Part of the North-West Federalthe District of the Republic of Karelia has been inhabited since time immemorial - immediately after the Ice Age, and therefore has a fairly rich history. But the real treasure of this region is the purest northern nature. Numerous lakes, marshes, rivulets and rocks at all times attracted real connoisseurs of pristine beauty. In these places there are many picturesque corners, but, perhaps, one of the most famous places with which Karelia is famous - the Marble Canyon.
History of the Marble Canyon
Located only twenty kilometers fromFinnish border, near the village called Ruskeala, this canyon is known since the XVII century, when it started to extract marble. At first it belonged to Sweden, but later it moved to Russia. Local marble, distinguished by the richness of the palette and variety of varieties, was very popular among St. Petersburg city planners. Therefore, during the reign of Catherine II Ruskeale marble was mined for the construction of many famous metropolitan buildings. This natural material was used to decorate St. Isaac's and Kazan's cathedrals, the Hermitage and Mikhailovsky Castle and other buildings. At a later time it was mined for the internal design of the Leningrad subway stations.
During the Soviet-Finnish War of 1939the retreating troops destroyed all the technical documentation, and the quarry itself was flooded. After the Great Patriotic War, all attempts to restore the extraction of marble failed, and this idea was abandoned.
Marble canyon today
Currently located on the territory ofRepublic of Karelia The marble canyon is a submerged quarry (a transparency of about 20 m). Having 460 m in length and 100 m in width, it is unique in that under the layer of water there is a whole system of surface excavations consisting of a number of galleries and drifts, which are connected by vertical shafts. Its depth is about 50 m, and in the galleries it can reach more than 100 m.
In the nineties of the last century the GovernmentRepublic of Karelia The marble canyon was declared an object of cultural heritage, and in 2005 the Ruskeala Mountain Park appeared in these places. The entrance to the territory of the mountain park is paid. Attention to those wishing to see the Marble Canyon of Ruskeala (Karelia): the prices here depend on the age category of visitors and on the type of excursion (with or without a guide).
In the park you can make an excursion aroundflooded quarry, as well as surviving nearby workings, ride on a boat or plunge into the underground labyrinths with scuba diving. On the pedestrian pathway built around the quarry there are specially equipped observation platforms, from which you can admire the beauty of the local nature endlessly.
In addition, in the vicinity of Ruskeala you canThe Italian quarry, the functioning Evangelical Lutheran church, as well as the Ruskeal waterfalls and the Ruskeal failure, visit the cemetery of the 18th century with tombstones made of local marble.
Karelia. Marble Canyon. How to get there?
You can get to the Marble quarry both fromPetrozavodsk, and from St. Petersburg. From the northern capital to the town of Sortvala and back go buses and shuttles. You can also take a train to Kaalamo Station or Sortvala.
But it's more convenient to get there by car. The distance along the route from St. Petersburg is about 300 km, and from Petrozavodsk - 250 km.
This man-made object is rightfully considered onefrom the most interesting places with which Karelia is so famous. The marble canyon, which appeared as a result of human intervention in nature, not only did not violate the ecological balance, but even made the local landscape a little more beautiful.
