One of the most popular sights of Karelia - beautiful mountain park and marble canyon Ruskeala ... Sheer marble rocks go vertically down and drop into emerald-green water, and around the quarry there is a well-groomed and landscaped path with wonderful views.

Many years ago, in the 18th century, marble was mined here, which was used to decorate many architectural structures in St. Petersburg, Gatchina and Tsarskoe Selo. In particular, marble for the construction of the magnificent St. Isaac's Cathedral, perhaps the most beautiful in St. Petersburg, was mined here. The decoration of the majestic Kazan Cathedral was also not without Ruskeala marble, here it was used for facing mosaic floors.
At the beginning of the 20th century, the extraction of marble stopped, the quarries were filled with water and turned into beautiful mountain lakes... The result is a kind of fusion of natural sights with a living open-air mining museum.

In fact, there are several quarries here. The largest, the main one, is called the Great Marble Canyon. Its length is slightly less than 500 meters and its width is up to 100 meters. Not far from the Italian quarry and two small lakes. Under the quarries there is a whole network of underground tunnels - adits and drifts - with a total length of several kilometers.

Although the Marble Canyon ("Main" Quarry) is a listed industrial monument cultural heritage Karelia, myself Mountain park Ruskeala, founded in 2005, is a private territory. During this time, work was carried out on the arrangement of the territory: paths were laid, fences and stairs were installed, observation platforms were built, lighting was arranged, and a car park was equipped. Now Ruskeala is visited by several thousand tourists a year.

Around the marble canyon you can not only walk, but in summer you can take an exciting boat trip.

Swim into the grottoes. There are several of them here, but the accessible grottoes are not very deep.

Seagulls nest on the rock ledges.On the mirror-smooth surface of the marble quarry, you can ride not only by boat, but also by a small ferry.

A rope is stretched across the entire marble canyon, on which you can make a lightning-fast exciting (even slightly extreme) journey to the other end of the quarry :-)

Since 2013 route mountain park Ruskeala has been expanded. Now you can easily reach another interesting place, which is located near the main quarry. This is an Italian quarry. Here you can approach the rock massif tightly and touch the marble cut with your hands.

Walking through the Ruskeala mountain park, you will also see the "underground lake" - Ruskeala depression, enter the underground adit.

How else to have fun in Ruskeale?

• With the use of climbing equipment, one can descend into a cave that was once a mine.
• There is a rope park not far from the small quarry.
• I must say that Ruskeala Park is interesting and picturesque not only in the warm season. From November to March, at nightfall and until the park closes, artistic lighting is turned on here.

Ruskeala - is it safe to travel with children?

Of course, a visit to the marble canyon with children suggests that they will have to be constantly monitored. The path itself, laid around the quarry, is absolutely safe:

There are no critically steep descents and ascents on it. But a child, left to himself, can easily climb over the railing of the fences and head to the very cliff. Be careful not to leave children unattended. Then your family vacation will remain a wonderful experience.

Will one day be enough to see Ruskeala?

If you don't have any specific plans, that's definitely enough. Most likely, even a few hours will be enough. A "standard" set of activities - calmly and without haste to walk, take pictures, ride a boat - will take about 3 hours. ), and on most Karelian roads it will not be possible to accelerate much;)) Therefore, of course, it is better to provide for an overnight stay in the vicinity of Sortavala or Lahdenpohja.
In summer, to visit Ruskeala, it is worth choosing a weekday whenever possible.

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 means "mad" in Finnish. Most likely, she received such a name for her restive nature. It was caused by numerous thresholds. Locals also call it Ruskolka from the Karelian word "ruskea" - "redhead". This is the color of the water in the river.

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

From quarry to park

Marble in this area began to be mined in the middle of the 17th century. More than three hundred years ago, this territory was ruled by the Swedes. They did not appreciate the natural beauty of the stone and made lime out of it. She was required in large quantities for the construction of residential buildings and fortifications. The deposit 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 the suburbs, which required a huge amount of marble.

