Hiitolanjoki Rapids
The River Hiitolanjoki (a.k.a. River Kokkolanjoki) flows from Lake Simpele all the way to Ladoga. The river was once a ancient waterway, an important fishing site, a transport and log-floating channel, and a source of power for mills, sawmills and, more recently, for hydroelectric power stations.
A scenic trail showing the industrial history of River Hiitolanjoki winds its way through some fine riverside scenery. The beautiful rapids have been dammed up, but the old atmosphere combined with a lush natural landscape now make for a wonderful experience. The river has areas of water that do not freeze throughout the winter, and rapids where water ouzels that winter here dive for their food. The area also has a diverse collection of other birds, and these can be observed from the Lahnanen bird-watching tower.
Genuine Ladoga salmon leap from the river and brown trout spawn in the branches of the river. A speciality of the river is, however, the little spined loach, a rare fish that cannot be encountered anywhere else in our inland waters.
For more information on the Hiitolanjoki rapids and its surrounding area, history, fauna and services, visit: http://www.hiitolanjoki.fi/index.php?page_id=2
