Sortavala District

Best things to do in Sortavala District

Сортавальский район's Absolute Essentials

Sortavalsky District is home to the Ruskeala Mountain Park, where 18th-century marble quarries have been transformed into turquoise-water canyons. The region serves as the primary gateway to the Valaam Archipelago and its medieval monastery on Lake Ladoga. Visitors can explore the Tohmajoki River's waterfalls, numerous glacial lakes like Yanisyarvi, and the Finnish-influenced architecture of Sortavala, including monuments dedicated to the legendary rune singers of the Kalevala epic.

Сортавальский район's Absolute Essentials — Map

Vasyatka1 / CC BY-SA 4.0

A

Ruskeala Mountain Park

A former marble quarry that supplied stone for St. Petersburg's cathedrals, now featuring flooded canyons, grottoes, and hiking paths.

B

Ahvenkoski

A series of four waterfalls on the Tohmajoki River, notable as the filming site for the 1972 Soviet film "The Dawns Here Are Quiet."

C

Ruskealskie vodopady

Four cascade waterfalls on the Tohmajoki River featuring pedestrian bridges and ecological forest trails.

Иерей Максим Массалитин / CC BY-SA 2.0

D

Savior Transfiguration Monastery

The Valaam Monastery is a stauropegic Orthodox monastery in Russian Karelia, located on Valaam, the largest island in Lake Ladoga, the…

E

The Runes' Singer

A 1935 bronze sculpture by Alpo Sailo depicting a traditional Karelian rune singer, honoring the region's folk epic heritage.

F

Cerkov Evangilicesko-luteranskaa

A historical religious site representing the region's Finnish Lutheran heritage.

G

Mramornyj kanon

The central flooded quarry of Ruskeala, featuring a turquoise lake surrounded by steep marble cliffs and accessible grottoes.

H

Sezd tolko 4h4

An elevated viewpoint accessible via off-road tracks.

I

Obzornaa plosadka

A panoramic viewpoint overlooking the Karelian landscape.

Юрий Денисов / CC BY-SA 3.0

J

Ozero Vahvaarvi

A freshwater lake characteristic of the region's glacial geography.

Денисов Ю.В. / CC BY-SA 3.0

K

Kuokkajärvi

A glacial lake situated in the southwestern part of Karelia near the Finnish border.

L

Yanisyarvi

Lake Yanisyarvi is a lake in the Republic of Karelia, Russia, located north of and draining to Lake Ladoga.

M

Proval "009"

A vertical sinkhole and cave entrance located within the historical mining complex.

N

Ruskealskij proval

A deep sinkhole created by a roof collapse in the marble mines, known for containing ice even during summer months.

Other Lists

Spiritual Heritage Sites Historical Sites and Memorials Karelia's Natural Wonders