Ruskeala independent visit. Mountain park Ruskeala. Marble quarry Ruskeala in Karelia. GPS coordinates of a quarry in Ruskeala
"Ruskeala" (see photo below) is a mountain park located in Karelia near the city of Sortavala. It was created in 2005.
Story
marble canyon"Ruskeala" (Karelia) began to be developed in the 17th century. The work in those days was carried out by the Swedes. The extracted marble was used for the construction of foundations and in order to make building lime.
On the marble canyon "Ruskeala" turned Special attention in those days when palaces and cathedrals began to be built in St. Petersburg and its environs. The valuable stone mined in these places was highly valued by architects. Marble slabs were used to decorate their buildings by Montferrand and Rinaldi. This magnificent stone was faced with the Kazan and St. Isaac's Cathedrals, Mikhailovsky Castle, etc.
Before the start of the Russian-Finnish war, the quarries where the valuable stone was mined were flooded by the Finns. According to one version, this was done in order to harm the Soviet troops.
The marble canyon "Ruskeala" is still used today. Material was mined here, which was used for lining the Ladozhskaya and Primorskaya stations of the St. Petersburg Metro.
Exploitation of the surrounding deposits continues today. The former scale, of course, no longer exists, but there is a constant extraction and sale of crushed marble.
Attractions
Mountain Park "Ruskeala" - a marble canyon, which is a real museum of mining, as well as natural heritage. These places amaze with their beauty. The former quarries today are delightful. They resemble marble bowls that have been filled with bluish-green waters. Nearby adits look like mysterious caves.
Marble canyon "Ruskeala" in 1998 received new status. It was recognized as part of the Russian cultural heritage.
marble quarry
The place where valuable building material was mined in the past is one of the attractions mountain park Ruskeala. Today the quarry is filled with crystal-clear, emerald-colored water. The splendor of its patterned shores with sheer cliffs pleases the eye. In a former quarry, you can find places where marble shines through right through the water.
There are a number of viewing platforms around the perimeter of the stone quarrying site. From them you can admire the picturesque views. Viewed from these sites are brick ovens built before the 1917 revolution. They were used to obtain lime, which was produced by burning marble chips. The pipes of these furnaces are laid out in the shape of a cone and resemble minarets or ancient towers. It can be seen from the observation decks and the old administrative building. It is notable for the fact that it is laid out entirely of marble.
If you want to admire the landscapes of the local nature from the water, you can rent a boat on the pier. Then you can swim into the grottoes located in the sheer cliffs. Such a journey will leave an indelible impression, surprising with the play of light that is observed on the marble ceiling. Even at night, the marble canyon "Ruskeala" will delight you with bright colors. This is due to the artificial lighting arranged here.
Waterfall
Travelers seeking to get to the marble canyon "Ruskeala" (Karelia, Russia) will have to overcome the path along the banks of the Tokhmajoki River. Here, at the Ahvenkoski waterfall, it is worth stopping and admiring the opening landscapes. In order for travelers to relax and gain strength, benches are specially installed on the banks of the river.
Additionally, you can visit the destroyed Finnish power plant. It is located on the Tohmajoki River, just downstream from the waterfall.
Description of the canyon
There is more than one marble quarry in Ruskeal. But on the territory of the mountain park is the most beautiful of them. After the place was cultivated, a guard began to be on duty at the entrance. On the territory of the mountain park, a large number of stalls offering souvenirs to visitors have been installed. Here you can walk along neat paths sprinkled with marble chips, near which there are signposts and fences. Such changes cannot but rejoice. They testify that the Ruskeala marble canyon (see photo below) is under supervision and will retain its condition for many years.
Excursions
The area of the mountain park is relatively small. Its width is only 100 m, and its length is 450 m. In this regard, excursions conducted in "Ruskeala" (marble canyon) do not take much time.
Several more quarries are located around the park. Interestingly, the color of the water they are filled with is different everywhere. So, in the main quarry, you can admire the emerald greenish tint. The water in adjacent marble bowls is blue or gray with a bluish tint. There is no mystery in this. The shade of the liquid depends on the color of the marble lying here. There are also unflooded adits in the canyon. However, it should be borne in mind that in order to get into them, you must use the services of an escort. You should not do this on your own.
Walks outside the park
The so-called Italian quarries come close to the marble canyon. They can clearly observe evenly cut layers amazing stone. This spectacle is not limited to the mountain. Near the quarry there is a large number of abandoned marble blocks that were rejected at one time. The adits got their name due to the fact that the first developments on them were carried out according to Italian technologies with the involvement of specialists from this country.
Here you can also admire the marble pool, which is carved directly into the layers.
