Nature Attractions And Saimaa Experiences

In the beautiful Kämäri outdoor area you can enjoy the green nature and The bubbling waters of Ämmäkoski just outside the centre of Varkaus. On Kämäri island, the path leads through deciduous groves to rapids, over wooden bridges and joins a floodlit outdoor trail near the beach. The Taipale canal area is also just a short walk from the trail.

The new bridges on Kämäri were built in 2021 to connect green corridors and provide a variety of access routes in the rapids area. These bridges provide access across two rapids, Kattilakoski and Linnakoski.

The nature of the bay is diverse and the fauna is abundant. You may come across the otter, Varkaus's national animal otter can be spotted on Kämäri, and in winter you may also see the white-winged teal. The babbling Ämmäkoski and Kämärinkoski spruce up the green landscape and have their own insect and fish worlds. In autumn 2022, the largest natural bypass in Finland will be completed in Ämmäkoski, along which endangered migratory fish will find their way to their breeding grounds.

The outdoor recreation area can be reached on foot from the city centre. You can easily park your car in the Navitas car park (Wredenkatu 2). When you arrive at the Navitas car park, head towards the swimming pool. A cycle path runs in front of Uimahalli Ilopisara, then turn right to reach the water park and admire the Ämmäkoski.

Kämäri Outdoor Area

• Winter-maintained trail approx. 700 m.
• Outdoor trail approx. 2.5 km.
• Start and parking is at Navitas parking lot, Wredenkatu 2.

History of the Kämäri

The history of the Kämäri dates back to the distant past, as Varkaus' difficult rapids naturally became stopping and service points. The rapids were fishable and in the 1500s the area became home to the Kruunukalastamo under the Olavinlinna Castle. Salmon were stocked in the rapids and special salmon farming ponds were built.

A man surnamed Kämäräinen established a water mill on the site before the mid-1750s, and the mill site came to be called Kämärinkoski. The completion of the Taipale Canal in 1840 was significant for the area of Kämäräinen (at that time Myllysaari). In 1856, Alexander II ordered the establishment of a town in the Kämäri area. The town of Koskenniemi would have been located on both sides of the Taipale Canal and bordered by Ämmäkoski. The town plan was drawn up in 1857 by surveyor Carl Rehnström, but the project never came to fruition.

The dance hall, built in the 1930s, operated on Kämäri until the 1970s. The Lottakahvila, or Sampola, was completed in 1939 and is now owned by the Scouts. A. Ahlström Oy commissioned architect Yrjö Lindegren to design the Kämäri Sports Park. With this design, "The Centre of Athletics", he won the gold medal for architecture at the 1948 London Olympic Art Competition. It included a sports field, a grandstand, a marathon track and a swimming pool.

Over the years, Kämäri has developed into a popular sports and leisure area. In addition to the nature trail, the area has a swimming beach, a sandpit, an artificial ice rink and two ice rinks. Ice hockey, hockey and baseball matches are played on the ridge.

On the other side of the sports area is a canal area. The Taipale canal connects the Unnukka and Haukivesi rivers, whose water levels differ by 4.6-6 m. The canal, about 500 m long, was built in 1962-67. The old stone canal, built in 1835-40, has been preserved as an attraction. The Canal Museum and the Canal Trail present the history of the area. The Taipale Visitor Harbour is located above the canal.

The canal area in Taipale is a place to watch shipping traffic on the banks of the Saimaa deep water canal. The difference in height between the upper and lower waters, the Unnukka and the Haukivesi, is about five metres, making the lock an interesting sight to behold. At the same time, you can explore the old canal, which is more than 180 years old and built of stone, and was the first canal in Finland to be equipped with sluice gates.

The canal museum is the focal point of the area. The basic exhibition "Via Canalia" tells about the history of canal construction in North Savonia, canal management and maintenance, and water traffic. The exhibition includes a model of the Taipale canal area from 1905 and old canal tower equipment.

A picturesque canal path runs around the site, with information panels along the canal's route. In the Taipale landscape, you can enjoy a coffee in the charming Musiikkikahvila Kukkakeidas, set up by young entrepreneurs. The café features live music, a homestead, a summer flower sale and homemade baked goods.

The Canal Museum is open every day at 10-18 in June, July and August, and by appointment at other times. Free admission!

Taipaleen kanavamuseo
Taipale Canal, Kanavakatu
78250 Varkaus
tel. 044 444 2366
taipaleen.kanavamuseo@varkaus.fi
facebook.com/taipaleenkanava

• Go here to the Taipale Canal Museum website

Warkauden Kassiopeia ry, an astronomy hobby association, has built a versatile camping and leisure destination in the middle of the Savonian wilderness in Kangaslampi. The Härkämäki area includes a star tower, a cottage and a lodge, as well as a new clubhouse, which is ideal for meetings, events and family tourism. There is a large hut and a summerhouse on the hillside with a viewpoint. At the top of the hill there is a large hut and a summerhouse.

Härkämäki Astronomical Tower is equipped with modern telescopes and accessories. The observatory's location 160 metres above sea level in a spot completely free of light pollution provides an ideal setting for stargazing. The views from the hill are breathtaking and the visibility from the tower to the south is almost perfect.

