City Photos News Russia/Priozersk

Vuoksa rapids near Losevo village

Wed, 4 Apr 2007 10:00:23 +0000

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vuoksi_River The Vuoksi (Finnish) or Reka Vuoksa (Russian standard transcription) or Vuoksen (Swedish) runs in the northernmost part of the Karelian Isthmus, from Lake Saimaa in southeastern Finland flowing into Lake Ladoga in northwestern Russia. The river enters Lake Ladoga in two branches, an older northern branch at Priozersk (Kakisalmi/Kexholm) and since 1857 a new southern branch entering 50 km further southeast at Taipale. The descent between Lake Saimaa and Lake Ladoga is 69 meters. The entire run of the river is 162 km via the Priozersk branch or 150 km via the Taipale branch. For most of its length, the river broadens out to a series of lakes bound together by shorter riverlike connections. One of these lakes, Suurselka close to Priozersk, is by the Russians renamed to Ozero Vuoksa ("Lake Vuoksa"). The Vuoksi connects Lake Ladoga with central Finland, and was once an important route for trade and communication. A western branch, which is now overgrown, was an alternative route for the Karelians to reach the Gulf of Finland when the River Neva was blocked by enemies. The Saimaa Canal bypasses the Vuoksi following this old outflow and enters the Gulf of Finland in the Bay of Vyborg near the medieval city of Vyborg. The river's surroundings, including the Korela Fortress (formerly: Kakisalmi), is a popular resort for St.Petersburg's residents. The river is famous for the great rapids, for instance at Imatra and the village of Losevo. The junction of the Vuoksi and Suvantojarvi/Ozero Suhodolskoje is a traditional place for international kayak, canoe and catamaran competitions. Also, for several years now there are competitions of "kayaking" on... rubber dolls from sex shops..
Priozersk, Russia, photo by Pavel Viaznikov.

Vuoksa rapids near Losevo village

Wed, 4 Apr 2007 10:00:20 +0000

Some competition at the City Day

Wed, 4 Apr 2007 07:04:51 +0000

http://priozersk.ru/1/places/p105.shtml http://around.spb.ru/english/ http://www.geocaching.su/?pn=101&cid=1504 Priozersk is a town on the Karelian Isthmus, in the Leningrad Region of Russia, centered on an island at the southwestern shore of Lake Ladoga, at the estuary of the northern armlet of River Vuoksi (Vuoksa in Russian). The site has historically been the center for the Karelians of the Karelian Isthmus; and from time to time been the northwestern outpost of the realm of the Russians or the eastern outpost of the realm of the Swedes. The ruined ramparts and towers of the old Korela Fortress are situated on the bank of the Vuoksi, still visible when traveling to the town from Saint Petersburg, and a popular excursion resort. Priozersk was known as Korela and Kakisalmi in Karelian/Finnish. The Swedes captured Korela twice: in 1580 for 17 years and in 1611 for 100 years (the Kexholm County). It belonged to Russia in 1721-1812, and was as part of Old Finland incorporated into the Grand Duchy of Finland in 1812. Finland lost Kakisalmi to the Soviet Union in the Moscow Peace Treaty after the Winter War. During the Continuation War Finland occupied Kakisalmi and other ceded territories, the population returned to rebuild the town, but were again evacuated in the summer of 1944. In 1948, Kakisalmi was renamed to Priozersk and settled with Russians from the Soviet Union, who became and remain the majority of the local population. also: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korela_Fortress http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Priozersk .
Priozersk, Russia, photo by Pavel Viaznikov.

Cathedral of the Nativity of Our Lady. City Day

Wed, 4 Apr 2007 07:04:48 +0000

Cathedral of the Nativity of Our Lady, arch. L.Visconti, 1847 http://priozersk.ru/1/places/p105.shtml http://around.spb.ru/english/ http://www.geocaching.su/?pn=101&cid=1504 Priozersk is a town on the Karelian Isthmus, in the Leningrad Region of Russia, centered on an island at the southwestern shore of Lake Ladoga, at the estuary of the northern armlet of River Vuoksi (Vuoksa in Russian). The site has historically been the center for the Karelians of the Karelian Isthmus; and from time to time been the northwestern outpost of the realm of the Russians or the eastern outpost of the realm of the Swedes. The ruined ramparts and towers of the old Korela Fortress are situated on the bank of the Vuoksi, still visible when traveling to the town from Saint Petersburg, and a popular excursion resort. Priozersk was known as Korela and Kakisalmi in Karelian/Finnish. The Swedes captured Korela twice: in 1580 for 17 years and in 1611 for 100 years (the Kexholm County). It belonged to Russia in 1721-1812, and was as part of Old Finland incorporated into the Grand Duchy of Finland in 1812. Finland lost Kakisalmi to the Soviet Union in the Moscow Peace Treaty after the Winter War. During the Continuation War Finland occupied Kakisalmi and other ceded territories, the population returned to rebuild the town, but were again evacuated in the summer of 1944. In 1948, Kakisalmi was renamed to Priozersk and settled with Russians from the Soviet Union, who became and remain the majority of the local population. also: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korela_Fortress http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Priozersk .
Priozersk, Russia, photo by Pavel Viaznikov.

