Ruskeala Mountain Park — Grand Marble Canyon

In Karelia, there is the Ruskeala Mountain Park, whose main attraction is the Grand Marble Canyon.


Ruskeala's marble canyon was formed thanks to the workings that began here under Catherine II in 1765.

The marble canyon of Ruskeala. This field was discovered by a local history pastor, a member of the Free Economic Society, Samuel Alopeus.




Troll over the canyon
Over the marble canyon of Ruskeala stretched steel cables for the attraction of the “trolls” (zip-line) - you can ride over the water. 1,200 rubles per person, and unlike boat and bungee rental, this attraction is all-season.


Most people come out with selfie sticks, filming a video on Instagram :)


Or just on the phone.


Before you start, a small safety briefing and go!


Alright!


There is a restriction on weight (100 kg) and on age (by itself).


She smiled that the most heavyweights were given a parachute.

Green lights - the spotlight of the canyon, which in the evening will become the "Northern Lights".


Ruskeala marble gained fame for its use in the architecture of St. Petersburg ( St. Isaac's Cathedral, the Marble Palace, the floor of the Kazan Cathedral, the metro station Primorskaya and Ladozhskaya, etc.)


In the fall there are fantastic beauties, sorry I missed this moment - I have to come again!


There are signs around the perimeter warning that stones cannot be thrown down, because in summer there is a boat rental.




Along the perimeter of the canyon is a road and several viewing platforms.




The boat rental station in early November, of course, does not work.




The distance from the highest point of the side of the canyon to its bottom is over 50 meters. The transparency of the water reaches 15-18 meters.





Finns, leaving in 1939, connected the quarries with the Tahmajoki River and it is not possible to pump out water, but there is such beauty.


The night lighting of the marble canyon is fabulous. Moreover, it is not static, but changes in different colors.


The multi-colored version of the Northern Lights moves along the walls of the canyon.




And here is how this place looks in good weather: On a retro train to Ruskealu (photo of a friend of Lyokha, from whom I learned about this fabulous place). Guided tours of the canyon's mines and adits are conducted, but you must make an appointment in advance by phone. Official site - ruskeala.ru.

Despite the flooding of the main quarries, the extraction of marble and limestone continued until the 1990s.