarry is currently flooded. Water rises to the upper underground horizon. The Finns did this before the war began in the 40s. Most of the adits, which were formed in the first half of the last century, are under water. Only one of them is located above this level. This adit was formed in the depths of the mountain ranges in the 30s. A path was built inside it along which trolleys with marble moved. It is connected to shaft No. 2. It was along it that the workers moved. The mine goes deep into the mountain at a distance of about two hundred meters. The embankment of the railway along which the trolleys moved is still preserved.
Scenic Views
Externally, the Ruskeala marble quarry makes a colossal impression. Gray-white rocks descend down to its banks, which are heavily indented. The rocks go deep into the vast distance. Excursions to Ruskeala are held regularly. The canyon has its own pier. Here guests can use rental services and rent a boat. While traveling on it you can look at the canyon from the water. A certain part of the blocks hangs over this space at a negative angle. Travelers can also admire the views of the grottoes. They were formed in sheer cliffs. The play of light on the marble ceiling attracts the gaze of tourists for a long time. The grottoes really look very picturesque. White arches are reflected in the calm water surface.
Precautionary measures
There are also dry adits here. However, tourists are strictly prohibited from visiting them. To do this, you need the assistance of a geologist. The heat outside means that the marble adit is cold. You can feel the dankness as you go deeper into the layer. It's hard to imagine what it was like for workers here. Career Management provided some data from that time. During periods of peak load, mining was carried out year-round. The drilling process did not stop day or night.
Fundamental differences
There is the main, most famous and visited quarry "Ruskeala". There were several more abandoned ones around it. Currently, activities are underway to develop them. Most quarries are different from each other. This applies not only to types of shores. This also applies to the color of the water. For example, in one quarry it may be gray, and in another it may be blue. The main one is a little different from the rest. The water in this quarry is bluish-green in color. Over time, the walls here have darkened and become weathered. This happened during the time when mining was not carried out in the quarries. However, this will not prevent tourists from seeing their true color. It can be observed on freshly chipped marble pieces. They are quite common. The old "block" quarry is special in this regard. Here you can see the most striking manifestations of the picturesque stone. It was in this quarry that marble was extracted in large blocks.
Underground exploration
The speleological commission of St. Petersburg was developing a multi-year expedition project. It's called "Underground Karelia". Speleologists studied it in 2010. The Ruskeala Mountain Park and the Marble Failure became the main objects of research. The latter is located very close to the place where the main excursion route through the complex runs.
Features of the complex
In winter, the Ruskeala marble quarry looks no less attractive. At this time of year the ice freezes the lake. Therefore, it is very easy to get to the mysterious grottoes and adits. One of these places is called musical for its unusual acoustic properties. In winter, the “Ruskeala failure” amazes with its splendor.
It becomes like an ice castle, the columns of which have the most bizarre shapes. There is artistic lighting here. It helps the majestic canyon light up with bright colors after dark. Marble Quarry (Karelia) (a map of the area is given in the article) is a favorite place where divers love to conduct their training. As a rule, they do this in the most remote corners of the quarry, so they do not disturb the majority of visitors at all. Several quarries here are flooded. The adits connecting them also ended up in the water. The Ruskeala Canyon (the map clearly demonstrates this) included only three functioning underground horizons that were used for mining. Scuba diving enthusiasts will find this place a paradise. Tempting labyrinths will not leave anyone indifferent. At the very bottom of the canyon, some equipment is still preserved. For example, motorcycles, cars and even a crane. All this attracts those who engage in techno-diving. The water here is clear. There is practically no turbidity. Aquatic vegetation is also absent. In the fall, however, the leaves that fall from the birch trees may fly in.
Local staff keep the Ruskeala marble quarry clean. Workers periodically make forays into the lake and clean it of debris. Traces of people's presence remain everywhere: pieces of paper, plastic bottles and the like. However, visitors litter quite a bit. The visitors must be mesmerized by the majestic beauty of the flooded quarry. My conscience does not allow me to pollute a picturesque mountain lake. Not only ancient objects have been preserved on the territory of the mountain park. There are also other historical objects. For example, an old administrative building. It is made in the style of classicism. The structure consists entirely of Ruskeala marble. On the territory of the complex there are monuments of industrial architecture of the 19th century. They are kilns that were designed for burning lime. Their brick pipes are conical in shape. The active quarry will also be of interest to tourists. You can watch the process of mining large marble blocks. Currently, these objects are not included in the mountain park. For this reason, they are poorly suited for tourist excursions.
"Ruskeala" (recreation center). General information
A lot of positive emotions await guests here. The complex is located in the Sortavala region. This is the southern part of Karelia. From St. Petersburg to this place is about three hundred kilometers. The Ruskeala complex, a photo of which is presented in the article, can receive guests all year round. The base is equipped with everything necessary for their comfortable stay. The rooms can accommodate from two to eight people. There are special rooms for newlyweds and families with children. Even an infant child can be accommodated here with their parents.
Entertainment
Guests can organize a picnic on site. Barbecue available. Guests can bake fish and cook kebabs. A wood-burning sauna is available for rent. It is located on the shore of the lake. A fairly extensive program for vacationers has been developed at Ruskeala. For example, you can calmly go fishing, visit Lake Valaam or see waterfalls and the camp site has friendly and polite staff. Even if guests are not prepared for fishing, they can receive bait, tackle and even professional fishing advice.
Where is the attraction located?
The features of the Ruskeala marble quarry are described above. How to get to this place? You can go through Priozersk from St. Petersburg by car. The route will run through Sortavala along the A-129 highway. In the city itself, you should take the main road towards Petrozavodsk. From Sortavala at the 10th km there will be a turn onto the A-130 highway. After Priozersk a rather winding road begins. The total time you will have to spend on the entire journey is 4-5 hours.