Kakisalmi church

Wed, 4 Apr 2007 06:31:23 +0000

http://priozersk.ru/1/places/p105.shtml http://around.spb.ru/english/ http://www.geocaching.su/?pn=101&cid=1504 Priozersk is a town on the Karelian Isthmus, in the Leningrad Oblast of Russia, centered on an island at the southwestern shore of Lake Ladoga, at the estuary of the northern armlet of River Vuoksi (Vuoksa in Russian). The site has historically been the center for the Karelians of the Karelian Isthmus; and from time to time been the northwestern outpost of the realm of the Russians or the eastern outpost of the realm of the Swedes. The ruined ramparts and towers of the old Korela Fortress are situated on the bank of the Vuoksi, still visible when traveling to the town from Saint Petersburg, and a popular excursion resort. Priozersk was known as Korela and Kakisalmi in Karelian/Finnish. The Swedes captured Korela twice: in 1580 for 17 years and in 1611 for 100 years (the Kexholm County). It belonged to Russia in 1721-1812, and was as part of Old Finland incorporated into the Grand Duchy of Finland in 1812. Finland lost Kakisalmi to the Soviet Union in the Moscow Peace Treaty after the Winter War. During the Continuation War Finland occupied Kakisalmi and other ceded territories, the population returned to rebuild the town, but were again evacuated in the summer of 1944. In 1948, Kakisalmi was renamed to Priozersk and settled with Russians from the Soviet Union, who became and remain the majority of the local population. also: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korela_Fortress http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Priozersk .
Priozersk, Russia, photo by Pavel Viaznikov.

WW2 memorial near the Korela Fort (IS-3 type)

Wed, 4 Apr 2007 06:31:21 +0000

http://priozersk.ru/1/places/p105.shtml http://around.spb.ru/english/ http://www.geocaching.su/?pn=101&cid=1504 Priozersk is a town on the Karelian Isthmus, in the Leningrad Oblast of Russia, centered on an island at the southwestern shore of Lake Ladoga, at the estuary of the northern armlet of River Vuoksi (Vuoksa in Russian). The site has historically been the center for the Karelians of the Karelian Isthmus; and from time to time been the northwestern outpost of the realm of the Russians or the eastern outpost of the realm of the Swedes. The ruined ramparts and towers of the old Korela Fortress are situated on the bank of the Vuoksi, still visible when traveling to the town from Saint Petersburg, and a popular excursion resort. Priozersk was known as Korela and Kakisalmi in Karelian/Finnish. The Swedes captured Korela twice: in 1580 for 17 years and in 1611 for 100 years (the Kexholm County). It belonged to Russia in 1721-1812, and was as part of Old Finland incorporated into the Grand Duchy of Finland in 1812. Finland lost Kakisalmi to the Soviet Union in the Moscow Peace Treaty after the Winter War. During the Continuation War Finland occupied Kakisalmi and other ceded territories, the population returned to rebuild the town, but were again evacuated in the summer of 1944. In 1948, Kakisalmi was renamed to Priozersk and settled with Russians from the Soviet Union, who became and remain the majority of the local population. also: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korela_Fortress http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Priozersk .
Priozersk, Russia, photo by Pavel Viaznikov.

Korela fort

Wed, 4 Apr 2007 04:33:26 +0000

Priozersk is a town on the Karelian Isthmus, in the Leningrad Oblast of Russia, centered on an island at the southwestern shore of Lake Ladoga, at the estuary of the northern armlet of River Vuoksi (Vuoksa in Russian). The site has historically been the center for the Karelians of the Karelian Isthmus; and from time to time been the northwestern outpost of the realm of the Russians or the eastern outpost of the realm of the Swedes. The ruined ramparts and towers of the old Korela Fortress are situated on the bank of the Vuoksi, still visible when traveling to the town from Saint Petersburg, and a popular excursion resort. Priozersk was known as Korela and Kakisalmi in Karelian/Finnish. The Swedes captured Korela twice: in 1580 for 17 years and in 1611 for 100 years (the Kexholm County). It belonged to Russia in 1721-1812, and was as part of Old Finland incorporated into the Grand Duchy of Finland in 1812. Finland lost Kakisalmi to the Soviet Union in the Moscow Peace Treaty after the Winter War. During the Continuation War Finland occupied Kakisalmi and other ceded territories, the population returned to rebuild the town, but were again evacuated in the summer of 1944. In 1948, Kakisalmi was renamed to Priozersk and settled with Russians from the Soviet Union, who became and remain the majority of the local population. also: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korela_Fortress http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Priozersk .
Priozersk, Russia, photo by Pavel Viaznikov.

Memorial stone

Wed, 4 Apr 2007 04:33:24 +0000

The inscription quotes "The history of the Slavonic people and the land of Novgorod". It reads: In the year 879, "Rurik (a scandinavian konung invited to Russia as a ruler of several princedoms) died in battle in Korela, and was buried there, in Korela"..
Priozersk, Russia, photo by Pavel Viaznikov.

Korela fort: secret door from the dungeons

Wed, 4 Apr 2007 04:10:17 +0000

Korela fort: the tower

Wed, 4 Apr 2007 04:10:13 +0000

Korela fort: door of the tower

Wed, 4 Apr 2007 03:34:52 +0000

Korela fort: tower and barracks (now housing a museum)

Wed, 4 Apr 2007 03:34:49 +0000

Korela fort: secret exit from the dungeons

Wed, 4 Apr 2007 03:19:48 +0000

Korela fort: in the dungeons

Wed, 4 Apr 2007 03:19:46 +0000

Korela fort: entrance into the dungeons within the walls

Wed, 4 Apr 2007 03:04:45 +0000