Photo: The local marble has a beautiful pattern

In the summer of 1765, mining masters came to Ruskealu to assess the quality of the stone. Marble was found to be suitable. The Empress issued a corresponding decree, and a year later they began the industrial development of the deposit. Since there was a shortage of specialists in the capital, stone-cutters, along with their families, were brought 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 were delivered by sleighs or carts to the village of Khelyulya near Serdobol (now Sortavala). There they were loaded onto small ships and transported along Ladoga to St. Petersburg. The Isaac and Kazan Cathedrals, the Marble Palace and the Mikhailovsky Castle were erected from Ruskeala marble. The development of the field ended only at the end of the 80s of the last century.

In 2005, on the site of a mining and industrial enterprise appeared nature Park... Its concept was developed by the Karelian local historian Andrei Gribushin. An illuminated walking trail was built around the former quarry. Observation platforms were set up in the most spectacular places. Developed excursion programs... The new tourist attraction quickly gained popularity. Now during the year it is visited by about 300 thousand tourists! Ruskeala Mountain Park is unique as it is the only such object in Russia.

Ruskeala hits

The dominant feature of the mountain park is undoubtedly the quarry itself. He was romantically nicknamed "The Marble Canyon". And he deserves this name. A giant niche is filled with water. In fact, this is a 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 was created by man.

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. The spacious rooms are especially impressive. They are decorated with marble columns that rise from the bottom of an underground lake. It is possible to get into them only with scuba diving. Man-made caves look especially impressive in winter. When the water freezes, ice stalagmites and stalactites. They often resemble fairy-tale figures of animals and people.

In the northern part of the park there is an adit entrance. A hundred years ago, it was pierced in the upper underground horizon. From a special bridge you can see the shaft of an old vertical shaft. Picturesque places include the cliffs of Catherine II and Ivan da Marya. Even more impressive is the "Underground Lake" sinkhole, along which you can take a walk along the pontoons. And the Italian Quarry is absolutely mesmerizing! It traditionally serves as a place for mass photo sessions.

Mountain park - not only industrial facility but also a natural open-air museum. Many plants grow on its territory, which are included in the "Red Book". It is home to rare species of reptiles, amphibians and bats. To prevent visitors from spontaneous "mining" of marble, a small mine 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, you cannot avoid a picturesque place with seething waterfalls formed by the Tohmajoki River. Before the war they were called "Ahinkoski". Translated from Finnish, this means "Waterfalls". 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 rental, hiking trails... There is a large car park.

Things to do in Ruskeale

In addition to 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 up. But the view from the water is fantastic! Only by boat is it possible to visit some of the caves, since the entrance to them is only from the water. If you are too lazy to work with oars, you can take a ride on a small boat with a motor. It accommodates over ten people. These walks are available from May 20 to September 30.

Photo: Boat trip on Lake Marmara

For connoisseurs of extreme sports, we recommend "zipline" - a flight over an abyss by a cable car. The "bungee" is in effect. Dog sledding trips are popular in winter. Huskies are the driving force. The amazing transparency of the water in the lake attracts divers here. They make scuba diving trips through the labyrinths of flooded quarries. Old equipment remained at the bottom of the quarry - a crane and dump trucks. Underwater visibility reaches 14-17 m. Such entertainment is offered not to ordinary visitors, but to experienced divers.

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

Tours and opening hours

You will have to pay to visit the Mountain Park. You can walk around the territory on your own. Tours are offered for an additional fee. There are two routes: the short one ("Marble Canyon") goes around the quarry; the long one ("Dear Mining Masters") also includes the failure and the Italian quarry.

