White bridges Karelia. White Bridges waterfall in Karelia. Beautiful White Waterfall. Karelia and its attractions

Yukankoski waterfall is considered the highest in the south of Karelia. The nineteen-meter cascade is 8 meters higher than the well-known landmark of the region - the Kivach waterfall. True, Yukankoski is inferior to it in terms of deep water, but it is located in a very picturesque place.

The waterfall is located in a dense forest 10 km from the village of Leppäsilta and 33 km from the city of Pitkäranta. Getting there takes some difficult roads, but the majestic landscapes and magnificent views are worth it.

The waterfall has two names at once. First, Finnish - . It is believed that he got it from the name of the small Finnish village of Yuka, which was located nearby.

Later the Russians named the waterfall White Bridges. This name is associated with the light-colored stone bridges that the Finns once built upstream of the river. Today the bridges are gone, but the name remains. Sometimes the waterfall is called White Pillars, but this is incorrect.

Yukankoski Falls changes its appearance throughout the year.

In spring it is a turbulent, full-flowing stream; peat impurities give it an unusual yellow color. With furious force it falls from a high stone ledge into a foaming and seething cauldron at the foot of the cascade.

In the summer, Jukankoski moderates his temper. The amount of water in it decreases and you can watch how the crystal-clear streams into which the waterfall is divided form a whimsical foamy lace at its foot. There is little water at this time and it warms up quickly, which is taken advantage of by numerous tourists who enthusiastically swim right in the waterfall.

In the fall, Jukankoski begins to gain strength. This process ends in the first frosts, which bind the cascade with thin ice. The power of the water flow is not enough to throw off the ice shell. In the most severe cold weather, the waterfall freezes, the stream is covered with solid ice deposits, in the depths of which water continues to flow.

The Kulismajoki River, on which Jukankoski is located, splits into two branches not far from it. A small channel, located opposite the main cascade, flows around a small island and forms another waterfall there. It is called White Bridges - 2. In terms of its power, it is much inferior to its “elder brother”, but no less beautiful. In summer, especially hot, the waterfall can dry up, but in autumn and spring it is quite full of water.

Kulismajoki in the waterfall area.

The surroundings of the waterfall are very picturesque. The beautiful Kulismajoki calmly rolls its clear waters along ancient boulders covered with moss. Its left bank is especially beautiful. It is covered with majestic centuries-old fir trees. Not far from the trail leading to the waterfall is a beautiful clearing, ideal for setting up a small camp. This is not forbidden, provided that tourists keep it clean and do not cause harm to the place, which is unique in its beauty.

The Kulismajoki River is 3 kilometers below the waterfall.

It must be said that human presence in the vicinity of Yukankoski is minimal. Once upon a time there was a Finnish farm nearby, but today only ruins remain. In these parts there are only hunters, loggers and tourists, the number of which is quite large. During the day, several fairly large people come to admire the beauty of the waterfall. tourist groups. In the vicinity of White Bridges there are wild animals that feel at ease here in the absence of humans. If you encounter them, you need to be especially careful.

White Bridges Waterfall is beautiful at any time of the year. Despite their relative inaccessibility, every year more and more travelers strive to get here to enjoy the majestic beauty of nature, untouched by the destructive activities of man.

Arethusa Falls, Bemis Brook Falls

Avalanche Falls, Liberty Gorges Cascade, Pool

Pool, Cascades, Kinsman Falls, Rocky Glen Falls. Cascade of smoke and silver cascade.

Paradise Falls and Prosperine Falls on the Lost River

Ripley Falls and Kendron Flame.

Thompson Falls and Emerald Basin. Particularly beautiful in the fall with crimson leaves surrounding it, it is a pleasant place to dip your toes in the water, play a picnic, and climb to the top if you wish.

Yukankoski Falls (White Bridges) - how to get there

There are two roads leading to Yukankoski Falls. They practically do not differ in their road surface. These are strong forest primers, in some places going over rocky areas, in others along clean sand. In normal summer, the roads are passable by almost any car. Problems can only arise in a car with very low ground clearance, and then only in the last kilometer of the journey. In the summer of 2015, almost all types of cars were seen on the road, including the Pitkyaranta Renault Megan taxi. Both paths are well traveled; in the summer and daytime you will meet many fellow travelers. You should be especially careful with oncoming traffic - the forest is crowded in some places, take note of places to pass.

