TravelTips24 : Southern Finland : South Karelia : Imatra
Imatra
Imatra [1](population ca. 30 000) is an industrial town in South Karelia. It is dominated by Lake Saimaa, the River Vuoksi and the Finnish-Russian border. Imatra’s over 300-year-old history of busy tourism is greatly attributed to the attraction of the spectacular rapids of the river Vuoksi which have enticed many illustrious personas to visit the area throughout the ages. Visitors have included such people as Russian Empress Catherine II, Alexander Dumas Senior and Richard Wagner.
Imatra is even mentioned in the Kalevala, the epic poem of Finland (compiled from oral poetry in 1835): "Three, the water-falls in number, Three in number, inland oceans, Three in number, lofty mountains, Shooting to the vault of heaven. Hallapyora's near to Yaemen, Katrakoski in Karyala; Imatra, the falling water, Tumbles, roaring, into Wuoksi"
Travel to Imatra & Visa Requirements
By car
Flights and airtickets to Imatra
Nearest airport (about 40 km) is the Lappeenranta Airport that is situated close to the centre of Lappeenranta city. It provides regular and effective flight connections to Helsinki several times a day. From Helsinki there are fast flight connections to all continents.
By train
By boat
Tours & Getting around Imatra
Imatra attractions and sightseeing
- Imatrankoski Rapids. These rapids are Finland's first ever tourist attraction. The Russian Empress Catherine the Great and her retinue visited the rapids in 1772.
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This page was last edited at 12:07, on 6 August 2008 by Wikitravel user Ypsilon. Based on work by Miukku and Jani Patokallio, Wikitravel user(s) Mikko-Petteri and H virta and Anonymous user(s) of Wikitravel.
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