Diving
Diving enthusiasts who managed to visit the marble canyon "Ruskeala" are also satisfied. This place is a real paradise for divers. They are attracted by flooded quarries, which are connected to each other by adits. The majority of visitors do not see the underground horizons of numerous tunnels, in which marble was mined at one time.
The bottom of the main canyon is also of interest to divers. Here is an abandoned technique that was used to extract marble. The attractiveness of the place increases the transparency of the water, due to its low temperature. The fact is that cold springs hit in a career. That is why the water in it is constantly updated.
reservoirs
In "Ruskeala" there are flooded boats. The main one, which is located on the territory of a mountain park, rents out boats. On the banks of the remaining quarries, you can find several places for recreation with a tent. However, you should not count on privacy, as these places are very popular with tourists.
Not far from the park flows a river called Tohmajoki. On its banks you can also find several places for setting up a tent. However, there is a lot of rubbish here.
Visitor impressions
Those tourists who examined the marble canyon "Ruskeala" leave reviews about it as great location recreation. In this regard, the mountain park is very popular. In summer, it is best to come here on a weekday. Only in this case will it be possible to avoid pandemonium. You can visit the mountain park in the early morning, when most of the visitors have not yet arrived.
Difficulties
The marble canyon "Ruskeala" is located at a considerable distance from St. Petersburg. That is why a day trip is very tiring, especially for the driver. In addition, starting from Priozersk, the road is very winding and dangerous.
Caution does not hurt when using mobile communication. There is a border not far from the canyon, as a result of which there is a constant connection of unsolicited Finnish roaming (SMS messages are received from the mobile operator).
It should also be taken into account that the banks of the quarry are sheer steep cliffs. Climbing is prohibited here. There are signs posted all over the place. If you rent a boat, then you should not swim close to the rock. Sometimes stones fall from the tops.
Paid services
There is a small fee for walking around the park. Boat rental is paid. IN winter time a skating rink is arranged in the canyon. Skates can be rented here.
Road
So, you have chosen the marble canyon "Ruskeala" as a place of rest. How to get to it? It is possible to do this by public transport, but it is difficult. To do this, from St. Petersburg you have to get to the town of Sortovala. In this locality from the Northern capital go Shuttle Buses and trains. The next point of the route is the village of Ruskeala. You can get here by bus, which runs twice a day. Its route runs from Sortovala to Vartsila through Ruskeala. A distance of twenty-five kilometers can also be covered by taxi.
There is another option. In St. Petersburg, you need to take a train to Kostomuksha. The distance from this station to the park is eight kilometers. The train arrives in Kostomuksha at one in the morning and at four in the morning. Arriving on it, you can become the first visitors to the park.
It is much easier to get to the marble canyon by private car. At the same time, the route from St. Petersburg will run along the A-129 highway to Sortovala. Having reached this locality, you need to turn north to the village of Ruskevala. On the map, this is the A-130 highway. Not far from the village there is a sign in the direction of the mountain park. The car can be left on the side of the road or on free parking complex. It should be borne in mind that this route is not close. From St. Petersburg to the destination is almost three hundred and thirty kilometers.
Categories of excursions
Has "Ruskeala" (marble canyon) official website (base-ruskeala. rf). On it you can find a lot of useful information for tourists. There is also an opportunity to get acquainted with the categories of excursions offered in the mountain park. Among them are a weekend hike and a long walk, as well as a weekend itinerary.
Where can you stay?
In the village of Ruskeala there is a recreation center of the same name. It works year-round and is designed for ninety visitors. The recreation center has rooms of varying degrees of comfort. There are rooms for newlyweds and couples with babies.
On the territory you can have a picnic with barbecue. For guests there is a bathhouse built on the shore of the lake.
For vacationers, excursions to the marble canyon, to waterfalls or to Lake Valaam are arranged. For those who came to own car, secured parking. There is a rental center at the recreation center "Ruskeala" that provides sports equipment - footballs and volleyballs, bicycles, skis and skates. Picnic equipment is also provided here.
Conclusion
Marble canyon "Ruskeala" is popular all year round. There are many interesting places and amazing views. So, when visiting the mountain park and its environs, do not forget to take your camera with you. According to most tourists, the marble canyon is one of the most interesting places in Karelia.
In Karelia, not far from the city of Sortavala, in the village of Ruskeala, on the banks of the Tokhmajoki River, there is mountain park "Ruskeala". The main attraction of this park is the amazingly beautiful marble canyon. The depth of the canyon, which stretches for almost 500 meters in length and 100 meters in width, in some places reaches fifty meters.
Geography and climatic conditions
Karelia is located in the northwest of Russia, on the coast of the White Sea. Most of the territory of the republic is occupied by a hilly plain. The glacier that retreated to the north at one time had a strong influence on the relief structure of Karelia, forming a large number of moraine ridges, ramparts and ridges.