The excursion "Underground Ruskeala" is more exotic. The length of the route is 850 m. The duration is 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 to 19 (Fri-Sat from 10 to 22); 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 clothes

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

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

In the Sortavala region there are cottages and guest houses, whose guests are offered organized trips to the Mountain Park. There is a camping near Ruskeala waterfalls. In the vicinity there are many picturesque places 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 Ruskealu are connected by the A129 highway, which passes through the cities of Priozersk and Sortavala. Distance - 309 km. approximate time on the way - about 5 hours. From the Ladozhsky railway station, a train runs to Kostomuksha, which makes a stop in Sortavala. Then you will have to take a taxi or a regular bus. Several times a day he goes to Vyartsilya through Ruskeala.

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

From Petrozavodsk by car, take the P21 highway through Kolatselga. Distance - 287 km. Travel time is 4-5 hours. Train # 680-Ch runs to Sortavala. Then they get to Ruskeala by taxi or bus. Taxi drivers are waiting for tourists on railway station... For a group, you can take a minibus.

Getting out into the air is useful at any time of the year, and you don't have to take a vacation for that. In the relative proximity to the city, there are enough places where you can spend the weekend: relax in nature, visit the local arboretum and go down into the adit of an old marble quarry, the stones of which are almost two billion years old. Or commit little trip by water to the island of Valaam, when the weather permits. The Village continues the "Weekend Itinerary" section - we choose one direction, the final destination and interesting stops along the way.

Ruskeala Natural Park seems to have been created for quiet rest and walks along steep stone slopes, although it appeared as a result of the development of a valuable stone. Isaac and Kazan cathedrals, the Hermitage and the Mikhailovsky castle are decorated with local marble. If you have enough time, visit Priozersk and Sortavala, small towns in the bays of Lake Ladoga. Very close is the Russian-Finnish border, from which you can continue your journey to the lake part of Suomi. In recent years, many of our compatriots have appeared here, who add Ruskeala to their trip to Valaam.

How to get there

By bus from the bus station to Sortavala
(they run twice a day, 500 rubles), by minibus - about a thousand rubles.

By train- from the Finland Station. From Sortavala by car or taxi to Ruskeala (37 kilometers, about 20-30 minutes).

By car along Priozerskoe highway (A129
to Priozersk, then Sortavala and up (A130)
to Ruskeala. The road will take 4-5 hours.

Ruskeala park and surroundings

1. Saint Petersburg 2. Priozersk 3. Sortavala 4. Ruskeala
5. Balaam 6. Finland

rubles- entrance to the Ruskeala park

kilometers- the length of the Tohmajoki waterfall

rubles- the cost of a set lunch
in the local Lutheran parish

years-approximate age of Ruskeala stones

meters- length of the Ruskeala quarry

kilometers- distance from Ruskeala to the border
with Finland

Priozersk

A small settlement on Vuoksa and Lake Ladoga first mentioned in chronicles in 1295. For some time the city bore the name of Kexholm, and received its current name after the Second World War. If you are driving, then look into the ruins of the Korela fortress, see the Lutheran church (it was built by the Finnish architect Armas Lindgren) and walk to the Mowgli monument - this is the only monument to the character of Rudyard Kipling in Russia.

Sortavala

Immediately after Priozerskoe, the quality of the coating deteriorates sharply. The track running through the forest winds, but outwardly looks like a washboard. Motorists, get ready to drive at a speed of 10 kilometers per hour and remember the domestic road services with a kind word. By the way, the new St. Petersburg - Sortavala highway is under construction, it will be ready by 2016. The question of what will help her not turn into the same washboard remains open.

The city of Sortavala, like most of the border settlements, has a difficult fate. Rebuilt at the beginning of the century by leading Finnish architects (Uno Werner Ullberg, Gottlieb Eliel Saarinen, Johan Jakob Arenberg), the center of Sortavala has survived to this day, despite the bombing in 1939-1940. Then almost all the indigenous Finnish population of the city left these lands, and after the war, the Soviet authorities decided to resettle the evacuees here from the Vologda region.

