Karelia, Marble Canyon. Active rest in Karelia. Natural monuments of Karelia: Marble Canyon and Ruskeala waterfalls

Today I would like to tell you about another amazing sight of Karelia - the Ruskeala mountain park, located 30 km north of the city Sortavala.

In fact, the Ruskeala mountain park is an abandoned marble quarry, although the river flowing nearby has made its own adjustments to the lifeless gray landscape. Thanks to her, the main marble canyon was filled with turquoise water, turning the industrial facility into a natural fairy tale of amazing beauty. There is also a version that the Finns specially let the water from the river into the quarry in order to flood the adits and prevent further stone extraction. It turned out very effectively! This place is so mesmerizing that recently it has been included in the top three most beautiful natural and man-made attractions in Karelia. Be sure to take the time to visit it.

The extraction of marble in these parts began in the 17th century, when the Swedes owned these lands. It was they who built here a factory for the production of construction lime from marble. After graduation Northern war the land, together with the plant, became the property of the Russian Empire. marble quarry turned out to be useless to anyone until Catherine II came to power.

In the second half of the XVIII century. for the construction of St. Petersburg in the vicinity of the city began to look for large deposits of natural stone. It was then that they remembered the abandoned marble quarry. By decree of the Empress dated August 9, 1766, several families of stonemasons from the Urals arrived on the banks of the Ruskolka River to extract marble, laying the foundation for a mining village called Ruskeala.

From Ruskeala marble, such amazing pearls as St. Isaac's Cathedral and marble palace Petersburg, triumphal columns in Tsarskoye Selo and Gatchina. Ruskeala marble was used in interior decoration Mikhailovsky Castle, Kazan Cathedral, the monument to Peter I and other buildings and structures northern capital. Fireplaces, countertops, monuments, candlesticks and other luxury items for wealthy people were made from marble.

From the middle of the XIX century. Ruskeala marble ceased to be widely used in decoration, and so that the mining in the marble canyon would not stand idle, a building lime production plant was built. Later, at the beginning of the XX century. The plant's range of building materials has expanded. Here they began to produce crushed stone, marble chips and facing blocks.

After the Great Patriotic War, the plant continued to operate. True, the production of marble in the main canyon was stopped. There were several reasons for this. Firstly, the adits and the quarry itself were already flooded, and secondly, the use of explosive stone mining technology over the centuries gave many cracks in the rock, which prevented the production of marble slabs.

Interesting fact! Currently, clean groundwater feeds the quarry. Algae do not grow in such water, which allows you to view the water of the quarry to a depth of 15-18 meters directly from the surface. However, the bottom is still not visible. In some places, the depth of the quarry reaches 50 meters.

After the war, Ruskeala marble was used in decoration only once, when the Ladozhskaya and Primorskaya metro stations were built in St. Petersburg. The rest of the production was sent to the production of building materials. The plant finally ceased to exist in the 90s of the last century.

Ladozhskaya metro station in St. Petersburg

And since the beginning of the 2000s, to be more precise in 2005, the Ruskeala mountain park was equipped with the money of local entrepreneurs, which has become very popular over the 10 years of its existence. Every year, tens of thousands of tourists from all over Russia and foreign countries come here to enjoy the beauty of the natural and man-made landscape.

What can you see in Ruskeala mountain park?

Map mountain park Ruskeala (click to enlarge)

The entire walk through the park goes around the marble lake. Together with the tour, it will take no more than 1.5 hours. The length of the route is about two kilometers.

On a note! The Ruskeala mountain park is located a few kilometers from the border with Finland, so often the mobile phone switches to European towers. Be careful with calls so as not to get into the roaming of another country!

Along the way, in addition to the main marble canyon, you can see the preserved adits, see the pipes of the lime plant in the distance, pass by several picturesque cliffs, an underground sinkhole with a lake below, and also visit the Italian quarry. In addition, along the route you will have the opportunity to stop at several viewing platforms and take memorable photos.

Our guide is a resident of Ruskeala Margarita in a national Karelian costume

How much does it cost to visit Ruskeala Mountain Park?

The park is open daily from 10:00 to 21:00.

Entrance to the park is paid. As of July 2016, the ticket price for an adult was 200 rubles. Student ticket - 150 rubles, school ticket - 100 rubles. Preschoolers and WWII veterans can visit the mountain park for free.

What to do in your free time?

After a tour or self walk around the picturesque marble canyon, you can choose from several active entertainments:

Swimming in the canyon on a rented boat per hour will cost 400 rubles. The maximum capacity of the boat is 4 people.

On a note! If you plan to ride a boat, it is better to get in line before the tour. There are many more people who want to ride than there are boats.

Flying over the canyon on a zipline will cost 1000 rubles. In summer, the queue for this attraction was also impressive, but unlike boating, you do not have to wait an hour for the return of the previous group, due to which the queue moves noticeably faster.