The climate in Karelia is generally mild, changing from maritime to temperate continental. For Karelia, precipitation is typical throughout the year. a large number precipitation.
Winters are snowy and cold, although frost is rare. Summer in these parts is short, mostly cool. Hot days are extremely rare.
The coldest months of the year are in January and February. July is considered the warmest month in Karelia, the average temperature during this period is +13 -15 degrees, the maximum air temperature can rise to +30 degrees.
Light day in Karelia has a different duration depending on the season. The shortest day is in December - about six hours in the south, four hours - in the Subpolar regions. Somewhere in mid-January, the daylight hours intensively increase, and in June-July the famous “white nights” begin, when the sun shines with almost round knocks.
The first to develop marble quarries in Ruskeala were the Swedes. Then, when these lands were transferred to Russia after successful military operations in the Northern War, the development of marble was suspended for some time. And only in 1769, Empress Catherine II issued a special decree, according to which work in the quarries was restored. The beginning of work on the quarries was associated with the active construction of new palaces and cathedrals in St. Petersburg.
Starting from the 17th century, the Ruskeala marble canyon began to supply different types marble to the capital and other cities of Russia. It was lined with marble mined here Saint Isaac's Cathedral in St. Petersburg, they decorated the floors of the Kazan Cathedral. Ruskeala marble was used for the manufacture of window sills and window cladding in the Hermitage, the facade of the Marble Palace, Winter Palace, Mikhailovsky and Taurida castles. In Soviet times, it was used to decorate the Primorskaya and Ladozhskaya metro stations in Leningrad. The locals are very proud of this.
Ruskeala today
Today, most of the quarries flooded with groundwater and the waters of the Tohmajoki River are no longer used for industrial purposes. Unique nature in combination with the results of human activities have made the canyon one of the most attractive natural attractions of Karelia. Some of the quarries are adapted for visiting tourists, while others continue to supply valuable building material.
Since marble of various colors was previously mined here, the banks of the canyon also acquired various shades. The marble quarries remaining under water differ from each other not only in outline, but also in bizarre shades of water. When you sail on the Marble Lake on a boat or boat, you find yourself in a snow-white, then malachite-green, or even completely black kingdom.
And the water in the lake is so transparent that you can see the bottom at a depth of 10-15 meters. Around there are many grottoes of the most bizarre shapes and shades, which creates a feeling as if you have fallen into fairyland. This lake trip is one of the most popular excursions among the tourists of Karelia.
No less exciting activity - walking tour along the shores of Marble Lake. Moreover, they are cleared and paths for tourists have already been laid along them. Some places are specially equipped viewing platforms. Tour guides take tourists to the mines and galleries within the walls of the quarry, most of which, unfortunately, was flooded during the Russian-Finnish war. And in the adits and drifts that have survived to this day, you can walk along the routes of the old masters.
Here you can find dry galleries but it is dangerous to go there unaccompanied. Interesting feature adit - the higher the temperature outside, the more deadly cold is felt inside.
One of the grottoes of Marble Lake was named "Musical Grotto" because of its unique acoustic features. in winter the park turns into a bizarre fairy-tale palace shrouded in snow and ice.
Ruskeala waterfalls
Tohmajoki River is one of the most major tributaries Lake Ladoga, its length is almost 40 kilometers. It has many rapids and waterfalls. The largest of them - Ahvenkoski waterfall, located three kilometers from the village of Ruskeala. The name of the waterfall is Finnish, which means “perch threshold”. Among local residents there is also the name "waterfall at the three bridges."
The waterfall is clearly visible from the road passing by the village, and therefore it attracts the attention of tourists. Especially for them, next to the waterfall, there is a parking lot, a recreation area with cozy gazebos and awnings. Once upon a time, it was on this waterfall that the famous bathing scene of the heroine of the famous Soviet film"And the dawns here are quiet."
Ahvenkoski is a complex that includes four waterfalls about four meters high. This is a favorite place for tourists and fans of active water recreation.
Another waterfall near the village - Ryumyakoski which is not accessible by car. The road there is very swampy, so you have to walk about 200 meters. Once there was a Finnish hydroelectric power station on Ryumyakoski, some of the dilapidated buildings of which have survived to this day.
Behind the village of Ruskeala, where the Tokhmajoki River crosses the road, an amazing picture of another group of water rapids opens before the eyes of the tourist. And, although these waterfalls are not so high, nevertheless, their unique and enchanting beauty cannot leave anyone indifferent.