Clockwise: embankment of Sortavala, Korela fortress, embankment in Priozersk

In addition to the architecture of Northern Art Nouveau, the city has the Museum of Northern Ladoga, which contains thousands of household items of the indigenous population of Karelia. There is a local arboretum eight kilometers from the city and cottage village"Winter's Dacha". Renting a six-seater house in the off-season costs from 5,900 to 10 thousand rubles.

It is worth staying in Sortavala if there is enough time and there is no rush. If hot dogs and chocolates at gas stations took too many minutes of the trip, go to Ruskeala right away.

Ruskeala

The road from Sortavala to Ruskeala takes 15-30 minutes, you can get on one of the inexpensive taxis(numbers are pasted on trees and lampposts). Or catch a car for 200-300 rubles. The bus to Ruskeala runs twice a day, its final stop is the town of Vyartsilya.

It is worth starting the inspection from the waterfalls, which are located four kilometers from Ruskeala. On the Akhvenkoski waterfall, which can be seen from the road even in the cold season, they filmed footage from the film “The Dawns Here Are Quiet”. It is now impossible to reach the dilapidated Finnish hydroelectric power station, it is being repaired, but walking along the snowy pine forest always nice for a city dweller who opens Facebook and mail 45 times a day.

Moving higher, along the left side of the road you will get to the center of the Ruskeala village. Here is the most popular recreation center of the same name (2,500 rubles for two guests, 5,600 for eight). However, in Ruskeale you can rent a house and not at a tourist center, as all surfaces in the city speak about.

One of the local attractions, the Lutheran parish, looks very deplorable. The building was built in 1834, but it was supposedly burned down in 1940, and is now being restored with Finnish donations. The latter have long chosen these places for retro tourism, almost all prices are indicated both in euros and in rubles. In Sortavala and Ruskeala there are many inscriptions and signs in Finnish, the local population for the most part is fluent in two languages.

Recreation center "Ruskeala"

2 500 rubles for two guests, 5 600 rubles for eight

Clockwise: Ruskeala quarry in winter, highlighting a quarry, quarry in autumn, exposition "Marble through time"

When they arrive, pilgrims stop, but the rooms are quite cozy and laconic - except for two beds and a bedside table, there is nothing there. If you're lucky, you'll get a ten-inch, three-channel TV. But guests can use the sauna, breakfast is included in the room rate (one thousand rubles). If you feel like cooking yourself, take advantage of the backyard barbecue or the local cuisine, which is also open to guests. One thing - the place is meant for family vacation, therefore, making noise after 22 p.m. is strictly prohibited.

Even if there is no desire to stop in the parish, anyone can have lunch or dinner in the fireplace room. For 100 rubles you get tea and coffee using the free refill system, assorted buns. And for 300 rubles they offer a real Buffet... Soup, main course, snacks, fruit drink, kvass and hot drinks are included. You can make an appointment in advance to stay in the Ruskeala Church by calling (814) 30–33–268 and 8 (921) 467–63–20.

After lunch, head to the marble quarry. This is an artificial lake surrounded by steep stone walls... The production of marble began here under Catherine II. When the Finns left here for last time, they cleverly connected the quarry with the Tohmajoki River, and its impressive area was flooded.

V winter time right at the entrance to the park, you can ride a husky sled for a thousand rubles, 2.5 kilometers to Lake Svetloye and back. Dogs are very sociable, and no one forbids stroking them. In summer, it is allowed to swim in the lake itself and put up a tent on the shore. So it's up to you - get down, rent a boat, look at the quarry from the water and swim into one of several caves. Souvenirs are also sold at the entrance to Ruskeala, where you can find a couple of cute ones out of hundreds of magnets with housekeepers, Russian women and birches. The entrance to the park formally costs 150 rubles, but no one checks it. But at the reception they give a map showing two routes: a short one for 1.5 kilometers and a long one for 2.5 kilometers.

Lutheran parish

1000 rubles per person. Barbecue in the backyard and the ability to use the kitchen.

100 rubles- tea
and free refill coffee, assorted buns.

300 rubles- a real buffet.

