Republic of Karelia for the weekend. Ruskeala mountain park and a waterfall from a Soviet film. Karelia waterfalls
Karelia is amazing and unique with its piercing northern beauty and places untouched by civilization.
Ruskeala waterfalls, which fascinate with their pristine picturesqueness and power, can be safely attributed to the masterpieces of this region.
The waterfalls are located near the road and are known to many tourists because it was in these places that films such as the masterpiece of Russian cinema "The Dawns Here Are Quiet" were filmed (the scene of the death of one of the heroines of this film, the anti-aircraft gunner Zhenya) and "Dark world", a picture filled with mysticism and bloodshed. For the filming of "The Dark World", a log hut was built near the water streams, which in fact is not residential - it's just a dummy, but now this building gives these places a kind of charm, fully fitting into the surroundings.
Ruskeala waterfalls consist of a cascade of four, three to four meters high, flat waterfalls, and they are created, breaking into branches, by a small Tokhmajoki river, which has an unusual color of water. The brownish-brown hue of the river waves, according to scientists, is due to the increased content of iron and salt salts in the water. locals noted this property in the Karelian name of the river - Ruskolka, which means red or brown. The rocky ledges, in which the river is enclosed, in a foaming dance, falling down the ledges, also have "tan marks" of a reddish-brown color. Low cliffs, framed by the greenery of pines and firs, give these places a unique flavor and unusual charm.
Tourists especially like the Ruskeala waterfalls in spring, when the pearly splashes are colored with rainbow colors in the rays of the sun, and the cascades of water are a truly magical sight. Astonishes tourists and amazing contrast between the noise of the river rampaging in its fall from the ledges and the silence of the frozen under the blue sky spruce forest. Among the Ruskeala waterfalls, the most beautiful is Akhvenkoski, which means "perch threshold".
Rest on Ruskeala waterfalls
Warm spring and summer make the cascades attractive for people involved in extreme sports, when Tohmajoki, having been fed by melt water, becomes full-flowing, with a stormy and obstinate character. Here, brave athletes practice descents on catamarans and kayaks, and even some of them conquer the cascade itself. By August, the waters of the river pacify their temper, and the flow decreases, and rafting enthusiasts go to other places. IN winter time Snowmobiles buzz among the snow-covered trees, driven by snow-loving tourists.
The places near the waterfalls are well equipped for travelers: there is an equipped parking lot, gazebos have been built where you can relax after a walk, and viewing platforms with opening great view. The paths laid around the waterfalls lead among the boulders and rocks to the most beautiful places where you can walk on your own or use the services of a guide. IN travel companies offered excursion routes, focused on visiting Ruskeala waterfalls.
Among the rocky banks of the river there is a small sandy area which travelers use as a beach. There is a souvenir stall and a shop where you can buy and enjoy smoked fish caught nearby. And of course, public toilets have been built.
Recreation centers and tourist complexes have been built near the natural attraction. Hotel "Gardarika" offers tourists rooms in comfortable cottages for rest.
How to get to Ruskeala waterfalls
Russia, Karelia, Sortavalsky district, Ruskeala village.
Getting along highway from the city of Sortavala, and it is simply impossible not to see the waterfalls, because the cascades of water are clearly visible from the highway and road bridges. They are located near the village of Ruskeala.
Today I want to talk about how we visited Karelia during a day trip by car. During the day we managed to see the marble canyon Ruskeala and a small waterfall nearby.
Distance from the center of St. Petersburg to Ruskeala: about 312 km
Walking distance: about 3 km
Ruskeala marble canyon coordinates: 61°56"40.0"N 30°34"52.6"E
Entrance fee to Ruskeala mountain park: 200 rubles per adult (2016).
We left at 5 am from St. Petersburg and returned late in the evening. The total mileage was about 650 km. You can get to Karelia by two routes: along the Murmansk highway and along Novopriozerskoye (Sortavala highway). Depending on where you are going, choose desired route. This time we were moving towards Sortavala, it was more convenient for us to go along Novopriozerka. The Sortavala track has not been fully built yet, and there are unpleasant pieces - a very dusty gravel road. Unexpected pits may occur, although a grader sometimes passes there. I recommend keeping your distance, because because of the dust (when it's dry) you can't see anything from the car in front.
Waterfall Ahvenkoski
So, 300 kilometers of the way are behind, and we finally got to the village of Ruskeala. The beautiful river Tohmajoki flows here, which is divided into several branches and falls down picturesque waterfalls. Complements this landscape coniferous forest. No wonder the films "The Dawns Here Are Quiet" and "The Dark World" were filmed in this place. Many tourists stop here, as the waterfall is very accessible and visible from the highway. Some swim right in the waterfall. Nearby there are souvenir shops, you can also have a bite to eat in a cafe or relax in a gazebo.