Ruskeala failure
Ruskeala failure- Another attraction of Karelia, it is located on the border of the territories of the mountain park and the current marble factory. Local residents claim that this ice failure was formed when blasting was carried out in a nearby quarry in the 60s of the last century. The roof of the semi-flooded adits left by the Finns could not stand it and went under water, forming an oval-shaped hole on the surface of about 20 by 30 meters. From here you can go down to the mining center. Once upon a time, the underground zone was connected to the territory of the current mountain park through unflooded adits. But now they are all under the rubble. Inside the sinkhole, especially in its distant parts, the ice does not melt even in the summer.
Lutheran parish
The Lutheran parish in the village of Ruskeala was founded in 1727. The wooden building was designed by the Finnish architect Anders Fredrik Granstedt in 1834, approved by the famous German architect Johan Carl Ludvig Engel.
The building almost completely burned down during the war in 1941, only fragments of its foundation have survived to this day. The church bell was moved to Stockholm, where it is still kept.
The modern Lutheran parish was founded in 1990, when local residents registered the Church of Ingria. When the church was open small hotel"Papilla".
Do you know how to get to? Do you want to see the sights of Petrozavodsk? Read the answers to these questions, as well as tips on how to get there, where to stay and what to see in the city on our website!
Water activities and excursions
divers, especially cave divers, love to train in Marble Lake, swimming in the most remote corners of the quarry. At one time, there were three underground horizons of marble mining here - there is where lovers of underwater travel can roam. After the Finns flooded many mines and adits during the war, a huge amount of equipment remained at the bottom of the canyon, which attracts cave and techno divers in our time.
Amateurs make their routes along the rapids of the Tahmajoki River, from spring to the end of summer. The length of the route is about 2.5 kilometers, along the way there are dams and blockages created by beavers.
Travel company in the city of Sortavala - "Kolmas Karelia" organizes rafting one-two- and three-day itineraries along the local rivers - Janisjoki and Tahmajoki. The tour includes a transfer from Sortavala to the start of the rafting, the cost of which is from 1,500 to 6,500 rubles per person, depending on the duration. Multi-day rafting includes accommodation, meals and various educational excursions to local attractions. The complexity of the routes depends on the preparedness of the tourists.
For inexperienced tourists those wishing to try their hand at rafting at the Forest Hotel Vegarus offer a route along the Janisjoki River. The program has two routes to choose from - a length of 7 and 9 kilometers. Rafting takes about 2-2.5 hours. In addition, the program includes a rest at the finish line, where you will be treated to excellent fish soup from local trout. The cost of the tour is from 2,400 rubles per person.
The hotel offers several options for excursions to local attractions. Very interesting trip to a lost village Kinerma It will help you to get acquainted with the culture and history of the local people. In this village are unique monuments architecture dating back to the 16th century.
Ruskeala mountain park in Karelia amazing place. This is a unique attraction not only in Karelia, but throughout Europe. More than 50 thousand tourists visit the Ruskeala park and quarry every year. The quarries created by human hands, where marble was mined until the 19th century, attract and beckon with their beauty, fresh clean air of the Ladoga region.
Abandoned quarry turned into an interesting tourist attraction mountain park Ruskeala in 2005, thanks to the efforts of several enthusiasts. For 200 rubles you can get around along the tourist routes. Paying more, you can take a boat or try yourself in extreme form sports. I recommend mountain park Ruskeala to visit in Karelia. It is also interesting to know what is popular in the Ruskeala area: hotels, prices and recreation centers.
The month of June turned out to be rich in travel. I visited Bangkok, then Pattaya, then Moscow, then I went to St. Petersburg and visited Karelia. To be honest, going there, I had no idea what the Ruskeala mountain park was and how mesmerizingly beautiful it was. But I saw this place and was completely delighted. After visiting I learned enough interesting materials about in Karelia, and now I can tell you.
Location of Ruskeala mountain park in Karelia
Main landmark marble canyon Ruskeala in Karelia it is the city of Sortavala. Sortavala is located about 30 km from career Ruskeala and is known for being the starting point to Valaam for thousands of thousands of travelers from all over the world. Valaam is perhaps the most famous island on Lake Ladoga.
The island is similar to the island city of Sviyazhsk near Kazan with its numerous monasteries and churches. You can get there only by water - a round trip ticket starts from 2000 rubles per person. But Ruskeala marble quarry in Karelia also an interesting attraction, even more accessible and not overloaded with crowds of tourists that can overshadow any, even the most interesting trip.
Ruskeala Quarry. Found this cute card:
Unusual discoveries in Ruskeala park, which are not written about anywhere
The first thing that surprised me was that mountain park Ruskeala private, created with the money of investors in 2015. In total, about 600 thousand rubles were spent. By my Moscow standards, they even met the budget. At the same time, paths, viewing platforms, illumination of the marble quarry were equipped in the Ruskeala mountain park, extreme rope descents. The park is being watched and it shows. And it’s not a pity even to give money for the entrance. In the park marble quarry Ruskeala perfect cleanliness, the water is clear, but this is of course more natural feature, but at least nothing floats in the water: no leaves, no bottles.
