Imatra, Finland
Imatra Hotel
We stopped for two days at Imatra – a fascinating geological and cultural area…This was the location of a terminal moraine for one of the continental glaciers during the last ice age. A giant lake formed, whose outflow rivers ran toward the North Sea. At some catastrophic moment, the water either broke through the moraine or overflowed, and all the water suddenly changed direction draining south as it still does today into the Baltic Sea! Russian Czars enjoyed visiting this location, and the fabulous and Grand Imatra Hotel was built here in 1903.
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Dry chasm
The famous waterfalls and rapids at Imatra are tamed now, by a hydroelectric dam across river at the top of the falls …Water is let through once a day for 15 minutes just to entertain the tourists – electricity is still generated here but at a different location. Constance is sitting on the bridge railing above the dry chasm before the water is let out.
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Imatra Rapids
Here is a view of the chasm filled with boiling rapids!
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Wild Blueberries
We picked delicious wild blueberries in the woods next to the Imatra waterfall.
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Reservoir Walk
Later we strolled along the edge of the reservoir for a ways.
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Constance finds a Wild Strawberry
Constance spotted a wild strawberry amongst the underbrush.
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A lapful of Imatra Strawberries
It didn’t take long to fill her lap to overflowing!
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Strawberries ready for transport
Fortunately we have learned the very useful Finnish method of transporting wild strawberries on a grass spear.
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Quimper Hittys 
Love that last photo! Just gorgeous!
The berries were delicious, and we were able to carry a spear back to the hotel for the human who didn’t come on this walk.
Constance seems to have a sharp eye for ripe berries!
Being just over 15 cm tall, she is good at spotting the ones that are down low… at this point in the trip she was beginning to wish she had acquired a berry-collecting basket…
I love that last image. Thanks.
You are welcome, I am glad you enjoyed it!
not only are we entertained with wonderful photos but I am learning things!! Truly Constance you are the gift that keeps on giving. And I see you are wearing the new shoes…..very stylish!!
The shoes are comfortable, and practical as well as stylish. Constance was going to use one of them as a strawberry basket until I reminded her about the grass spear method!
the photo of the Imatra Rapids is so beautiful. I feel I am there with Constance eating blueberries and strawberries. What an nice way to transport wild strawberries on a grass spear. That is something new to me. I feel I am taking a walk with Constance along the Reservoir Walk. What a peaceful place. That brown dress is so pretty as well.
I love that brown dress fabric too! The wild strawberries were tiny, plentiful and delicious. We were glad to have a way to bring some berries to the companion who didn’t come on the walk with us.
Great post! My partner comes from Imatra and we visit most years – this brought me right back 🙂
Thank you – we loved Imatra. I had the most delicious tea in the hotel there!
Iceland is definitely going on my “bucket list” for the future!!! My Hittys are so jealous of Constance and her travels!
We truly enjoyed ourselves, especially the berries!
Lovely lovely lovely!
Gracias, Kiitos, Thankyou!