There are about ten observation decks with benches along the quarry - these are perfect place for a picnic, so stock up on food. By the way, from six o'clock in the evening on Saturdays and Sundays, Ruskeala employees turn on artificial lighting around the perimeter of the quarry, so it makes sense to walk until the evening.

If you are moving along a long route, then you will definitely stumble upon a cavern-failure, where in winter for the same thousand rubles you can go down and go ice skating (they are rented on the spot). In the evening artificial grotto illuminated with candles.

Finally, the last point on the long route along Ruskeala is the exhibition "A Stone Through Time", where blocks of marble stone two billion years old are conveniently located for viewing.

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

Be sure that you will not find anything of this in Karelia - only the 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 for tourists only at the beginning of 2005.

What is noteworthy is that the park is a private property and was built by the efforts of Ladoga entrepreneurs, who in two years ennobled the vicinity of the quarry and erected a tourist infrastructure, spending more than half a million rubles.

But the territories on which Ruskeala Park is now spread 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 gained control over these lands only at the end of the Northern War, but the development of marble deposits was not resumed. They remembered about 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 Atlanteans at the entrance to the museum are made of it, as well as the floors in the Kazan Cathedral and the wall cladding in St. Isaac's. A considerable number of marble elements are also found in the Mikhailovsky Castle. You can even meet materials 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 the war between the Soviet Union and Finland. The end of the Great Patriotic War entailed attempts to revive the work on the extraction of marble, but during the work the aquifer was practically destroyed, and the water began to arrive at an incredible speed - frightened workers abandoned the equipment and in a hurry left the quarry.

Ruskeala canyon, filled with water and abandoned equipment on the banks, remained as such 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 workings to each other and to the main canyon itself limited the possibilities of workers, since the risk of the marble walls collapsing was too high, and therefore marble is mined there today, but in very, very small quantities.

The mountain park has combined several Karelian sights and made their inspection convenient and - what is especially important - safe.

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

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

A truly man-made work of art that human hands have knocked out of a monolithic stone for many centuries, with the participation of nature, which has poured a crystal marble bowl clean water, makes a lasting impression.

Along the quarry throughout its entire length (and it is almost 500 meters) 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 entry to which is strictly prohibited... This is due to the fact that relatively recently, several tens of tons of earth descended into the water.

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

The adits are slightly inferior in popularity. There is only one non-flooded adit on the territory of the park, inside which you can go even without an instructor's escort. The rest were buried under the water column by the Finns after the war with the USSR.

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

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

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

Today it is allowed to descend into the hole using 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.

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

Winter lovers extreme rest on the slopes they take skates with them and arrange mass skating in the dip.

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

This is due to the fact that to obtain the material High Quality it is necessary to extract it from the maximum depth. The 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 cross-section.

Rest in the Marble Quarry

By far, the most popular pastime among Ruskeala visitors is the excursions offered by the park. a large number of... However, those who like extreme recreation are not to their liking.

Many ways to relax have also been developed for such visitors. The first one is diving in the pool of the main marble quarry- or, in simple terms, immersion in water.

Often, visitors come to the Mountain Park precisely for the sake of these descents under the water - a considerable number of so-called cave divers or tech divers love to dive in the reservoir. They 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 has almost crystal-clear water.

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

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

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

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

The second most popular entertainment on the territory of the park is ropes and bungees.

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

Rowing boats are also in great demand for walks in the reservoir... From mid-May to the end of September, equipment rental is available, with the help of 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, another unusual attraction operates - sledding with a husky. The sledding trail is almost 3 kilometers long.

Karelian waterfalls

Karelian waterfalls are rightfully considered one of the beautiful places Russia, which attracts 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 ancient 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 the stone block, and there was a waterfall.

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 route. There are equipped parking lots near it, which allow you to explore the natural landmark in more detail and soak up its energy.