The park is equipped with all kinds of maps and signs, and in general makes a good impression.
Entrance to the marble canyon Ruskeala in Karelia
Entrance to the paid, as I said, and at the same time, the organizers also turned out to be not fools. As I noticed, every day in the Ruskeala mountain park they give out bracelets of different colors. The colors seem to be repeated, but for 2 days in a row you won’t be able to visit one bracelet at a time. And we wanted 🙂 Yesterday we had blue bracelets, the next day they sold yellow ones, and there are also orange ones for sure.
Entrance fee to Ruskeala park in Karelia
Now for the cost of visiting. mountain park Ruskeala in 2017. I read the articles of my blogger friends literally in February 2017, the entrance to the Ruskeala mountain park was 150 rubles. I visited in June 2017, the entrance is already 200 rubles. But it's worth it, of course. Well, a picture with an input cost for clarity. Discounts for schoolchildren, students, residents of the Sortavala region. Children, veterans of the Second World War and residents of besieged Leningrad - free of charge.
The entrance to marble canyon Ruskeala in Karelia as follows. Recently they put up a sign for tourists "Visit center".
Lots inside useful information about the mountain park Ruskeala.
You can also take a map of the Ruskeala marble quarry in Karelia, all sorts of advertising brochures, read for general development.
A bit of history of the mountain park Ruskeala in Karelia
The territory of the current park and marble quarry Ruskeala in Karelia was Swedish until 1721. The Swedes mined marble in small quantities. After the Great Northern war, when the territory of the Ruskeala marble quarry became Russian, the extraction of industrial marble here began in the 1760s. Marble from Ruskeala was used to decorate St. Isaac's Cathedral, Mikhailovsky Castle, the Small Marble Palace and Kazan Cathedral in St. Petersburg.
As I already said, the main attraction of the Ruskeala mountain park is the marble quarry. This is a huge area of marble production, with adits and equipment, flooded with water. The view here is really beautiful, I was completely delighted, although, perhaps, it is already difficult to surprise me with something. Transparent water, with visibility up to 15-18 meters, small blue boats on the water, sheer marble cliffs, everything is very very beautiful and majestic.
It is also interesting that the entrance to the Ruskeala mountain park is from the side where the view of the marble quarry is the most beautiful. Going to the end of the short tourist route, you can go back to another part of the quarry. And the view there is no longer the same, the rocks are more gentle and overgrown with moss.
Around marble quarry Ruskeala in Karelia paths and viewing platforms are equipped, but I would not advise staying on them for a long time, because there was already a precedent when blocks of marble broke off and fell down. They can even be seen through the crystal clean water. Even at the bottom of the quarry there is equipment, it’s just that everything was flooded suddenly when the Finns left these lands.
Another place in the Ruskeala mountain park in Karelia that I want to talk about is the so-called Ruskeala failure. It was formed as a result of explosions in neighboring adits and fascinates with its scale, depth and eternal people at the bottom, which does not melt even in summer. You can go down there, and in winter even go ice skating.
All quarries in Ruskeala are separated by adits, which are almost all filled with water. However, there is one that you can get into. And it looks like gnomes worked there 🙂 Because with my beautiful height of 175 cm, I couldn’t calmly pass. There are "places for headbutting," as the tour guides joke. The hall is cool and the lights are flickering. Looks like one of the bulbs just burned out. However, it was very colorful, walking through the cave in marble rock by flashing lights.
The adit comes to the surface and if you raise your head up, then people are walking there. And this is the top view.
If you move away from the beaten paths, you can find quite interesting places in the mountain park Ruskeala. One of them - italian quarry. It is not related to the Italians and pasta has never been here. Just marble was mined using Italian technology. But the marble was not of very high quality, crumbled, and soon the quarry was closed. Blocks of marble still stand in this place. And on it you can see the stripes that have remained since the time of its extraction.
If you go beyond the Italian quarry marble canyon Ruskeala in Karelia, then you can see another quarry where they don’t lead hiking trails and equipped paths. You need to get to the quarry along a pile of stones.
But the view from it is fantastic. The abyss is behind us. I'm scared. I'm on the left 🙂
Ruskeala hotels prices and recreation centers
I’ll tell you separately where to stay if you go on vacation to Karelia and want to visit Ruskeala itself has a recreation center, but it is quite expensive, due to its good location next to the Ruskeala mountain park. Therefore, the most optimal housing in terms of price and quality is the city of Sortavala. In Sortavala there is a choice of accommodation for different categories of tourists. Not so big, but still there. The direction is developing, the Finns are actively visiting the city, so a certain tourist infrastructure is being created for them.