Ropejumping- jump from high point canyon on a rope - will also cost 1000 rubles, but 10 seconds of unrealistic sensations will be remembered for a lifetime.

Children from 5 years old and adults can also visit rope park on Montferrand lake. The cost of an adult ticket is also 1000 rubles. Just remember, in rainy weather the rope park is closed to the public.

If you tempt fate on extreme entertainment I don’t feel like it, but it’s somehow too lazy to row a boat, you can feed the local seagulls, enjoy scenic views, have a bite to eat in a cafe or go in search of souvenirs. Good souvenirs here for every taste.

Of the winter activities, skiing in the Ruskeala mountain park is especially popular. dog sledding, as well as a descent into the failure to the underground lake.

Interesting fact! Inside the underground failure, formed as a result of the collapse of the rock, a special microclimate reigns. In the far reaches of the underground working, the ice never melts, and bizarre icicles hang from the walls everywhere. To get there in the summer, you need to go down to the lake on a rope, and then go a little more by boat. In winter, everything is much simpler: the descent takes place on solid ice.

By the way, very soon a new route is planned to be opened in the Ruskeala mountain park - "Underground Ruskeala". Illumination will be laid among the picturesque grottoes and caves, dips and adits, and it will be possible to fully enjoy not only the beauty, but also the amazing acoustics of these places.

And also the construction of a marble amphitheater has already begun, where it is planned to organize performances by creative teams.

So in a couple of years the Ruskeala mountain park will be unrecognizable. A great reason to come here, even if you have been here before.

How to get to the marble canyon in Karelia?

By car

From Petrozavodsk, past Pryazha, Kolatselga, Lyaskelya, drive to the turn to Vartsila, then along the highway to Ruskeala village. We pass through the village, then across the bridge and then to the left following the sign. The distance is approximately 250 km.

From St. Petersburg, you need to move along federal highway A129 to the city of Priozersk, then to the city of Sortavala. From Sortavala we move towards Petrozavodsk along the A130 highway. At the 10th kilometer there will be a turn towards Vartsila. The distance in this case is about 290 km.

public transport

The first step is to get to Sortavala. Regular buses and trains run from St. Petersburg or Petrozavodsk to Sortavala. Next, you need a bus to Vartsila village or Kaalamo village (located 7 km from Ruskeala). They make a stop in Ruskeala. True, they do not go every day. The current schedule can be found on the website of SUE "Karelavtotrans".

great way– take a taxi from Sortavala. Phone numbers of local carriers can be found.

As part of the tour

You can get to the mountain park Ruskeala. Similar excursions can be found in various travel companies in Petrozavodsk and Sortavala.

Ruskeala waterfalls

On the way to the Ruskeala mountain park, it is reasonable to make a stop at the Ruskeala or Tokhminsky waterfalls. A cascade of three small waterfalls (the height of the largest does not exceed 4 m) became famous for the fact that it was here that Zhenya Komelkova’s bathing scene was filmed in the film “The Dawns Here Are Quiet”. However, this is not the only television picture that glorified these places. In addition to The Dawns Here Are Quiet, a fantasy thriller The Dark World was filmed at the Ruskeala waterfalls, a wooden hut remained in memory of which, as well as a children's fairy tale about Baba Yaga. The fairy tale was filmed not so long ago, so even the guides do not know its exact name. For the shooting of the fairy tale, a lot of memorable scenery was built here - elegant wooden ladders, benches, tables and a lot of fairy-tale characters. A lot of interesting things for both children and adults.

The picturesque Tokhminsky waterfalls "starred" in more than one television film

The falls themselves are not very high. Two flow a little further...

... and one - the most powerful - is very close

The waterfalls themselves amaze with the color of their water. She is absolutely red, one might even say rusty, thanks to the large amount of iron contained. Falling from a height, the water falls into a lake covered with white foam. Because of this, at first glance it seems that the water here is dirty, but this is not at all the case.

It was here that we managed to taste the cloudberries praised on every corner. This jar cost 200 rubles

Speaking of filming. Not only the waterfalls, but also the marble canyon of Ruskeala became famous on TV screens. Here, as well as on the waterfalls, some scenes of the fantasy thriller "The Dark World", the crime series "The Golden Trap", the action movie "Flint", the adventure thriller "The Seventh Rune" and the series "Trace of the Piranha" were filmed.

That's all for now! When planning your trip to Karelia, do not forget to include in your plans a visit to the marble canyon in the Ruskeala mountain park and the Ruskeala waterfalls. Trust me, you won't regret a minute! Amazing place! Fascinating beauty!

Mountain park "Ruskeala" is one of the main attractions of Karelia. He is in 36 km from the city of Sortavala, in the vicinity of the village of Ruskeala. The river Tohmajoki flows nearby, which is translated from Finnish as “mad”. Most likely, she received such a name for her skittish character. It was caused by numerous thresholds. The locals also call her Ruskolka from the Karelian word "ruskea" - "redhead". This is the color of the water in the river.