Ruskeala mountain park
We get back in the car and drive a little to the Ruskeala mountain park. Exactly this a nice place in the vicinity of Sortavala. Since the park is landscaped, you have to walk strictly along the route specially laid out for tourists: along the trails. But here it is clean and tidy.
Ruskeala (Finnish "brown" - a former quarry, a marble quarry that arose during the reign of Catherine II, in 1765. Marble of four colors was mined here! Marble from these quarries was used in the construction of the main attractions of St. Petersburg - the floor of the Kazan Cathedral, facing St. Isaac's Cathedral, window sills of the Hermitage, lining of some stations of the St. Petersburg subway. Numerous galleries of the quarry were flooded after the Great Patriotic War. Now the quarry is almost the most popular tourist attraction in Karelia.
The main attractions of the park:
- Of course, the marble quarry itself, now it is a beautiful lake;
- The ruins of a marble factory, which we did not visit;
- Ruskeala failure, which deserves a separate article;
- galleries;
- Italian Quarry
You can walk around the park on your own or as part of organized excursion. We did not use the services of a tour guide.
I want to give for clarity a map that I found on the Internet:
I have so many pictures of the quarry itself that I can't choose just a couple for this article. Hold on, there will be many!
You can rent a boat and look at the surrounding beauty from the water. We, unfortunately, were not able to take advantage of this opportunity: all boats were booked for the whole day.
I am against the background of a quarry with a bunch of daisies:
Ah, those rocks! Landscapes are simply amazing. This must be seen live!
The color of the water is simply amazing.
You can try yourself in extreme entertainment:
On the way back, having already traveled about half way back to St. Petersburg, we stopped for a small picnic. We chose a cozy forest clearing surrounded by coniferous trees. After eating, we moved on. From the road we noticed a picturesque field:
The main attraction of Karelia is the nature that surrounds you already at the entrance to the republic. North Karelia beautiful, she has her own, special natural landscape. Even an ordinary field looks beautiful here. Or maybe I just love these places and see something unusual in every bush... We took pictures with haystacks:
Not far away we noticed a lake and photogenic standing mopeds:
Well, now it's time to go home, to St. Petersburg ... Never mind, there will be a new journey! 🙂
Karelia is famous not only for its marble quarry, but also for many other attractions. Several years have passed since the writing of this photo story, during which we got to know the republic even closer. New stories await you soon, including a 12-hour hike to Besov Nos. It will be interesting!
If you are relaxing in Karelia, in the Ladoga region or the city of Sortavala, I recommend including a visit to the Ruskeala waterfalls, which were glorified by the film “The Dawns Here Are Quiet”, namely the scene where the heroine Zhenya died. It is convenient to combine an excursion to the Ruskeala waterfalls with a visit to a mountain park and marble quarries about which I wrote a separate review.
Here they filmed "The Dawns Here Are Quiet"
Stills from the film "The Dawns Here Are Quiet"
Ruskeala waterfalls are located a few kilometers from the village of Ruskeala, almost along the A130 highway connecting Sortavala and Finland. The waterfalls were formed due to the flood of the Tohmajoki River, in this place it crosses the road four times, which is very clearly visible on the map.
The Tohmajoki River originates from the Finnish lake Ruokojärvi and falls into Ladoga lake. In the spring, many athletes raft along it in boats, passing the Ruskeala waterfalls.
In fact, these waterfalls are called Akhvenkoski, but complex Finnish names do not take root well with us, so more often these waterfalls appear in guidebooks exactly as Ruskeala.
We arrived at the waterfalls around 7 pm, the guide on the road said that 10 minutes of free time would be enough for us, but everyone started making noise, so we agreed on half an hour. Getting off the bus, I realized that the guide was right, you can take a walk and take a couple of photos very quickly, since the area along which the river runs with waterfalls is quite small.
The waterfalls also do not differ in majestic sizes, but this does not spoil them at all, in combination with the surrounding landscape they look very beautiful. Water from several waterfalls falls very quickly, so the resulting lake is covered with foam, as if it were a cup of carefully prepared cappuccino.
In addition to the waterfalls, there is a souvenir shop where I bought a book about Sortavala and a pillow stuffed with juniper. What surprised me most was the fact that the book costs almost the same as the magnet, which seems strange to me.
We were one of the first to finish the walk along the Ruskeala waterfalls and were waiting for the rest of the group near the minibus. After some time, a large tourist bus pulled up to the parking lot, from which people ran out like ants. The guide shouted to them that no more than 10 minutes were allocated for viewing the waterfalls, because until you collect them all, just half an hour will pass.
If you come to the waterfalls on your own, you can relax in one of the wooden gazebos, take a barbecue in a cafe, but we didn’t have time for this.