Prices are quite affordable, and for lovers of economy and nature, there is an opportunity to simply put up a tent. So, Ruskeala - hotels, prices and recreation centers in the Sortavala area, from where you can easily get to Ruskeala marble quarry in Karelia. Here, as elsewhere, there are offers for budget tourists, as well as for those who are not going to save money. Prices for hotels and recreation centers in Karelia near Ruskeala start from 1,500 rubles for two. Below is a selection of several options for recreation in Karelia near the marble canyon. You can view prices, as well as book hotels and recreation centers using widgets.
The nearest hotels and recreation centers to Ruskeala
Inexpensive hotels and recreation centers near Ruskeala (in Sortavala)
The best hotels and recreation centers near Ruskeala
Most best hotels and recreation centers near Ruskeala are located on the island of Riekkalansaari near Sortavala:
For a complete picture, I am also attaching a map of Ruskeala with the nearest hotels.
Shops in the mountain park Ruskeala
Near the park there are cute souvenir shops with all sorts of garbage. A bunch of memorabilia, marble items, amulets, amulets, magnets, bags of herbs and other crap.
If you want to eat after long walks By marble quarry Ruskeala in Karelia, then there is only fast food here. You can buy the famous Karelian wicket (with cheese and cheese or with potatoes and red fish), hot corn is sold on the street, and fish is fried. After several hours of walks in the Ruskeala mountain park, you will be so hungry that you will no longer care what you eat 🙂
So, today I talked about the Ruskeala mountain park, the main attraction of which is the Ruskeala marble quarry in Karelia. In addition, there is also an Italian quarry, an abandoned quarry (I’ll tell you about it another time), adits, and Akhvenkoski waterfalls, which is often called the Ruskeala waterfall. This place is known for the fact that the film "The Dawns Here Are Quiet" was filmed there. But more about that in future articles.
Life hacks of visiting Ruskeala mountain park in Karelia
Many seek to get to Karelia and the Ruskeala mountain park, most tourists choose Saturday. Naturally, Saturdays from 13 to 18 are the busiest peak times in Marble Canyon. If you want to truly enjoy privacy with amazing nature Karelia, calmly go boating in the canyon, try all possible entertainments and attractions and avoid long lines and crowds of tourists - I suggest you go to Karelia b weekdays or Sunday.
So, what can you do in the Ruskeala mountain park on weekdays and Sundays, without queues and rush?
1. Guided tour of the park, visiting abandoned quarries and the ruins of an old marble factory that have survived to this day.
2. Jump from the 24-meter cliff of the Maramor Canyon. Of course, with insurance. The height of free fall in this case is 8 meters.
3. Passage along the rope bridge: three ropes are stretched across the canyon at a height of 24 meters - you walk one at a time, you hold on to two.
4. Downhill along an obliquely stretched cable straight to the surface of Marble Lake. This is the longest troll in Europe!
5. Rope park for younger children. Trains agility and endurance.
6. Fascinating and romantic boat trip through the marble canyon. You will be able to swim in all corners of the canyon and in underwater grottoes (from the moment the ice melts from the lake).
7. Photographing and communicating with husky dogs.
8. Rent of standard and small (for children) snowmobiles (in winter).
9. Riding on an inflatable banana behind a snowmobile (in winter).
10. Driving around Ruskeala in jeeps (by appointment).
11. Dog sledding.
13. Workshops on making souvenirs in the souvenir workshop.
14. Rental of sports equipment (cheesecakes, skis, skates, bicycles).
That's all for now. Soon I will tell you more about Karelia, because I have visited and seen a lot of things. She didn’t tell everything about Thailand, and there will be several articles about Crimea soon. In general, subscribe to updates and share the article in in social networks. +100500 to karma guaranteed 🙂
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 with 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. 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!
I have always associated Karelia with an unusually beautiful wildlife and mysterious silence, but only in the summer of 2015 I decided to open the veil and finally see it with my own eyes. Of course, I did not set a goal to travel around all the wonders of the Republic, but set quite feasible tasks. So, a weekend in Karelia with a visit to the Ruskeala waterfalls and the Marble Canyon promised to be memorable…
Holidays in Karelia in the summer on your own:
We decided to celebrate the Day of Russia over a fragrant barbecue in the vastness of the Karelian Republic, but it’s better to start my story from the beginning. To travel to the Marble Canyon, it is becoming popular to use the services of travel agencies, but in fact, intermediaries are not needed to visit these marvelous places. There are many reasons for this, but the most main reason that when you set off on your own, you yourself will set the pace of your journey, and not adapt to the schedule imposed by limited time and the chosen route. In less than a full day, we saw the maximum and not only saw it, but more on that later. Numerous photos cannot truly convey the beauty of these places, so read carefully, look at the photos, enjoy the video and be sure to start planning your trip to the expanses of Karelia!