The marble deposit in Ruskeala is considered the largest in the Ladoga region. valuable rock lies at a depth of half a kilometer. The area of ​​the deposit exceeds several tens of square kilometers. The color of marble is varied. It can be gray, bluish, black and even completely white. Frequent stripes give a special color.

From quarry to park

Marble began to be mined in these parts in the middle of the 17th century. More than three hundred years ago, the Swedes ruled this territory. They did not appreciate the natural beauty of the stone and made lime out of it. It was required in large quantities for the construction of residential buildings and fortifications. The field received a new purpose only after the change of owners and the accession of Catherine II. During this period, palaces were actively erected in St. Petersburg and its suburbs, which required a huge amount of marble.

Photo: Local marble has a beautiful pattern

In the summer of 1765, mining masters arrived in Ruskeala to assess the quality of the stone. Marble was found suitable. The Empress issued a corresponding decree, and a year later they began the industrial development of the deposit. Since there were not enough specialists in the capital, stonemasons were brought with their families from the Urals. This is how the village with the romantic name Ruskeala appeared.

It was not easy to transport the mined rock to the capital. At first, stone blocks on sledges or carts were delivered to the village of Helyulya near Serdobol (now Sortavala). There they were loaded onto small ships and transported along Ladoga to St. Petersburg. St. Isaac's and Kazan Cathedrals, the Marble Palace and Mikhailovsky Castle were erected from Ruskeala marble. The development of the deposit ended only in the late 80s of the last century.

In 2005, on the site of the mining enterprise, natural Park. Its concept was developed by the Karelian local historian Andrey Gribushin. An illuminated hiking trail was laid around the former quarry. Observation platforms have been set up in the most spectacular places. Developed excursion programs. New tourist facility quickly gained popularity. Now during the year it is visited by about 300 thousand tourists! Ruskeala Mining Park is unique because it is the only such facility in Russia.

Hits of Ruskeala

The dominant feature of the mountain park is undoubtedly the quarry itself. It was romantically nicknamed "Marble Canyon". And he deserved that name. The giant niche is filled with water. In fact, this man-made lake. The water in it has a rich emerald hue. The depth sometimes reaches 30 m! The canyon stretches from north to south for 456 m. The width is 109 m. The height of the steep sides reaches 25 m above the water level. It is hard to believe that such beauty is man-made.

The entire space in the vicinity of the quarry is permeated with mine workings. Some of them come to the surface, others are hidden under water. The length of the dungeons available for visiting is hundreds of meters. Particularly impressive are the spacious rooms. They are decorated with marble columns that rise from the bottom of an underground lake. It is only possible to get into them with scuba gear. Particularly impressive man-made caves look like winter. When water freezes, ice stalagmites and stalactites form. Often they resemble fabulous figures of animals and people.

In the northern part of the park there is an entrance to the adit. A hundred years ago, it was struck in the upper underground horizon. From a special bridge here you can see the shaft of an old vertical mine. Picturesque places include the cliffs of Catherine II and Ivan da Marya. Even more impressive is the failure underground lake", by which you can make walking tour by pontoons. And absolutely mesmerizing Italian Quarry"! It traditionally serves as a place for mass photo shoots.

The mountain park is not only an industrial facility, but also natural museum under the open sky. Many plants grow on its territory, which are listed in the Red Book. Rare species of reptiles, amphibians and bats are found here. So that visitors do not engage in spontaneous “mining” of marble, a small working was organized for them, where everyone can take as many samples as they like. In the stone-cutting workshop there is an opportunity to make a souvenir from stone with your own hands.

On the way to the quarry, one cannot pass a picturesque place with seething waterfalls formed by the Tohmajoki River. Before the war they were called "Achinkoski". Translated from Finnish, this means "Waterfalls of the Water". Then they began to be called Ruskeala. The famous film "The Dawns Here Are Quiet" was filmed in these places. After the release of the picture, the newlyweds came here to swear allegiance to each other. Now near the waterfalls there are cafes, souvenir shops, water bike rentals, hiking trails. There is a large car park.

Things to Do in Ruskeala

Apart from hiking trails, guests of the park are offered boat trips on the lake. Since the number of boats is limited, you may have to queue. But the view from the water is fantastic! Only by boat is it possible to visit some of the grottoes, since the entrance to them is only from the water. If you are too lazy to work with oars, you can ride on a small boat with a motor. It accommodates more than ten people. Such walks are available from May 20 to September 30.

Photo: Boat trip on Marble Lake

Fans of extreme sports are recommended "zipline" - a flight over the abyss along cable car. The "bungee" is in operation. In winter, dog sledding is popular. Huskies are the driving force. The amazing transparency of the water in the lake attracts divers here. They travel with scuba gear through the labyrinths of flooded quarries. At the bottom of the quarry, old equipment remained - a crane and dump trucks. Visibility under water reaches 14-17 m. Such entertainment is offered not to ordinary visitors, but to experienced divers.

