Sights of Kemi have been attracting tourists for their rich history for more than a decade. The ancient seaside town is one of the regional centers of the Republic of Karelia. This mysterious settlement is located, which every admirer of traditional northern architecture seeks to see on the Kem River. So, what can you see when you find yourself in this city, represented mainly by wooden buildings?
Kemi Attractions: Assumption Cathedral
Assumption Cathedral is the main architectural value located in the city. One cannot but mention this building dating back to 1714, listing the most striking sights of Kemi. The temple, made of wood, is interesting in that its construction did not use iron nails.
Particularly noteworthy is the iconostasis of the church, which is lit thanks to windows specially arranged under the ceiling. You should definitely visit the temple on sunny days when the iconostasis seems to be “luminous”. Once on the territory of the cathedral were ancient icons related to the Novgorod school of writing. However, several years ago they were transferred to the Russian Museum for restoration purposes.
Museum "Pomorie"
Sights of Kemi - it is also a museum "Pomorie", which tourists who find themselves in the center of the village should certainly drop in. The museum does not belong to the ancient category, it has been hosting visitors since 1980. However, a large number of historical values have already been collected on its territory, the total number of which exceeds 6,000. Museum exhibits are of great interest to guests of the city who want to get acquainted with the life and culture of its indigenous inhabitants.
What exhibition halls are worth visiting in the first place? For example, interesting information about the history of the emergence and development of Kemi is provided to visitors by the hall “This city I have discovered.” In the hall “Orthodox Shrines”, as the name implies, collections are collected dedicated to church relics. Exhibits allow you to learn a lot of little-known facts about the history of Old Believer churches. Finally¸ “The sea is our field” - a hall glorifying the occupations, which have long been attached to Pomors. Of course, we are talking about fishing and shipbuilding.
Krivoporozhskaya hydroelectric power station
Listing the sights of Kemi, it is impossible to ignore the Krivoprozhskaya hydroelectric station, located in the nearby village. This place is definitely worth a visit in order to admire the size and grandeur of the building. An artificial waterfall is provided by a bulky concrete wall that impedes the flow of the river. It is known that the length of the dam is more than thirty meters.
Fans of fishing should certainly be honored with a visit, as there are places specially designated for this occupation. Also, the village of Krivoy Porog is famous for mushroom places, so mushroom pickers flock here from the end of summer until the last month of autumn.
Islands of the Kuzov archipelago
Sights of Kemi (Karelia) are also Russian and German islands, located about 25 km from the village. The easiest way to get to them is by renting a boat. Historians believe that the amazing islands keep an unbreakable connection with the ancient culture of the Lapps. Proof of this are artefacts discovered by archaeologists. Findings indicate that once the German and Russian islands were used as parking lots by representatives of the ancient people who inhabited this territory over 2.5 thousand years ago.
These sights of Kem are worth visiting in order to admire the view of the expanse of the White Sea, which opens from the tops of the islands. The land rises about 140 meters above the water surface. On the territory of the German island, tourists can see about two hundred ancient idols, the statues of which are made of stone. An amazing legend is associated with them, explaining the name of the island, which can be heard from the local population.
The Russian island also has many secrets. Here you can see the traces of the life of the mysterious people, preserved shrines. In addition, travelers will find interesting facts related to the history of northern hunting.
Movie Location
What else can visitors to Kem see? What to see, once in these mysterious places? Those who liked the film “Island”, shot by Lungin, should definitely visit the territory of the village of Rabocheostrovsk, which is located at a distance of 26 km from the city. Here, especially for the filming of the picture, a beautiful temple was erected, which later passed lighting. It is interesting that at the moment the church serves as the abode for a lonely monk, who, unfortunately, refuses to communicate with travelers.
It is not surprising that this place was chosen for the filming of the film "Island". The right atmosphere is created by such details as a sunken barge, shores framed by stone, wooden moorings. It is curious that all the scenery left over from the filming of the picture still remains untouched.
Interesting fact
Kemi - the name that bears a small town located on the territory of Lapland (Finland). It should not be confused with the city of Kem, located in Karelia. The inhabitants of this settlement are only 22 thousand people, but tourists come there, attracted by the sights. For example, the famous Finnish icebreaker Sampo is located there.
Tourists reviews
Why are travelers so attracted by the beauty of Kemi? Finland, whose sights are also famous all over the world, cannot compare with this small town in terms of the number of preserved artifacts that tell about the life and culture of the ancient peoples of the North.
An indelible impression Kem makes on people who like to spend time admiring natural beauties. Here they discover fast rivers and motionless lakes framed by the wild vegetation of the Karelian forests. Tourists who value active rest leave good reviews about this city. The most popular are such traditional for the local people entertainment as hunting and fishing. Kemi also offers more extreme activities: diving, river rafting.
Finally, reviews of the city almost always mention the cleanest air. The area is attractive for environmental cleanliness, this factor makes it a wonderful place to relax.