Rest in Karelia in summer:
By two cars we set off from St. Petersburg at 10 am.
We drove for about five and a half hours, as it was impossible to overcome the ring road without traffic jams ...
Sosnovo, Losevo, Priozersk and Karelian Sortavala lay on our route.
Ruskeala on the map of Karelia:
Ruskeala is located to the north of Sortavala and almost parallel to Petrozavodsk.
To Karelia by car reviews:
What can I say about the trip itself. Ring Road - get ready for traffic jams and visit the toilet in advance. Even before Priozersk, you need to refuel your car, since Karelia, of course, has gas stations, but they are already very far away, as far as in Sortaval ... The road behind Priozersk, or rather behind the fork with the village of Kuznechnoye, presents unexpected surprises: a section of the road that is not covered with asphalt begins with a very uneven surface. At times it resembles a washboard, at times races in the desert on dunes, as the car in front raises such clouds of dust that it is simply impossible to drive. A thick curtain of dust like dense fog reduces visibility to a few meters. There will be several such sections of the road to Sortavala, or rather three, and it will not be possible to drive quickly on each of them. Although there are lovers to drive and even on sections of the road where the limit of 40 km / h overtake you by eighty and absolutely deprive you of all visibility in front of you. Sharp frequent turns are very reminiscent of a serpentine in Krasnodar Territory, the only plus is the absence of cliffs along the edges of the road.
We made a stop in the city of Sortavala, bought some Karelian balsam and set off on an adventure.
Karelia Ruskeala Marble quarry and waterfalls
The first object to be inspected on our route were famous waterfalls Ruskeala. They are famous especially thanks to the filming of the film "The Dawns Here Are Quiet". The action of the film takes place several times near these same waterfalls, the bathing scene in front of the Germans Zhenya Komelkova is especially famous.
Since then, of course, a lot has changed, but not the beauty of nature and not the stream of cold water descending in stormy streams. Pulling off the road, you find a small parking lot ahead, honey merchants on the right, and gazebos for lunch on the left. It smells of barbecue and it is here that you begin to realize that you have come to relax and enjoy the beauty of Karelia.
We are also tired of long way and decided to have a bite to eat before the start of the tour. There were no more places left in the gazebos, so we took wooden benches near a flat stone resembling a table.
So, the food is over and we finally moved to the waterfall. ..
From the side of the road, the view is not impressive, therefore, in order to find yourself in the thick of things, you should go to the opposite side and look at the waterfall up close. In May 2015, the territory near the Ruskeala waterfall was ennobled by building bizarre bridges and decorating fairytale heroes funny stumps, in the photos below you will see for yourself. What is most interesting, the entrance to the territory, despite the attractiveness for tourists, is still free. Although, I will tell a funny story related to this fact. At the beginning of May 2015, the construction of bizarre objects was coming to an end, and when a beautiful booth was built on the territory (pictured below), resembling a cash register, the builders were not at a loss even from law-abiding persons in the composition bus tours did not hesitate to charge an entrance fee of 100 rubles. It was very Russian))) Of course, not everyone paid, on the contrary, few people, but the experiment was a success anyway.
So the entrance
Although, a little more of your attention. As you can see in the photo to the right of the entrance there is a wooden building, so this is a souvenir shop where you can buy wooden souvenirs (spoons, hot coasters, other kitchen utensils) and many magnets and other handicrafts that can be useful in everyday life or hang on the wall as a souvenir. The cost of the magnet is from 150 rubles.
We enter the territory:
Coins are put in the hollow to Baba Yaga and make a wish:
Ruskeala waterfalls photo:
Children really like the walk, because looking under almost any bush or behind a stone you find amazing fairy-tale scenery there:
Bunnies collect cones:
Under the bridge, a stump is sad, to which no one is in a hurry to approach, since it is dirty and wet in the lowland (
Another intricately colored stump:
Ruskeala waterfalls Marble Canyon:
The tree is already desperate to acquire a bark, as everyone hugs it and deprives it of the latter.
And here is a photo of the beach on which Zhenya Komelkova in the film “The Dawns Here Are Quiet” swam in cold water, driving German soldiers away from their positions:
It took us about 40 minutes to inspect the waterfalls, with lunch we got an hour. If you want to take a longer walk or eat more, then count your time, because the most interesting is yet to come ...
Ruskeala marble canyon how to get there
Still by car, we go further and ahead of us is the most interesting.
The parking lot at the Marble Canyon is large, so after choosing a place, we go along the souvenir rows to the ticket offices.