In summer, the park hosts international festival outdoor Ruskeala Symphony. The magnificent acoustics of the canyon make this show especially spectacular. For children, games are organized with the participation of gnomes and other fairy-tale characters. Fire-and Laser show, as well as annual new year holidays. marble canyon"lit up" in the films "Shaman", "Dark World", "Golden Trap".

Tours and opening hours

You will have to pay to visit the Mountain Park. You can walk around the area on your own. wishing for additional fee offer tours. There are two routes: a short one ("Marble Canyon") goes around the quarry; long (“Road of Mining Masters”) also includes the failure and the Italian Quarry.

More exotic excursion "Underground Ruskeala". Route length - 850 m. Duration - about one hour. It is held for groups of 4 to 20 people. It should be borne in mind that even in summer you will need warm clothes, since the temperature in the workings does not exceed +80.

Opening hours of the Mountain Park: from November 1 to February 28 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. (Fri-Sat from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.); from March 1 to April 30 from 10 to 21; from May 1 to August 31 from 9 to 22; from September 1 to October 31 from 10 to 21.

Photo: Tour guide in national Karelian dress

Our tour club offers two programs for visiting the Mountain Park: one of them is held in the warm season with accommodation in tents, and the other in the cold season with hotel accommodation.

Roof over your head

In the village of Ruskeala there is a recreation center. She works all year round. Rooms are designed for 2-8 people. The total capacity is about 90 people. There is a Russian bath, rental of sports equipment and tourist equipment. You can also stay overnight in hotels and apartments in the city of Sortavala.

There are cottages and guest houses, whose guests are offered organized trips in Mountain Park. There is a campsite near the Ruskeala waterfalls. There are many picturesque places in the vicinity, where individual tourists stay in tents. There are cafes and eateries in the park and near the waterfalls. There are restaurants in Sortavala.

How to get there

Mountain Park coordinates: 61.9475, 30.5865

St. Petersburg and Ruskeala are connected by the A129 highway, which passes through the cities of Priozersk and Sortavala. Distance - 309 km. Estimated travel time is about 5 hours. A train runs from the Ladoga railway station to Kostomuksha, which makes a stop in Sortavala. Then you have to take a taxi or regular bus. Several times a day he goes to Vartsila through Ruskeala.

Photo: The most convenient way to get to Marble Canyon is by car

From Petrozavodsk by car, you should go along the P21 highway through Kolatselga. Distance - 287 km. Travel time is 4-5 hours. Train No. 680-Ch runs to Sortavala. Further, they get to Ruskeala by taxi or bus. Taxi drivers are waiting for tourists railway station. For a group, you can take a minibus.

Ruskeala, marble quarry and waterfalls - real paradise for those who are tired of the heat, beaches and endless palm trees.

Be sure that in Karelia you will not find anything of this - only northern nature, which will captivate with its severity and incredible beauty.

History of the mountain park

Ruskeala is a relatively young attraction - this park opened its doors to tourists only at the beginning of 2005.

Remarkably, the park is a private property and was built by the Ladoga entrepreneurs, who in two years ennobled the surroundings of the quarry and built a tourist infrastructure, spending more than half a million rubles.

But the territories on which Ruskeala Park is today were not always Russian - until the mid-1700s, these territories were assigned to the Swedish side, which were engaged in the development of marble deposits.

Russia, however, gained control over these lands only at the end of the Northern War, but the development of marble deposits was not resumed. They remembered these fruitful places only at the beginning of the reign of Catherine II, who ordered the extraction of marble - then the development of gray, white, gray-blue and green marble was resumed.

The resumption of work was not accidental and was due to the construction of St. Petersburg, which required large material costs.

Today, Ruskeala marble can be seen near the Hermitage - the famous atlantes at the entrance to the museum are made from it, as well as floors in the Kazan Cathedral and wall cladding in St. Isaac's Cathedral. A considerable number of marble elements are also found in the Mikhailovsky Castle. You can meet the materials even in Belarus - there they made decorations for the memorial of the Brest Fortress.

In 1939 work on the extraction of marble in the quarry was again stopped due to the outbreak of war between the Soviet Union and Finland. The end of the Great Patriotic War led to attempts to revive the work on the extraction of marble, however, during the work, the aquifer was almost destroyed, and the water began to arrive at an incredible speed - frightened workers abandoned their equipment and hurriedly left the quarry.

Such - filled with water and with abandoned equipment on the banks - Ruskeala Canyon remained until the beginning of the 70s of the last century. In 73, new workings began to be created near the main basin. However, such a close location of the workings to each other and to the main canyon itself limited the possibilities of workers, since the risk of the collapse of the marble walls turned out to be too high, and therefore marble is mined there today, but in very, very small quantities.

