Marble caves in Karelia. Ruskeala mountain park and marble canyon in Karelia. Entrance to the marble canyon Ruskeala in Karelia
In the north-west of Lake Ladoga there is an unusual tourist place - Ruskeala marble quarry. Unusual because a simple quarry has been turned into a tourist attraction. The result is an interesting place that attracts tourists from all over Russia.
In our time Ruskeala canyon- this is a whole tourist complex with all the necessary infrastructure.
The basis of this complex is marble quarry, which has been developed since 1766. This establishment is called Ruskeala mountain park. But there are no mountains here, there are adits left from the production of marble.
Marble quarry on May holidays. There is still ice on the water.
After the cessation of development, the quarry gradually filled with water.
St. Isaac's Cathedral in St. Petersburg, partially the Kazan Cathedral, the Hermitage - inside, the Mikhailovsky Castle, as well as the Primorskaya and Ladoga metro stations are lined with Ruskeala marble.
Big family with small children will be able to walk along special safe tourist routes with observation platforms and benches for rest. The routes are laid around the quarry and include the passage through the cave. After walking, you can go down to the quarry, rent a boat and ride on the turquoise-blue water surface. The water is calm, there is no wind.
Families are more active they will add trolley riding to their program - a cable stretched across a quarry. You will be put on a special suspension system, fastened to a roller suspended from a cable and pushed down. In a few seconds you will roll down to the other bank with a lot of emotions.
For the curious right behind the mountain park, a lime factory has kindly been abandoned. The place is interesting, but dangerous - the old furnaces are gradually collapsing and the territory is not equipped. There are many interesting objects in Ruskeala - turn off the main routes more often and you will see everything.
If you are a diver, then you have the opportunity to dive in clear water into a flooded grotto. At the bottom of the quarry, you can see the remains of mining equipment, ruins of marble, etc. St. Petersburg instructors conduct technical diving training here. You can dive both in summer and in winter under the ice.
Also, judging by the white traces of sports magnesia on some rocks, this place is visited by climbers. By the way, there are places for rock climbing in Karelia not far from here.
Parking and souvenir kiosks are equipped in front of the entrance to the park.
Ruskeala park on the map
Photos Ruskeala quarry
How to get to the Ruskeala marble quarry
By car from Petrozavodsk or St. Petersburg you need to go towards the city of Sortavala. Only from Petrozavodsk you need a little bit to get to it, but from St. Petersburg on the contrary - we pass Sortavala, then there will be the village of Helyulya, we also leave it behind. The main thing is not to miss the turn to the left (if you drive from Petrozavodsk - to the right). It will be about 7 km after Sortavala. There is a pointer "Vartsilya". And then without turning anywhere we reach Ruskeala and turn left immediately after the bridge. The total distance from St. Petersburg is 300 kilometers, from Petrozavodsk - 250.
By train - bus. From St. Petersburg (from Petrozavodsk similarly) we take the train, which stops in the city of Sortavala. We go out there and look for buses to Ruskeala. In addition to buses, in the summer there are transfers organized by Sortavala hotels, in particular Piipun Piha (marked on the map). Getting there by public transport is not easy, but quite realistic.
GPS coordinates of a quarry in Ruskeala:
61.9448044N 30.5810452E
or depending on what system your navigator is running on:
61°56′41.3″N 30°34′51.8″E
Park opening hours
Marble quarry open daily from 10:00 to 21:00
Cost of visiting
- Adults — 200 r.
- Students - 150 rubles.
- Schoolchildren - 100 rubles.
- Children under 7 years old - free of charge.
The mountain park "Ruskeala" has been functioning for almost ten years. It was opened for mass 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 "Ruskeala Marble Breaks of the 17th - Early 20th Centuries". At present, the creation of such a complex is a positive and infrequent phenomenon in Russia. This example clearly demonstrates how a cultural heritage site can be revived with the help of private funds. The place itself is unique. Here it was possible to recreate a rare symbiosis of the work of the past centuries and the natural attractions that Karelia is famous for. "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 Tohmajoki River. The quarries are interconnected by adits. Soon, work on the extraction of stone ceased. The quarries were abandoned. On the site of ancient quarries, picturesque Oni appeared - white marble thickets filled with clear blue-green water. At present, the inactive adits and mines resemble mysterious grottoes and caves.
Local Attractions
The marble quarry "Ruskeala" is the main attraction of the complex. This place is a monument of industrial culture of the XVIII-XX centuries. Ruskeala Park is officially included in the list of cultural heritage of the Russian Federation. This monument is unique. There is no other such complex anywhere in Europe. This is a kind of man-made "bowl" from a solid marble array. It is pierced by systems of drifts, galleries and mines. Facing blocks for many architectural structures of 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 flashes. Some metro stations are still decorated with this marble.
Quarry marble "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 that 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 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.
picturesque views
Outwardly, the marble quarry "Ruskeala" makes a tremendous impression. Gray-white rocks descend down to its heavily indented shores. Rocks go deep into a huge distance. There is a regular excursion to Ruskeala. The canyon has its own pier. Here guests can use the rental service and take 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 eyes of tourists for a long time. The grottoes really look very picturesque. White and vaults are reflected in the calm water surface.