See comets, planets and thousands of deep-sky objects with your own eyes!
It's an experience of a lifetime to see the rings of Saturn, the gas belts of Jupiter, the galaxy of Andromeda or even the numerous craters of our nearest neighbour, the Moon, with your own eyes. Sometimes you can even see comets in our skies, whose tails have always fascinated people. The numerous galaxies give you an idea of what our own Milky Way is like and the environment in which our own solar system is located. Our Milky Way objects include many star clusters, the gas nebulae of nascent stars and the remnants of dead stars, such as planetary nebulae and supernova remnants.

The Public Shows of the Warkauden Kassiopeia are held weekly during the dark months of the year at Härkämäki, with weather reservations. The public shows can be seen in this calendar. On request, they can be organised for visiting groups interested in astronomical phenomena at a time to be agreed.

There is a 1300 m long nature trail with science-themed activity grids on the Observatory site. Härkämäki's terrain is an ideal place for excursions during the thaw Hiking or snowshoeing in winter.

The observatory is located about 30 km from the centre of Varkaus.

Warkauden Kassiopeia ry
Warkauden Kassiopeia ry
Härkämäentie 88, 79480 Kangaslampi
Tel. 040 701 1625
warkauden.kassiopeia@ursa.fi

• Go here to the Warkauden Kassiopeia website

The Komminselän silta over the deep channel of Lake Saimaa offers a magnificent view of the lake. It is one of the largest bridges in Finland, with a clear span of 24.5 metres and a length of 480 metres. Komminselän silta was completed in 1972.

The Cave of Peis Immonen is located on Mount Joenmäki near the Harjuranta nature trail. According to tradition, a lone male character named Peis lived in this cave during the summer in the early 1900s. There are some very funny stories about Peis. According to one of them, he used to move about on skis, even in summer. The treasure chest with the keys that Peis hid is still missing...

Map of The Cave of Peis Immonen and other Harjuranta sites

Peis Immonen Trail and Cave
Harjurannan kyläyhdistys
tel. 046 845 7213
 

• Go here to the Harjurannan kyläyhdistys website

Kivikuru of Jäppilä is a rocky and bladder field formed by the continental ice sheet, suitable for self-hiking. The area is an unusually large quarry for southern Finland. It has good acoustics and has hosted concerts, such as the closing concert of the Varkauden KesäKlassinen in July 2017.

The Kivikuru of Jäppilä is located on the road from Jäppilä to Leppävirta via Sorsakoski. It has been selected by the Finnish League for Nature Conservation as one of Finland's 100 natural treasures.

http://100luontohelmea.fi/

Kivikuru of Jäppilä is part of the Watershed Trails.

Linnasaari and Kolovesi National Parks are also a short distance from Varkaus, where you can meet the most famous inhabitant of Lake Saimaa, the Saimaa ringed seal!

Linnansaari National Park

Linnansaari National Park, located on the Haukivesi, is a water hiker's paradise with its hundreds of islands and large ridges. It is suitable for day visitors, campers and boaters alike. It covers an area of 97 km² and is managed by Metsähallitus. Linnansaari protects the valuable archipelago nature and beautiful landscape of Lake Finland. The islands are home to the highly endangered Saimaa ringed seal - after all, Linnansaari is the "home of the Saimaa ringed seal". The ferocious diurnal bird of prey - the chaffinch - is one of Linnansaari's signature species and is a familiar sight in the area as it hovers over the waters.

Linnavuori lookout point is a high cliff overlooking the lake, from which the view is representative of Lake Saimaa at its most beautiful. The Linnansaari farmstead has been restored as a tourist attraction and its barnyard offers a glimpse into the lifestyle of our ancestors during the days of subsistence farming. Sammakkoniemi campsite offers a wide range of services from sauna to smoke sticks!

Find out more about Linnansaari National Park:
www.luontoon.fi/linnansaari

Kolovesi National Park

The magnificent Kolovesi National Park offers a wonderful setting, especially for canoeing or rowing. The tranquil atmosphere of Kolovesi is made up of silence, filled only with the sounds of nature itself. The use of boats with internal combustion engines is prohibited in almost all parts of the park. The landscape is dominated by rocky cliffs rising vertically from the water, up to 40 m high. The rugged landscape was shaped by the last ice age.

The Saimaa ringed seal, the world's most endangered seal, is also a legacy of the Ice Age. Its ancestors were trapped in Saimaa when the lake became separated from the Baltic Sea after the Ice Age. Kolovesi is one of the last habitats of this primordial species.

In the eastern part of the park, the ruggedly beautiful Ukonvuori is an attraction in itself. Ancient explorers must have recognised the special nature of the place, as evidenced by the human figure painted thousands of years ago on the steep wall of Ukonvuori. Rock paintings can be found in several places in the Kolovesi area.

The nature trails in Nahkiaissalo (on the mainland) and on Mäntysalo Island in Kolovesi are on variable terrain and require sturdy footwear.

The Kolovesi National Park is managed by Metsähallitus. More information about the park: www.luontoon.fi/kolovesi