The complex includes four waterfalls up to four meters high. Additional fame was brought to them by the shooting of the film "The Dark World", carried out 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 includes two waterfalls located at a short distance from each other. They got their name from real bridges - unfortunately, only fragments remain from these Finnish buildings.

The height of the fall is about 20 meters, which makes Belye Stolby one of the highest in the whole of Karelia.

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

But in the summer, the 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 the 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 in this amazing highlands one of the most beautiful natural parks in our country is located.

Career history

Ruskeala marble quarry is a huge thicket cut by human hands, almost 500 m long. Initially, the area belonged to the Swedes, here they mined high quality banded marble. After the end of the Northern War, the borders of the Russian Empire expanded significantly. Karelian quarries turned out to be on Russian territory. Peter I presented these lands to one of his confidants. So in these places the settlement of Ruskeala was formed.

The active development of the quarry was resumed during the reign of Catherine II. The Empress ordered the use of Ruskeala marble deposits in the construction of new palaces and cathedrals. The facade of St. Isaac's Cathedral is decorated with stone, the building of the Hermitage is faced with it, the floors in the Kazan Cathedral are laid.

403 Forbidden

403 Forbidden

In the middle of the XIX century. the extraction of marble stopped, and the once valuable minerals began to be broken into crushed stone and used for the production of construction lime. The tragedy that happened during the Russian-Finnish war helped the career to turn from an abandoned quarry into a pearl of Ruskeala nature. During blasting operations, a huge pit was simply flooded with the waters of a nearby river.

However, the Soviet government could not abandon the region of Karelia, rich in minerals - the marble quarry was reopened and partially restored. Stone mining has resumed. They led her 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 of Ruskeala, Karelia was almost completely under the bombing of enemy aircraft. In its former scale, stone mining was no longer carried out, although they still managed to cover several stations of the St. Petersburg metro with it. A new milestone in history settlement Ruskeala in Karelia began in 2002. Scenic spots turned into a mountain park with a recreation center. Now everyone here can rent a cottage and relax among the amazing Karelian nature.

sights

Today the Ruskeala mountain park is well organized. Everything is done in it for the convenience of tourists, but with minimal damage to the natural beauty. Guarded parking, Russian-style houses and cottages, an open-air kitchen, a wood-burning sauna and even a small amusement park - tourists will not have to worry about anything. Still, most of the 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, pristine 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, and a safe tourist route is laid in underground labyrinths at a depth of 200 m. On summer nights, the quarry is illuminated with colorful lights, and in winter it turns into a real ice castle. Tourists in marble quarry many entertainment options are offered, including:

• Boating and fishing. Those wishing to ride the purest water, the transparency of which allows you to look 15 m deep, there are so many that you need to sign up in the queue in advance.
• Diving. You can not only swim along the canyon, but also dive to the very depth, seeing its underwater world with your own eyes.
• Rope bridge passage. A special rope bridge with belay will be stretched through the quarry at a height of 24 m. The tourist walks along one rope and holds on to two others. You don't need to be a climber and have any special skills to see the sights of the park from such a height.
• Cliff jump. Exciting flight from a height of 24 m. The free fall distance is 10 m.
• Trolls. This is a trip 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 in natural beauty, but Ruskeala Park is an amazing place, the 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 for tourists, students, schoolchildren and foreign guests in the park. Moreover, small children and veterans of the Great Patriotic War can visit the complex for free. The cost of living in the territory of the mountain park includes only rental housing. All services, as well as visits to various objects 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.

Ruskeala in the Republic of Karelia is the name of a large tourist complex.

Its name comes from the village of the same name located very close.

Another landmark is the Tohmayoka River, on the banks of which it is located.

In contact with

Ruskeala marble canyon (Karelia, Russia) - description

The main attraction of this place is the Marble Canyon, which is now about 500 meters long and 100 meters wide, and reaches a depth of 50 meters. All its walls are dissected complexes white marble... Once upon a time, its entire territory was permeated with a whole network of mines, drifts and adits, the total length of which is several kilometers.