Precautionary measures
There are also dry adits here. However, tourists are strictly forbidden to visit them. This requires the support 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 working here. The Quarry Board provided some data from that time. During peak periods, 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". Around it were located several more abandoned ones. Currently, activities are underway to develop them. Most quarries are different from each other. This applies not only to the types of coasts. This also applies to the color of the water. For example, in one career it may be gray, and in another - blue. The main one is slightly different from the rest. The water in this quarry is bluish-green in color. Over time, the walls here have darkened and weathered. This happened during the time when there were no developments in the quarries. However, this does 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 respect. Here you can see the most striking manifestations of picturesque stone. It was in this quarry that marble was mined in large blocks.
Underground research
The speleological commission of St. Petersburg was engaged in the development of a multi-year expeditionary project. It is called "Underground Karelia". Speleologists were engaged in the study in 2010. The mountain park "Ruskeala" and the Marble failure became the main objects of research. The latter is located very close to the place where the main excursion route runs through the complex.
Features of the complex
In winter, the marble quarry "Ruskeala" looks no less attractive. At this time of the year, the lake is covered with ice. 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, "Ruskeala failure" strikes with its magnificence.
It becomes like an ice castle, the columns of which have the most bizarre shapes. There is art lighting here. It helps the majestic canyon to 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 interfere with the bulk of visitors at all. Several quarries are flooded here. 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. Diving enthusiasts will find this place a piece of 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 are engaged in techno diving. The water here is clear. Muti is practically non-existent. Aquatic vegetation is also absent. In autumn, however, leaves that drop birch trees can fly.
Local staff keep the marble quarry "Ruskeala" clean. Workers periodically make trips to the lake and clean it of debris. Everywhere there are traces of people: papers, plastic bottles and the like. However, visitors litter quite a bit. The guests must be mesmerized by the majestic beauty of the flooded quarry. Conscience does not allow to pollute the picturesque mountain lake. Not only the ancient ones have been preserved on the territory of the mountain park. Other historical objects are also located here. For example, the old administrative building. It is made in the style of classicism. The building is entirely made of Ruskeala marble. On the territory of the complex there are monuments of industrial architecture of the XIX century. They are kilns that were designed for burning lime. Their brick pipes are conical in shape. The existing 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 adapted for tourist excursions.
"Ruskeala" (recreation center). General information
Here guests will find a lot of positive emotions. The complex is located in the Sortavala region. This is the southern part of Karelia. From St. Petersburg to this place about three hundred kilometers. The Ruskeala complex, the 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 honeymooners and families with children. Together with parents, a child, even an infant, can be accommodated here.
Entertainment
Guests can organize a picnic on site. Barbecue available. Guests can bake fish and cook kebabs. Wood burning sauna available for rent. It is located on the shore of the lake. On the basis of "Ruskeala" a rather extensive program for vacationers has been developed. For example, you can safely go fishing, visit Lake Valaam or see waterfalls and friendly and polite staff work at the camp site. Even if guests are not prepared for fishing, they can get 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 path will run through Sortavala along the A-129 highway. In the city itself, you should go along the main road towards Petrozavodsk. From Sortavala, at the 10th km, there will be a turn to the A-130 highway. After Priozersk, a rather winding road begins. The total time that will have to be spent on the whole journey is 4-5 hours.
Marble Canyon - a place of mesmerizing beauty. Not far from the village of Ruskeala, located about twenty-five kilometers north of the city of Sortavala, Republic of Karelia, there are picturesque marble quarries that have long served as a place for marble mining. Back in the 17th century, the Swedes began mining marble here. At that time, marble was used for very mundane purposes - building foundations in the surrounding settlements and for the production of construction lime. The practical Swedes did not need pompous material to decorate buildings, they always loved conciseness and practicality, so the hand did not flinch to translate good. However, almost a century later, our country began mining marble for its intended purpose.
St. Isaac's Cathedral, Marble Palace, Kazan Cathedral and Mikhailovsky Castle are decorated with Ruskeala marble
Marble from Ruskeala quarries was highly appreciated by such outstanding architects of that time as Rinaldi and Montferrand. They began to use marble slabs to decorate the buildings they erected. Many famous buildings of St. Petersburg. lined with marble from the Ruskeala quarries, the main of which are Green and White, named after the color of the marble that is mined from them. For example, white marble from Karelia was used in the construction of St. Isaac's Cathedral, one of the facades of the Mikhailovsky Palace, the pedestal of the monument to Peter I, they decorated the windows of the Winter Palace. The marble of the Green Mountain was useful in the construction of the Kazan Cathedral and other objects in St. Petersburg, Gatchina and Tsarskoye Selo. Nowadays, Ruskeala marble has been used for lining the underground halls of St. Petersburg metro stations. Marble was mined at different levels, called horizons, which are located even underground. The original horizons did not reach our time, they were replaced by later ones. I will not write about how the marble was mined, because it will be much more interesting for you to hear this story from a qualified guide in the park, who will tell you everything in detail. Currently, some of the quarries are abandoned and flooded, and some continue to be used for industrial stone extraction. The combination of the nature of Karelia and human activities have given these quarries an amazingly picturesque look that attracts travelers not only from Karelia, but also from St. Petersburg, Moscow and other places. One of the quarries, now called the “Ruskeala mountain park”, is equipped for tourists to visit - pedestrian paths have been cleared and fenced around, a parking lot has been equipped, right in the quarry, you can rent a boat and enjoy the view from the water to the marble walls, which are more than twenty meters high . It has been developed since 1765, today its length from north to south is four hundred and sixty meters, width - up to one hundred meters. The distance from the highest point of the canyon wall to its bottom is over fifty meters. The transparency of the water reaches up to eighteen meters. 