The mountain park combined several Karelian sights and made their viewing convenient and - most importantly - safe.

Each of the attractions is equipped viewing platforms and security fortifications, as well as guides working in the park who will help you not to get lost and not miss anything interesting.

So, the first thing tourists go to the mountain park for is, of course, the Marble quarry. This is not at all surprising, because even in the photo the canyon impresses with its scale and beauty. What can we say about the sensations that you experience, looking at it with your own eyes?

A truly man-made work of art, which human hands have been knocking out of a monolithic stone for many centuries, with the participation of nature, which has flooded a marble bowl with crystal clear water, makes an indelible impression.

Along the quarry throughout its entire length (and it is nearly 500 meters long) a path has been laid from which you can see absolutely the entire canyon, its grottoes and caves, mines and drifts.

There are places on the coast entrance to which is strictly prohibited. This is due to the fact that relatively recently several tens of tons of earth went into the water.

Also on the territory of Ruskeala there are small quarries - some of them are abandoned, and some are still being developed.

Slightly inferior in popularity adits. On the territory of the park there is only one unflooded adit, inside which you can go even without an instructor. The rest were buried under the water column by the Finns after the war with the USSR.

The galleries are special type workings. Their distinctive feature is the presence of an exit to the surface, that is, they are through holes in the marble firmament of a horizontal or vertical direction.

Inside the adit is always damp, water drips even from the ceiling. In summer, snow can be found in its depths.

The third most popular Ruskeala failure, the appearance of which dates back to the 60s of the last century and is due to numerous explosions carried out to create new workings.

Today it is allowed to descend into the failure with the help of a special rope. But this is not just entertainment - going down, you will find yourself in a tunnel that will lead you to the very "heart" of the marble mine.

More recently, the failure made it possible to go to the main career, but now the passages were littered.

In winter, fans of extreme recreation on the slopes take their skates with them and arrange mass skating in the sinkhole.

And closes the number of attractions Ruskeala Park italian canyon . In this territory, relatively recently, the Italians began to develop marble, but its quality turned out to be extremely low, which did not justify the cost of work and the hopes of the foreign guests themselves.

This is due to the fact that in order to obtain high quality material, it is necessary to extract it from maximum depth. Marble in the upper layers of the earth is too fragile.

But thanks to them, today's tourists of the mountain park can look at the marble in the section.

Rest in the Marble Quarry

Undoubtedly, the most popular pastime among visitors to Ruskeala is the excursions offered by the park. a large number of. However, fans of extreme recreation do not like such events.

For such visitors have also developed many ways to relax. The first of these is diving in the pool of the main marble quarry- or, speaking plain language diving into water.

Often, visitors come to the Mountain Park precisely for the sake of these descents - a considerable number of so-called speleologists or tech divers love to dive in the reservoir. People come here from all over the country, but most often from the two capitals - Moscow and St. Petersburg, for the reason that the Karelian marble canyon is the only place that has underwater caves and almost crystal clear water.

So, in the quarry pool itself, visibility under water is 13 meters, but in adits it is much higher - more than 17 meters.

But do not delude yourself - if you do not have sufficient experience in diving, no one will let you into the caves.

It will be interesting to dive also because at the bottom of the canyon there is a large number of abandoned equipment. It is of Finnish origin - it was this people that flooded a large number of cars, motorcycles and even a crane, before the outbreak of hostilities with the Soviet Union in 39 of the last century.

To date, there are several routes for underwater explorers, which differ, first of all, in the degree of difficulty.

The second most popular entertainment in the park is ropes and bungees.

The first one is used for zip line- flying over the canyon on a rope. With bungee ropes, they jump from certain sites.

Rowing boats are also in great demand. walks on the pond. From mid-May until the end of September, equipment rental is open, with which you can get to know this natural beauty better. In addition, you get the opportunity to swim inside the grotto.

But be prepared for the fact that you will have to row yourself.

In winter, there is another unusual attraction- Husky sledding. The track for sledding has a length of almost 3 kilometers.

Karelian waterfalls

Karelian waterfalls are considered to be one of the the most beautiful places Russia, which attract crowds of tourists. In addition, waterfalls are a great way to diversify your vacation.

The first most popular waterfall is Kivach. It is the second largest in the entire European territory, second only to the Rhine Falls. The height of the Russian one is about 11 meters, and it is located on the Suna River.

There is a legend about the origin of this miracle of nature among the Karelian people. According to her in old times there were two rivers - Suna and Shuya, which were sisters. They constantly kept close, but at one point Suna got tired and, in order to rest, left the channel, giving way to her sister. But she rushed forward from her sister - in the morning Suna noticed the loss and rushed after her, sweeping away everything in her path. so, the place where she broke through a stone block, and a waterfall arose.

Today the waterfall is located on the territory of the reserve of the same name.