Now the main quarry and most of it are flooded, and once an industrial facility has become amazing place created by the joint efforts of man and nature.

The abandoned quarries were discovered by S. Alopeus, a local pastor of local history. Active development began in 1765, during the reign of Catherine II. Since such works were rarely carried out in Russia, initially the "stone works" were carried out under the guidance of the Italians. The quarrying of the stone began quickly, since at that moment several large buildings were being erected in the country at once.

More than 500 people worked at the quarries at that time. At that time, marble rocks of mainly 4 colors were found here: gray with a green tint, white with a blue and gray tint, gray with an ash tone and white with gray veins.

St. Isaac's Cathedral in St. Petersburg

Ruskeala quarry marble was used as a finishing material for such famous buildings as:

• Saint Isaac's Cathedral;
• Mikhailovsky Castle;
• in the Kazan Cathedral he laid the floors;
• in the Hermitage and The marble palace they made window sills;
• In the 20th century, Karelian marble was also used to decorate the Ladozhskaya and Primorskaya metro stations in St. Petersburg.

In 1846 a processing plant was built and a process for the production of lime organized. At this time, the number of workers in the quarries increased to 800 people. During wartime, from 1939 to 1947, mining was not carried out. The resumed production did not stop until the 1990s, but on a much smaller scale.

But after the end of mining and flooding of the main quarry with groundwater, it was not forgotten. In 1998, the Marble Canyon was designated as a cultural heritage site and taken under state protection. Since 1999, it has been part of the international tourist route called the Blue Road.

It is worth noting: in 2005, with the active participation of local entrepreneurs, work was carried out to create a whole tourist complex, and in just 10 years of operation it became very famous.

Marble quarry and waterfalls

The flooded quarry is an unusual and beautiful place. The marble cliffs towering above the water, surrounded by dense forest, look very picturesque.

It should be noted that the water here is of an unusual shade. Perhaps this is due to the marble bottom. At the same time, the water is visible to a depth of 15 meters.

The area around is equipped for a comfortable stay in the park, as well as various options for spending time. For example, boat trips are very popular. During boat trips, you can personally observe pieces of marble peeping out of the water and look into numerous grottoes.

Hiking is no less popular, allowing you to enjoy the views not only of the canyon, but also of the surrounding area. For convenience, several observation platforms that allow you to take the most advantageous position for the photo. It is also located here brief information about the sights and famous people who visited it.

For especially daring lovers of cable cars, bungee jumping and rope jumping, over water surface The cables are stretched across the Marmara Lake. Another feature of the quarry is the unusual color illumination that you can take a look at in the evening. It is used both in the canyon itself and in some grottoes and caves.

The lights on the marble cliffs are very impressive. In winter, you can ride a husky dog ​​sled. They will ride adults and children on the ice of the Marble Canyon itself.

A must-see point is Ruskeala or Tohminsky waterfalls. They are not different great height or spectacular, but nevertheless very picturesque. The height of the largest one located here is no more than 4 meters.

The area is especially famous for several films that were filmed directly here and in the vicinity. One of them - "The Dawns Here Are Quiet", in which the heroine dived from one of these waterfalls. A small museum remained from the film.

A fairy tale about Baba Yaga was immediately filmed, for the filming of which fabulous scenery was built. It was also decided to leave them, as they very organically blended into the surrounding nature.

Attractions Ruskeala

Popular with tourists and local adits, which are nothing more than through holes in the rock. They can be both vertical and horizontal. However, almost all of them were flooded by the Finns long ago in 1939, except for one, which was later equipped for tourists.

Once upon a time, a special marble was mined here, which was used to obtain lime. Trolleys were used to remove the material from here. Due to the special microclimate (it is always damp here), water drips from the ceiling, and snow can be found even in summer.

Another place where adits have survived is the Ruskeala Gap. On the ground, it is marked with a sign "Underground Lake", and all because now the sinkhole is flooded. The collapse itself occurred in the 60s - then blasting operations were actively used to extract rock, which led to the formation of cracks in the mountain range. Therefore, one day, the vault of the cave just collapsed.