Ruskeala mountain park prices
The entrance costs 150 rubles, and as confirmation that it is paid for, you get an orange paper bracelet that you can stick on your hand and on your bag, so long as the guard at the entrance determines that you have it.
ADVICE: you can ride a boat in the company of up to four people for an hour for 400 rubles, but there are only 9 boats, you can’t book them on time, and there are a lot of people who want to, therefore, in order not to stand in line for 2-3 hours, we recommend that you first take a queue and then go for a walk in the park!
I won't talk much about the historical significance this place and about how many magnificent creations known to the whole world are built from marble mined in this quarry, I just suggest you enjoy the photos, video and story of the visit, and for a more in-depth study, hire a guide or read a lot of interesting things about the Marble Canyon on the Internet .
Ruskeala Marble Canyon photo:
Cables are stretched across the canyon, and extreme sportsmen rush along them, crossing it along almost completely through the air. We will definitely return to this issue and show you a high-quality video with magnificent landscapes, filmed right in motion, but for now we are moving along the right side of the canyon:
In the 2000s, attention was paid to the forgotten and abandoned part of Karelia, and since 2005 excursions have been organized here, and now an amazing transformation has taken place and an unusual landscape has appeared before enthusiastic tourists:
Currently, only a small part of the marble quarry is used for marble extraction.
Three quarries were formed along the river, in which marble was actively mined in an open way.
The trails are multi-level
View from above:
Bottom view:
Active holidays in Karelia in summer:
Unreal views on extreme entertainment:
The bungee costs 1,000 rubles, and for an additional 500 rubles you will be equipped with a camera and a 2 GB micro SD card will be left as a keepsake with a recording of your flight:
Not everyone reaches the end, for example, the girl in the photo below had to be dragged to the end of the route, as she stopped 50 meters from the finish line.
And here is what the finish looks like:
The men stayed on the bungee, the women went to explore the second part of the route:
Ruskeala failure:
I heard that in the summer, ice skating is offered as an entertainment:
The booth presents interesting unusual pictures of the Ruskeala sinkhole:
Kupchino (district of St. Petersburg):
The first marble deposit in Ruskeala was discovered in 1766. The quarried marble was of different colors: white-gray-blue, ash gray, gray-green and white with gray veins. To develop a quarry not for building lime, but on a full scale began after the order of Empress Catherine II. St. Isaac's Cathedral became the crown of creation in the Northern Capital of Russia from Ruskeala marble. After its construction, the extraction of marble in these parts began to come to naught.
Italian Quarry:
Toward the end of the route - the most extreme:
And here is what the jump looks like in the video:
Without leaving the park, you can get souvenirs:
Prices are moderate, but not low, for example, a magnet or a souvenir for good luck will cost from 200 rubles.
Having finished with a walk and souvenirs, we went to the pier:
In the photo above, a raft is floating behind my back, which can be rented by a company for 4,000 rubles for an hour, but I do not advise you to do this, because then you will not be able to do it like we did.
We waited in a queue for the vacant boat already at seven o'clock in the evening, the guard gave us a ticket, according to which a check is issued at the box office after payment and you give it back to the guard. For skiing, you will definitely be given a life jacket, which has another important function - it warms. And on the water, as you know, it is always colder than on land.
The transparency of the water reaches 15 meters in good weather, and the color changes from green to gray depending on the light and time of day.
Nest of seagulls and cubs:
Walking along the top you will not be able to see such landscapes: an unreal view from the grotto!
So, we rent a boat for 400 rubles for an hour, sail to the grottoes and ... Watch to the end!! At the end the most interesting!
As you can see, we waited for our boat)
At the beginning of the seventh, with a feeling of complete satisfaction, we got into the car and went to the place of our overnight stay - the Usadba Hotel, located in a place called Lyaskelya.
Here we were offered a spacious room for four with a kitchen and a huge veranda for 4,300 rubles per day. On the first floor is located inexpensive cafe, where for 55 rubles you will be offered 100 g of ice cream, and for 75 rubles - a portion of pancakes with jam. There are other dishes to choose from and all for a reasonable price. But we didn’t go to eat pancakes, but kebabs, so we used the free barbecue from the hotel, which was located at the end of the building and cooked ourselves a delicious dinner.
After dinner we went to the celebration of Russia Day. In honor of the holiday, a stage was equipped 150 meters from the hotel and the artists sang their favorite songs live. They inflated a trampoline for the children, set up tents with popcorn and cotton candy, and set up a dance floor.
We did not linger for a long time, but before going to bed we walked around the neighborhood of our place of stay:
The trip was wonderful and not expensive.
We were in no rush and got everything done.
Rest in Karelia in the summer of 2015 on our own, we recommend to everyone!