Next in popularity Ruskeala waterfalls. There are practically no excursions on them, since the Tohmajoki River, on which they are located, is perfectly visible from the highway. Near it there are equipped parking lots, which allow you to view the natural landmark in more detail and soak up its energy.

The complex includes four waterfalls up to four meters high. Additional fame brought them the shooting of the film "The Dark World", held on their territory.

Of particular interest for rafting lovers is the Ahvenkoski waterfall.

The third most popular place is occupied by another complex - White Bridges. It consists of two waterfalls located at a small distance from each other. They got their name from real bridges - unfortunately, today only fragments remain of these Finnish buildings.

The height of the fall is about 20 meters, which makes the White Pillars one of the highest in all of Karelia.

There are always very few tourists on their territory - this is due to the fact that the road to the sights has become unusable for a long time, and public transport does not go there.

But in summer, waterfalls provide a unique opportunity to get unique sensations - during this period, the water level in it decreases and this allows you to rinse under falling water, as if in a shower.

Mountain park "Ruskeala" in the Republic of Karelia

Ruskeala (Republic of Karelia) is a magnificent park and a unique marble quarry with clear emerald water and underground caves. The history of this place began several centuries ago, and today one of the most beautiful natural parks in our country is located in this amazing mountainous area.

Quarry history

The Ruskeala marble quarry is a huge thicket carved by human hands, almost 500 m long. Initially, the area belonged to the Swedes, where they mined high quality banded marble. After the end of the Northern War, the border Russian Empire expanded significantly. Karelian quarries ended up on Russian territory. Peter I presented these lands to one of his close associates. So in these places the Ruskeala settlement was formed.

Active development of the quarry resumed during the reign of Catherine II. The Empress ordered the use of Ruskeala marble deposits in the construction of new palaces and cathedrals. Facade decorated with stones St. Isaac's Cathedral, they lined the building of the Hermitage, laid the floors in the Kazan Cathedral.

403 Forbidden

403 Forbidden

In the middle of the XIX century. Marble mining ceased, and the once valuable mineral began to be broken into rubble and used for the production of building lime. The misfortune that occurred during the Russian-Finnish war helped the career to turn from an abandoned quarry into a pearl of Ruskeala nature. A huge pit during the demolition work was simply flooded with the waters of a nearby river.

However, the Soviet government could not abandon the mineral-rich region of Karelia - the marble quarry was reopened and partially restored. Mining has resumed. They led it in several ways at once. It was during this period that a whole network of underground passages, adits, tunnels and caves appeared in the mountain range.

The war with fascist Germany caused irreparable industrial damage to the marble canyon Ruskeala, Karelia was almost completely under the bombing of enemy aircraft. On the former scale, stone mining was no longer carried out, although they still had time to revet several stations of the St. Petersburg metro. A new milestone in the history of the village of Ruskeala in Karelia began in 2002. Picturesque places were turned into a mountain park with a recreation center. Now here everyone can rent a cottage and relax among the amazing Karelian nature.

Attractions

Today, the Ruskeala mountain park is well organized. Everything has been done in it for the convenience of vacationers, but with minimal damage to natural beauties. Guarded parking, Russian-style houses and cottages, an open-air kitchen, a wood-fired sauna and even a small amusement park - tourists do not have to worry about anything. Nevertheless, most visitors come to the park not to relax in comfortable conditions, but to admire the local nature. Fantastic waterfalls, some of which do not freeze even in winter, the purest rivers, mountains surrounded by centuries-old forests - there is something to see here.

But the main attraction of the complex is, of course, the famous marble quarry with clear emerald water. It is surrounded by neat paths made of Ruskeala marble, in underground labyrinths at a depth of 200 m a safe a tourist route. On summer nights, the quarry is illuminated with multi-colored lights, and in winter it turns into a real ice castle. Tourists in the marble quarry are offered a lot of entertainment, including:

• Boating and fishing. Wishing to ride on the purest water, the transparency of which allows you to look 15 m deep, there are so many that you need to sign up for the queue in advance.
• Diving. You can not only swim along the canyon, but also dive to the very depths, seeing its underwater world with your own eyes.
• Rope bridge walk. A special rope bridge with insurance will be stretched across the quarry at a height of 24 m. The tourist is walking on one rope and holding on to the other two. You do not need to be a climber and have special skills to see the sights of the park from such a height.
• Cliff jump. Breathtaking flight from a height of 24 m. Distance free fall is 10 m.
• Trolls. This is a passage along a special cable from the lowest point of the quarry to the highest. Another attraction that will take your breath away.

Russia is rich natural beauties, but Ruskeala Park is amazing place, an analogue of which can hardly be found anywhere else. It is not necessary to rent a cottage to visit the complex. Excursions are regularly arranged in the park for tourists, students, schoolchildren and foreign guests. Moreover, small children and WWII veterans can visit the complex for free. The cost of living in the mountain park includes only rental housing. All services, as well as visits to various facilities are paid separately. A house or a whole cottage for several families can be rented both on the territory of the complex and outside it.