It is a circular hole in the ground and has a fence. A special rope system was built to descend. At the bottom, special bridges are organized for the passage into the depths of the caves.

Note: in winter, visitors go down directly onto the ice and go ice skating.

The so-called Italian Canyon is also interesting to visit. Not so long ago, the Italians decided to mine marble here, but it did not work out. It turned out that high-quality material lies deep enough, and located on the surface is very fragile and is not at all suitable for finishing. The extraction of deep marble is worth a lot of effort and money, which is not entirely justified.

However, in the Italian quarry, a fundamentally different approach to mining can be observed using special saws. Huge sections of the rock remained from the started developments, which allow you to admire the marble in section in natural conditions.

A place that not many tourists reach is an abandoned marble and lime factory. Despite its lesser popularity in the park, it is of great interest. Built by the Finns in 1896, it was intended for the production of lime. For this, calcite marble was fired in special kilns, of which there were originally three. Later, the production expanded: they built 3 more furnaces and began to deal with facing stone, as well as marble chips. It closed completely in the 1990s.

Now you can wander here and see everything well. All buildings, furnaces and even the iron tracks that were used to transport the rock to the processing site are well preserved.

The official website of the recreation center

All the necessary information about the Ruskeala marble canyon (Karelia, Russia) can be viewed on the official website of the complex - http://ruskeala.info/ru. Due to the proximity of Finland and other European countries, foreign tourists also come here, so the site can be viewed in three languages. Here you can find all the relevant information about accommodation options, cost and additional services... Before visiting the park, you can find out about possible tours and excursions, as well as book accommodation if necessary.

The address

Ruskeala marble canyon is located at the address: Republic of Karelia, Sortavala, next to the Ruskeala village of the same name.

How to get there

You can get to the Ruskeala Mountain Park in several ways, leaving from St. Petersburg or.

From Petersburg there are 2 options, and the whole path is about 300 kilometers:

1. By private car, you should move along the federal highway A129, along the Priozerskoye highway. Having reached the city of Sortavala, we continue towards Petrozavodsk. Soon it will be necessary to turn onto the A-130 highway, to the village of Vyartsilya, and from there - to Ruskeala.
2. By train "St. Petersburg - Kostomuksha", which departs from the station "Ladozhsky" to the city of Sortavala. It is worth checking the timetable in advance, since the train does not operate on this route every day. A regular bus runs from Sortavala to Ruskeala village.

From Petrozavodsk:

1. By private car, we are moving along the P21 highway, through Kolatselga. The distance is about 250 km. Seeing the turn to the village of Vyartsilya, we turn. From there we move to Ruskeala village.
2. By train Petrozavodsk - Sortavala we reach the final city, and from there we take a regular bus to our destination.

Take a note: It is most convenient to travel to the park by private car, since the attraction is located near the village, where traffic public transport not very developed.

Another convenient option- ordering a group excursion, and then the trip will be organized from St. Petersburg to the desired point and back.

Where to stay

Not far from the Ruskeala Mountain Park, there are not many places to stop and relax in comfortable conditions. One of the most popular, in the immediate vicinity of the Karelian sights, is the guest house "King of the Hill", formerly called the "Blue Lagoon" tourist center.

For the guests of Ruskeala are presented a variety of comfortable rooms, free parking and gazebos equipped with barbecues. In addition, there is a camping site on the territory where you can set up a tent and plunge into nature. Of course, a special fortune is the proximity to the famous park, to which the path is only 800 meters, and amazing landscapes around.

Ruskeala marble canyon - the most beautiful photos

You can visit the Ruskeala mountain park at any time of the year - each of them has its own charm. In general, this is a great option to change your favorite beaches and do active recreation. In addition, now it is one of the most popular natural and technological attractions in Karelia and all of Russia.