Ruskeala
Ruskeala Mountain Park is a colorful marble quarry filled with water. There is a tourist complex in the Republic of Karelia near the village of the same name.
Starting in 1765, the first marble deposit was discovered, and the stone was mined, which was used in the construction of the most important structures in St. Petersburg, in particular St. Isaac's Cathedral, the Hermitage, and the Peter I pedestal. The famous architect Auguste Montferrand came to Ruskeala more than once, personally selecting the stone.
Over time, marble mining stopped, and the quarry sites were abandoned and partially flooded with water.
Thanks to the travel company Kolmas Karelia, it was transformed from a forgotten quarry into an open-air museum. Abandoned places have transformed into beautiful ponds, which are associated with bowls filled with emerald-colored water. Marble Canyon has been improved, transformed into a park with many ladders, paths and lanterns.
Ruskeala has been accessible to tourists since 2005. This mountain park is of impressive size – the height of the rocks is more than 20 meters, the depth of the lakes is more than 30 meters.
The pearl of Ruskeala Park is the Marble Canyon, the oldest of the Ruskeala quarries. In a solid array of marble, it is a man-made bowl. The canyon is 450 meters long and about 100 meters wide. It was flooded by Finns during the Soviet-Finnish military operations of 1939-1940. The depth of the formed lake reaches 50 meters.
To admire the beauty of the canyon from the water, you can rent a boat, as well as swim into the caves formed from sheer cliffs. They reflect the play of light on the ceiling. Diving opportunity is provided.
There is a trail along the canyon, special fences and special viewing platforms are made. Walking along the hiking trails, you can see mines, abandoned tunnels, ruins of factories and picturesque views of the surrounding mining complex. Tourists can choose either a long or a short route. In addition to the main quarry, there are several others that differ in the color of the water and the view from the shores.
Fans of extreme sensations are invited to ride a cable car through the entire canyon. Representatives of flora and fauna listed in the Red Book of Russia have been preserved on the territory of Ruskeala.
In the evening, when the lights turn on, it is a breathtaking sight to admire the entire beauty of the panorama of the Ruskeala marble canyon in the light of evening lights.
