Hiidenvuori

Hiidenvuori is a rocky hill on an island called Hiidensaari in the municipality of Iiitti about 40 km to the east of Lahti. The island is juts out into the river Kymi, which is the second largest river in Finland. The 120 km long Lake Päijänne discharges into the Gulf of Finland via the river Kymi. I will show you pictures I took during our hike to the top of Hiidenvuori about 60 m above the river.

The end of the public road before the island

This is not a lake. This is the river Kymi.

You can see the island now.

The water is incredibly clear.

The island is connected to the mainland by this short causeway.

The river on the other side of the island.

The road continues about 500 m until the middle of the island.

This is where you leave your car.

Information about the place

There were many more decaying tree trunks in the forest than most people here are used to. Most forests in the south of the country are privately owned and put to an economic use.

One of the tall rock faces

Easy street

Approaching the top

The rock was made smooth by ice many kilometres thick.

I heard Sibelius' Karelia Suite in my head when looking at these views. It is highly recommended to listen to it.

My daughter climbing

I'm not sure what this factory is. It could be the fluting cardboard mill in Heinola. Could be one of the plants in Kuusankoski as well. It is no co-incidence that the factories are located along the river. The availability of wood was the main criteria why there have been pulp and paper mills along the river Kymi. Since the 1960's, the river has completely lost all logistical significance. There are too many rapids and it is too shallow and narrow in most places for any large ships. Roads, and railways to a smaller degree, are where the raw materials and products are moved these days.