Another interesting object who can visit independent tourists- This is a waterfall at the Ryumyakoski small hydroelectric power station, which used to belong to the Finns. Abandoned buildings have even been preserved here, which they have long wanted to turn into a newly earned station. You can get to this place on foot from the Ruskeala waterfalls, you have to walk along the road for about a kilometer, then turn onto the forest road and walk about 300 meters along the wet-viscous terrain. The location of this hydroelectric power station is best demonstrated by the map - I gave a link to it above.
How to get to Ruskeala waterfalls
You need to get by car along the A130 highway, everything is simple here: the waterfalls are located along the highway.
It is most convenient to get on your own from the village of Ruskeala (which is convenient to come from the city of Sortavala for a walk along mountain park) or on a bus that moves along the highway in the opposite direction from Finland, I think that it is best to check the numbers and schedule at the bus station.
Or call a taxi, which for a small amount will take you to the waterfalls and wait.
My review of a trip to Karelia as part of an organized group
All articles in the direction Karelia
Selection of hotels in Karelia
Flights to Karelia
Ruskeala or, as they are also called, are a cascade of small lowland waterfalls near the village of Ruskeala, on the Tokhmajoki River. The largest of the waterfalls - Ahvenkoski - reaches a height of 4 meters. If you go on an excursion to the famous, be sure to look at them along the way. Those who like to travel on their own will also find them without difficulty: the waterfalls are visible from the road.
Why do these places attract tourists so much? The fact that it was here that the scene from the film “The Dawns Here Are Quiet” was filmed, the one where Zhenya died. And more recently, in 2010, the waterfalls served as a "decoration" for another film - "The Dark World", after the filming of which a chopped hut remained on top of one of the waterfalls.
fans extreme species Sports also do not bypass the waterfalls: in the spring and summer, they are rafted on kayaks.
Nature
Although the waterfalls do not differ in impressive size, they look very beautiful against the background of the surrounding landscape. The water in them runs quite quickly and noisily, but you can even see small fish. The red color of the ledges, which strikes some tourists, is due to the presence of iron salts. You can climb up along a small path winding along boulders and pines. Be careful: in some areas you can fall down!
Photos
How to get to the waterfalls near Ruskeala?
Parking for cars is organized near the falls. tourist buses. It also houses wooden gazebos for relaxation and a gift shop.
What to buy
The store offers a traditional set of souvenirs - magnets with views of Karelia, ornaments made of Karelian birch and shungite, amulets and much more. On opposite side locals offer tourists jams and jams from seasonal berries. So, a seven-hundred-gram jar of cloudberry jam in 2014 was sold for 1,500 rubles. So high prices explained by the end of the season (first decade of August). Therefore, if you want to enjoy Karelian berries, you need to arrive early. Otherwise, the prices for souvenirs are about the same everywhere.
How to relax
If you arrive with tourist group, then, most likely, you will be given a maximum of 10 minutes to inspect the waterfalls. During this time, it is quite possible to have time to climb two thresholds and take memorable photos. If you are traveling on your own, then you can go higher - there will be sand beach. However, most vacationers after a walk around the surrounding places prefer to swim below.
Ruskeala waterfalls (Sortavala, Russia) - detailed description, location, reviews, photos and videos.
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Karelia captivates with its sincere northern beauty and untouched nature. One of the examples is the Ruskeala waterfalls, fascinating with their picturesqueness and power, several cascades of which are located near the road 86K-332. They are visited annually by several thousand tourists, but in fact these places are familiar to millions of viewers who watched the famous film "The Dawns Here Are Quiet ...". Along with the nearby marble canyon, flat waterfalls are a must-see tourist routes passing through the outskirts of the city of Sortavala.
What to see
Ruskeala waterfalls consist of 4 cascades 3-4 m high. They are created by the small river Tokhmajoki, the waters of which have a very strange rusty hue. This anomaly is due to the increased content of iron salts. Actually, the name of the nearby village of Ruskeala is translated from Finnish as “brown”. Despite their compact size, the waterfalls look very beautiful and impressive: reddish water with snow-white foam, gray rocks washed by it, moss-covered edges surrounded by greenery of firs and pines - such a unique palette will stick in your memory for a long time.
The most popular Ruskeala waterfalls are in spring and early summer: at this time the highest water level is set, and Tohmajoki looks the most impressive. By July, the river pacifies its temper.
The most picturesque cascade is called Ahvenkoski. Extreme rafting enthusiasts actively pilgrimage here, the most desperate kayak across the rapids with drops of up to 4 m. Akhvenkoski is clearly visible from the road to Vyartsilya. Nearby there is parking, there are benches, toilets, souvenir shops, cafes. You should definitely buy smoked fish, caught right there in the clean Karelian waters.
Practical information
Address: Rep. Karelia, Sortavalsky district, pos. Ruskeala. GPS coordinates: 61.915509, 30.626539.
It is most convenient to go to the waterfalls from Sortavala. From the city station on the street. Kirova, 1 to Ruskeala three times a day the bus Sortavala - Vartsila, travel time: 25 minutes.