Holidays in Karelia are unforgettable moments. northern nature beautiful and harsh at the same time, these are stunning, slender forests full of berries, mushrooms and game. Cold rivers full of fish, on the banks of which it is so good to sit with a fishing rod. The nature of Karelia is very rich in gifts, but before you go here, decide on the time of the year that will be most comfortable for you. With the onset of September, it is already cold in autumn in these places, and snow has been lying since mid-October. But nevertheless, for many tourists it is Karelia that is unforgettable and alluring. Marble Canyon is the most favorite place for excursions.

Planning a vacation

If you want to spend your holiday truly unforgettable, then you have chosen correct route. It remains to decide where the Marble Canyon is located in Karelia. This is the Sortavala region, which is located just a few kilometers from the border with Finland. The easiest way to get here is by ordering a ticket from a tour operator. However, if you are not looking for easy ways, then you can also get there by private car. To do this, you must follow the Sortavala highway to the Sortavala region. After that, turn to the village of Vartsila. Without turning anywhere, you cross the village of Ruskeala, and now you just have to cross the Tohmajoki river and turn left towards the marble canyon.

The history of these places

In fact, Karelia has become popular among tourists for so long. Marble Canyon was formed here about 400 years ago. Then it was still the Swedish coast, but after it went to Russia, Catherine II actively used the stone deposits to rebuild St. Petersburg. This largest quarry operated until 1830, then the pace of construction decreased, and the quarry fell into disrepair. After the war, they again remembered that in Russia there magnificent gem- Karelia. Marble Canyon began to be developed again, this time in an explosive manner. However, due to the fact that they were not carried out research work, dynamite damaged the aquifer. The gushing spring formed a stunning lake with crystal clear water in the canyon.

Tourism development

Thus ended the history of marble mining, but only the interest of tourists began to grow, who still did not know how many secrets Karelia hides. Marble Canyon has now become the main attraction of the park. During the extraction of marble, many galleries were pierced. Now, flooded with water, they have turned into stunning marble grottoes. The water temperature here rarely rises above 15 degrees, so the water does not bloom and remains amazingly clear.

Marble canyon "Ruskeala" (Karelia) is great place while staying here it is difficult to realize that this is not a creation of nature, but only the result of an engineering error. The depth of the canyon is about 30 meters, but in adits it reaches 100 meters or more. For lovers of extreme diving, there is room for diving.

mountain park

Today it is already difficult to imagine a holiday in Karelia without visiting it. Marble Canyon is the gem of his collection. A dozen years ago, this place was absolutely wild, but with the discovery of an amazing mountain park, it has simply changed. Visitors will be offered to spend time on a boat ride on Marble Lake. This is an amazing adventure, you find yourself either in a snow-white, or in a pale green kingdom, or even in black, strict and perfect. The water in the lake is so transparent that the bottom can be seen for tens of meters. At the same time, there are many grottoes around, bizarre shapes and shades, all this creates the feeling that you are in Magic world. However, it is no less interesting to walk along the shores of the lake, exploring the Ruskeala Marble Canyon (Karelia, Russia). Where to stay for the night, we will talk a little later, while let's look at the entertainment that is offered to tourists.

Popular excursions

Cleared paths go through the mountain park, which without words show the routes of the tourists. However, in order to see all the beauties of these places, it is better to go with a group and an experienced guide. He will take you to the mines and adits within the walls of the quarry, most of which are flooded. However, in those that have survived, you can still follow the paths of the ancient masters. However, it is extremely dangerous to enter dry adits unaccompanied. Every tourist notes interesting feature these places, the hotter it is outside, the brighter the cold inside the adit is felt. In any case, warm clothes will be a must for you.

The adits differ from one another, and the guide will show and demonstrate this to you best of all. One of them is called, “Musical Grotto”, thanks to its unique acoustic features. But nothing compares to a winter park. At this time, Karelia is changing a lot. Marble Canyon "Ruskeala" on the map is marked "Palace of Santa Claus". Indeed, the canyon, wrapped in snow and ice, turns into a fabulous home of the Snow Queen or Santa Claus.

Attractions of the park

First of all, it will be interesting for every tourist to look at the Ruskeala waterfalls. The local river, Tokhmajoki, is the largest artery of Lake Ladonezh, which reaches almost 40 km in length. A beautiful mountain river forms many rapids and waterfalls. The largest of them is called Akhvenkoski. It is clearly visible from the highway, and therefore it is quite famous among tourists. That is why a parking lot is equipped next to the waterfalls. There are cozy gazebos and awnings, a recreation area. Of course, enterprising people organize hot snacks, as well as sell fishing tackle and other things useful on vacation. Ahvenkoski is famous for the fact that it is a whole complex of four waterfalls, each about 4 meters high.