Yukankoski Falls (White Bridges) on the map.

1. Yukankoski Falls;
2. Parking and tourist sites;
3. Fork with a pointer;
4. Bridge on the Kulismajoki River. Several years ago it was in a deplorable state, in August 2015 it did not cause any problems;
5. Turn off from the highway and rest area;
6. Turn onto the road that goes through summer cottages and even in winter is maintained in normal condition;
7. The intersection of the Petrozavodsk-Sortavala road and the road to Suoyarvi;
8. TNK gas station.

Orange dots - the road to the waterfall from the Petrozavodsk - Sortavala highway.

Blue dots are the road from the highway to Suoryavi.

The White Bridges waterfall is located on a forest river (Kulismajoki) in Karelia. Flowing in the Pitkäranta region of Karelia, a short, relatively calm forest river, at a certain segment falls down from the height of an almost five-story building. Some say 16 meters, some say 19, what difference does it make, because looking down from the top of the waterfall is really scary. The White Bridges waterfall is especially impressive during high water. Masses of water, compressed by rocks, yellowish from peat, fall with great noise into a shallow rocky bowl, raising water dust and filling the banks with strong foam.

The violence of the waterfall subsides in the summer; in dry periods, water flows down the ledges in small streams. In autumn, especially with prolonged and heavy rains, the White Bridges waterfall does not acquire its former grandeur, although it remains beautiful and picturesque. The waterfall is beautiful in winter when the water freezes like a box and the flowing streams are like icicles. Actually there are two waterfalls there; the Kulismajoki River is divided into two branches between which there is a thirty-meter distance. The second channel, which had to be reached via a log fallen across the river, is small. She goes around small island and forms another waterfall, which falls parallel to the main cascade.

In summer it almost dries up, but even weak streams flowing along the stone steps look beautiful. This year, the White Bridges waterfall is being improved, and a beautiful, reliable bridge has been built across the river. The place is wild and still deserted, an old spruce forest that is about one hundred and fifty years old, huge boulders forming grottoes, mossy stones, trees clinging to lifeless stones. There are stairs leading down to the first White Bridges waterfall. In 2010 at Marble Canyon and these waterfalls in Karelia were filming the film “The Dark World”, then it was made. You can spend the night, there are tourist sites on the upper platform (fireplaces, benches, tables). They keep an eye on the waterfalls, mow the grass, and remove trash left by careless tourists.

The White Bridges waterfall has another name: Yukanokoski, which is translated from Finnish as “White Rapids”. Since the 18th century, this area has changed hands: Sweden, Russia, Finland, and in 1940 Russia (Karelia) again. That's why Finnish name probably more ancient and correct. There are several versions of the name of the White Bridges waterfall. The first is that the Finns of Karelia built bridges from natural white stone across Kulismajoki. A little further up the river there are debris sticking out of the water; was it a bridge and why is it needed where there are no settlements?

In the clearing located on the way to the waterfall, the remains of a Finnish or Karelian farm have been preserved. It was called “Yukki Manor”; they write that the Yukanokoski (White Bridges) waterfall is named after him. Who knows, as the Frenchman Rene Descartes said: “I doubt everything, I don’t doubt only that I doubt!” Since 1999, the White Bridges waterfall in Karelia was declared a hydrological natural monument; one could hope that the corner of the Karelian outback would remain untouched.

Although this year they began to implement the investment project “ South Karelia" There are far-reaching plans to improve the White Bridges waterfall, souvenir shops, a horse farm, bike paths, houses for year-round use and much more. Civilization will get here, and time will tell what the unique natural wonder of the White Bridges waterfall will turn into. Perhaps there will be a second one.

I won’t describe how to get to the Karelian waterfall, the Internet is full of routes. This year the road was patched up; you can drive almost any car to the parking lot in front of the waterfall (in dry weather); it’s easy to walk a couple of kilometers to the waterfall. You can stay in Sortavala, look. In the center of the Karelian city of Pitkyaranta there is the White Bridges hotel. To choose a route, I can advise website (altertravel.ru). This is a convenient alternative guide with coordinates and driving directions not only in Karelia.