In addition to the marble canyon, the mountain park includes many other interesting objects.
In front of the entrance to the park there is a square with a long row of souvenir tents and an administration building where tickets are sold. There is also an observation deck at the largest Ruskeala quarry. The mountain park occupies a small area and its inspection does not take much time. If you rent a boat, then from the water you can swim into the marble grotto and admire the bizarre play of light reflected from the water on slightly transparent marble arches. Sheer cliffs also leave an indelible impression. 
In the evenings, the quarry is illuminated with colored lights. There are several other quarries around the park. An interesting fact is that quarries differ from each other in the color of water. In the main quarry, the water has an emerald green hue, in the neighboring ones it is blue and gray with a blue tint. And this is not accidental: the shade of water is directly related to the color of the marble mined here. In addition to the flooded galleries, there are also not flooded ones. But getting into them on your own without an escort is impossible.
The quarry is filled with crystal-clear water with an emerald hue and is framed by patterned banks - sheer cliffs. In places, the marble glows through the water. From the observation platforms located along the perimeter of the quarry, very picturesque views open up. The banks of the quarry are steep, sheer cliffs. It is forbidden to climb on them, as indicated by the corresponding signs. When issuing the boat, they warn not to swim up to the rock, fenced on the water with buoys, as stones sometimes collapse from above. 
There is also something to see outside the park.
Close to it are the so-called "Italian quarries", where layers of evenly cut marble are clearly visible, both directly in the mountain, and in the form of rejected and abandoned huge stone blocks. Italian - because the first developments here were carried out with the involvement of Italian specialists and technologies. There is also a marble pool carved into the “floor” and filled with water. 
One of the sights of this place are the brick kilns of the 19th century, for firing marble chips (XIX century), the pipes of the kilns are somewhat similar to towers or minarets. You can come close to them, and even look inside. Mono to see the old administrative building, made entirely of marble Ruskeala. 
A separate topic is diving. The flooded Ruskeala quarries, interconnected by adits, are a real paradise for divers. Labyrinths of tunnels, no less than three underground levels of marble mining and remote unexplored underwater caves attract diving enthusiasts in large numbers. At the bottom of the main canyon, the technique used at one time for the extraction of marble has forever remained. Combined with amazingly clear water, these techno-artifacts only add to the attraction of the place. By the way, the transparency of water is due to its low temperature: the water in the quarry is the key and is constantly updated. 
If you are traveling by car, on the way to the marble quarries, you should definitely stop on the banks of the Tohmajoki River, at the Ahvenkoski waterfall. Benches and houses are specially made here so that you can stop and relax. Having gained strength, you can also go to the destroyed Finnish power plant, located on the same Tohmajoki river, a little downstream. To do this, you need to go back a little along the highway - less than a kilometer and turn right, after walking five hundred meters along a forest road. The waterfall is artificial but beautiful.
A small amount of money is charged for a walk through the park. Boat rental, of course, is also paid. However, the price for people who spent money on the road from St. Petersburg or another large city will not seem high. Especially for divers provide a pier for diving. In winter, there is an ice skating rink and you can rent skates.
How to get to the marble canyon Ruskeala
It is difficult to get to the village of Ruskeala by public transport, although it is possible. First you need to get to the city of Sortavala. From St. Petersburg, it can be reached by train or by regular bus. From Sortavala to the village of Ruskeala, and you can get there by bus (it runs 2 times a day to Vartsila through Ruskeala) or by taxi. Alternatively, you can get to the Matkaselka station by train St. Petersburg - Kostomuksha, and walk to the park on foot about eight kilometers along the road. The arrival time of the train is very inconvenient 1:00 and 4:00, although, on the other hand, you will be the first visitors. Traveling by private car is much easier. From St. Petersburg you need to get to the city of Sortavala along the highway A-129 St. Petersburg - Sortavala. Then go north along the A-130 highway to Vartsila to the village of Ruskeala. It will have a pointer to the Mountain Park. You can leave your car in the complex's parking lot (free parking) or on the side of nearby roads. The path is not close. From St. Petersburg to the Mountain Park about three hundred and thirty kilometers.
What else to see in Karelia.