There is another waterfall here, it is much smaller, but nevertheless deserves the closest attention. This is Ryumyakoski, the road to which requires a mandatory walk. The fact is that the road here is very swampy and cannot be reached by car. This is also not one, but a whole group of waterfalls. Although they are not so tall, they enchant with their beauty.

To the bowels of the earth

In this park you have to go through another adventure. Ruskeala failure is located on the border of a mountain park and a modern marble factory. This ice failure was formed when the roof of the abandoned adits went under water. It turned out a hole about twenty by thirty meters. From here, sightseers descend to the mining center. Previously, this unflooded zone was connected to the territory of the park with the help of galleries, but today these passages are under the rubble. The ice here does not melt even in summer.

Entertainment

Underwater travel in flooded adits is very interesting and exciting, but quite difficult for beginners. Cave divers spend a lot of time here, swimming to the most remote corners of the quarry. There were three underground horizons of marble mining here, and now there is a place for lovers of underwater travel to roam. But overwater walks can be a real adventure. We are talking about rafting, the Tohmajoki River is simply created for such fun. Bar rapids and waterfalls, dams created by beavers - all this will have to be overcome by brave travelers.

For lovers of history, it will be very interesting educational excursion in the lost village of Kinerma. You can see the architectural monuments of the XV century and get acquainted with the unique culture local residents. A trip to Valaam will be unforgettable, where a unique monastery built in the early 14th century has been preserved.

Where to stay?

Be sure to visit this wonderful corner Russia, like Karelia, Marble Canyon. We have already told you how to get to the mountain park, now it remains to add where you can stay for the night. The cost itself tourist excursions from 1500 to 4000 per person, it is better to order them in advance through travel company. You can stay overnight at the hotel at the Lutheran parish "Pappila". This is a cozy budget place where the cost of rest is only 300 rubles per day. Not far from the village there is a recreation center "Black Stones". It offers twelve cottages and hotel fifteen rooms. The cost of rest here is from 250 to 500 rubles per day. Finally, one more popular place for recreation is the guest house "King of the Mountain". It is located on the outskirts of the city of Ruskeala. The cost of rest is from 300 rubles.

is a question asked by many who have learned about these wonderful places. In this article, we will try to explain as clearly as possible how to do this.

Option 1. By car.

The easiest and at the same time the most difficult route. From St. Petersburg, you need to go to the Novopriozerskoe highway, otherwise the A121 highway. There are 130 kilometers of excellent asphalt road to Priozersk. From Priozersk you need to move towards Sortavala. This is another 130 kilometers, but 90 of them are low-quality asphalt, and the remaining 40 are in the trash of a broken primer. After Sortavala the road becomes good again.

After leaving Sortavala, after 8 kilometers, look for the turn signal to Vartsel. The intersection is large, wide and quite difficult to miss. Turning and driving another 18 kilometers, you will have a stunning view of. Be sure to stop here and take a walk, recharge positive emotions and energy of nature.

After walking at the waterfalls, move on for another 3 kilometers. As soon as you cross the Tohmajoki River for the second time (the first was at the waterfalls), turn left. Directly at the crossroads with the road to the mountain park there will be a corresponding sign. Another 700-800 meters along a dirt road and you are in a mountain park, park, buy tickets and walk. Have a nice holiday.

Option 2. By bus.

From St. Petersburg towards Ruskeala there are buses from northern bus station in Murino and Ozerki metro station. Having bought a ticket and boarded the bus, you will not be expected to fascinating road at 5 - 6 o'clock. The best option will leave on the earliest possible bus. As a rule, this is a bus at half past midnight, but there are also later (earlier) ones, for example, at 9-10 in the morning.

Arriving at the bus station in Sortavala, you are given several options at once further way. You can take a taxi, which costs about 300-400 rubles to Ruskeala, or wait for the bus, which, as a rule, arrives at 19.30 at the bus station, in this case you will be in Ruskeala at about half past eight, and you will also have to walk a kilometer along a dirt road, but you save on a ticket that costs about 80 rubles.

There are cases when local Karelians, out of the kindness of their hearts, brought tourists to the marble quarry, but this is only a matter of luck and charisma of travelers.

Option 3. By train.

This method is the most difficult to implement. The difficulty lies in the fact that the train you need to take arrives at the nearest to Ruskeala locality at 4 in the morning. The train St. Petersburg - Kostomuksha departs on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 21.20-30 from the Ladozhsky railway station. The stop you need is Caalamo. Arrival 4.00. Next comes the hardest part. At 4 o'clock in the morning you need to find someone who will take you to Ruskeala or walk 8.5 kilometers. But even in the case of a leisurely walk, you will have to wait until 9 am, as the marble quarry opens to visitors at this particular time.

When choosing a path, remember that in winter the road is very different from the same road in summer. Be careful and careful, and most importantly, enjoy your time in picturesque places Karelia. Good luck on the road!

Mountain Park Ruskeala on the map with the route: