Kaupunkilehti Ankkuri 27.6.2019

KAUPUNKILEHTI ANKKURI INTERNATIONAL EDITION /// KOTKA-HAMINA REGION /// SUMMER 2019 THE ANCHOR ”GOING TO SAUNA IS A SOCIAL EVENT.” -PERTTI INNANEN PH OT O: JU H A M ET SO FREE NEWSPAPER IN ENGLISH 24.–27.7.2019
THE ANCHOR /// KOTKA-HAMINA REGION /// SUMMER 2019 2 KAUPUNKILEHTI ANKKURIN KANSAINVÄLINEN LIITE // INTERNATIONAL EDITION THE ANCHOR WWW.ANKKURILEHTI.FI Päätoimittaja – Editor in Chief Teija Piipari Tuottaja – Producer Petri Piipari Toimittajat – Editors Martti Linna Mika Rokka Valokuvat – Photos Juha Metso Pekka Vainio Käännökset – Translations A.A. Moilanen Myynti – Sales Lauri Bruce Seija Salonen Taitto – Layout Design House ILO Oy Painos – Edition 66 000 kpl / pcs Painopaikka – Printed Lehtisepät Oy, Tuusula, Finland 2019 Kustantaja – Publisher Poiju Julkaisut Oy, Kotka Finland Yhteistyössä – Cooperation Cursor Oy Kotkan Kauppatie ry Kotkan Puuvenemessut KotkaHamina Satama Oy WELCOME TO THE KOTKA-HAMINA REGION! THE CITY OF KOTKA was born at a junction of a log driving channel and a harbor, and throughout the years has attracted many other nationalities such as Swedes, Germans, Russians, and Estonians. The close proximity of Vyborg and St.Petersburg has significantly contributed to the development of the area. The sawmill industry that has clustered around the estuary of the Kymijoki River created the conditions for the emergence of the wood processing industry and port activity. The port has transformed Kotka and Hamina into international cities. THE ENTIRE KYMENLAAKSO REGION has developed into a major multidisciplinary industrial center, and HaminaKotka is by far the largest logistics hub of the Finnish forest industry. Since the unification of the harbors of Kotka and Hamina in 2011, the Port of HaminaKotka has become the biggest universal port in Finland. It is now an important cargo hub in Europe and the Baltic Sea region as well as a significant transit hub for Russian and Kazakhstan traffic. ALTHOUGH HAMINAKOTKA IS PRIMARILY A CARGO PORT, it also caters for passenger traffic. Kantasatama Harbor, located in the heart of Kotka, is its main passenger port. From there, it is easy to explore nearby attractions or walk to the city center for coffee or shopping at the mall or the town. Cruise ship business in Kotka is still fairly new, as it started only two years ago when four ships brought 8,600 cruise guests and about 3,000 crew members to Kotka. Last year, four cruises arrived at the city and brought approximately 2,500 passengers and 1,000 crew members. This summer, there will be five cruise ships to visit Kotka. The Port of HaminaKotka has been experiencing an increase in international cruise traffic, and the port company supports all efforts to develop cruise services in the area. MOST OF THE CRUISE GUESTS spend the day in the Kotka and Hamina regions, either by getting to know the area by themselves or by participating in various organized tours. All guests are welcomed with open arms, and visitors’ feedback has been very positive. Great service, generosity, as well as the small size of the city, have proven to be our strengths. Everything is close by, and thus moving from place to place does not take too long. This leaves more time to enjoy the tours and the atmosphere of the city. I WOULD LIKE TO WARMLY WELCOME ALL GUESTS to Kotka and Hamina. I believe that the proximity of the sea, interesting sights, and friendly people will make your stay a memorable one. A LOT IS HAPPENING this summer in Kotka around the shopping center Pasaati. Kymijoki Lohisoitto Music Festival, taking place at the beginning of June, and Kotka Soi City Festival, held for the first time in midJune, will bring a variety of music and acclaimed Finnish performers to Kotka’s Market Square. In addition, Lehmuskuja Street Food Fiesta and, of course, Kotka Maritime Festival will bring life to the streets as well as Pasaati. “I expect a busy summer, as all the events bring more customers to our mall,” says Sari Puhilas, Pasaati’s shopping center manager of eight years. PUHILAS SAYS that Pasaati’s summer sales largely depend on the weather. “If the summer is hot, it is beneficial for us, as people like to spend more time in a cool shopping mall. On the other hand, if the summer is rainy and cool, people want to stay indoors.” FIVE CRUISE SHIPS will arrive at Kotka this summer. The cruises will mostly take place in July and also bring visitors to Pasaati. The shopping mall plays an important part in providing a pleasant stay for the cruise guests in Kotka. “EVERY YEAR, WE INVEST about €3,000 in shopping bags made of ecological materials. These bags which contain a Pasaati logo are distributed to the cruise passengers in the hope that they will fill them at our mall,” says Puhilas. ACCORDING TO the latest regional economic report, each cruise guest brings an average of 80 euros to the Kotka-Hamina region, not forgetting the crew members who bring approximately 30 euros each. This summer, it means about €700,000 in revenue. “Additionally, shipping companies have different expenses such as port taxes and other technical service charges, doubling the regional economic impact of cruise guests and positively affecting employment,” says Cursor’s sales manager Petra Cranston. CRANSTON HAS BEEN WORKING with cruise tourism for years. Cruise visitors in Kotka and Hamina appreciate things that locals take for granted — the sea, Kymijoki River, Valkmus National Park, clean nature, sauna, as well as history and culture. “The cruise ships’ final stop before arriving at Kotka is usually St. Petersburg, where the visitors’ expectations are as big as the city itself. Here in Kotka, everything is close and conveniently small. It is a strength that results in positive customer feedback,” Cranston adds. ALTHOUGH A LARGE NUMBER of the cruise guests go on organized tours, many also find their way to Pasaati. The visitors make small purchases, spend time at cafes or terrace bars, and visit the hairdresser’s and beauty salons. The one-time purchases are usually quite small. Shopping center manager Sari Puhilas has noticed some amusing cultural differences between tourists and locals. “We Finns are self-service people and used to collecting our coffee from the counter. Cruise visitors expect table service. This is something we have to put more effort in.” PUHILAS WOULD LIKE TO have a souvenir shop in Pasaati, where tourists could buy a small reminder of their visit. Bringing the city’s Tourist Information Office to the shopping mall would also benefit both visitors and operators. In addition, Pasaati should get its own movie theater. “Comfort and new experiences are part of today’s shopping mall culture. Pasaati has become the local residents’ living room.” Text: Mika Rokka Photos by: Juha Metso THE SUMMER OF PASAATI SHOPPING CENTER AND CRUISE GUESTS – COMFORT AND NEW EXPERIENCES ARE PART OF TODAY’S SHOPPING MALL CULTURE. “I expect the summer to be a busy one,” says shopping center manager Sari Puhilas. Kimmo Naski CEO, Port of HaminaKotka Ltd
At your service 0100 87227 (1,25 € / call + 0,68 € / min + lnc) WELCOME TO KOTKA Opening hours: Mon-Fri 8:30-19, Sat-Sun 10-18 Kotkan Kauppatorin apteekki Kirkkokatu 10 (Pharmacy near Market Square) @kotkankauppatorinapteekki THE ANCHOR /// KOTKA-HAMINA REGION /// SUMMER 2019 3
A WOODEN WALL ROOM is heated by a special stove containing stones. The air is humidified by throwing water on the large stones. The space meant for washing and relaxation is so Finnish that its Finnish name, sauna, is used all over the world. “IT IS VERY DIFFICULT to imagine life without sauna,” says Pertti Innanen, the chairman of Kotka’s sauna club Kipakka. The club cherishes sauna culture and has revived the tradition of public saunas in Kotka. A PUBLIC SAUNA MEANS a sauna that is available to everyone for a fee. Public saunas were commonplace in cities at a time when private apartment did not have washing facilities. After the wars, dozens of public saunas were still operating in Kotka. ONE OF THEM was located in Kotka’s Hovinsaari at Saarenkatu 4. Sirkka and Kalle Nikkola owned the house and operated a public sauna. Pertti Innanen, who has lived in the same part of the city after being born there in 1953, remembers the Nikkola Sauna. “As a little boy, I used to go to the women-only sauna with my mother. I remember the sounds of splashing water and clattering tin buckets. Later I joined my dad in the men’s sauna to listen to “guy talk.”” PUBLIC SAUNAS started to become rarer as new houses were built with common saunas open for residents. Eventually, they replaced public saunas. The Nikkola Sauna shut their doors in 1984. For years it was used as a warehouse until Pertti Innanen and his friends decided to reopen the sauna for the public in 2000. “Kipakka’s saunas offer the second best löyly (sauna steam) in Europe. I do not know where the best löyly can be found, but I am enthusiastic about visiting different saunas looking for it. A VISIT TO A PUBLIC SAUNA is a social event, where people can enjoy the löyly and meet friends. Many immigrants also have a try, and some become regular sauna goers. Everyone is welcomed to join. When it comes to nudity, Innanen advises people to have a straightforward attitude. “It is the same skin that we have on the tip of our nose as elsewhere, it is not any more complicated than that.” FINNS ARE ENTHUSIASTIC sauna goers. It is estimated that there are at least two million saunas in Finland. The stones of the sauna stoves can be heated with wood, oil, or electricity. The air in the sauna must be oxygen-rich. KOIVUVIHTA, a kind of a whip made of birch twigs, is an integral part of Finnish sauna culture. It is used to gently slap the skin, causing the essential oil and scent of the leaves to spread on to the skin and the entire sauna. At some point of the night, the so-called guinea pig sneezes can be heard as cold beverages are opened, making small ”tsih” sounds. “Cold sauna drinks are a necessity, usually either soda water or beer depending on the occasion.” THE SAUNA CLUB KIPAKKA also makes sauna trips abroad. Once, the locals challenged the Finns to a sauna competition. Innanen kept shoveling water to the stove, and man after man retreated to the cool showers. Soon he sat alone on the top bench with red cheeks, but as a winner. “The temperature was so high that the glue of my sauna slippers melted.” Text: Mika Rokka Photos by: Juha Metso WHEN IT COMES TO NUDITY, INNANEN ADVISES PEOPLE TO HAVE A STRAIGHTFORWARD ATTITUDE. GUINEA PIG SNEEZE IN THE SAUNA “Going to sauna is a social event,” says Pertti Innanen. Finns are enthusiastic saunagoers. It is estimated that there are at least two million saunas in Finland. THE ANCHOR /// KOTKA-HAMINA REGION /// SUMMER 2019 4
THE ANCHOR /// KOTKA-HAMINA REGION /// SUMMER 2019 5 Keskuskatu 17, Kotka (teatteria vastapäätä) p. 050 381 3243 MOLIENDO CAFÈ A-oikeudet * Home-baked products * Special coffees and teas * Homemade lunch with a hint of international flavours (weekdays 10.30-15.00) KATETTU KONSERTTITILA! PE 26.7. ja LA 27.7. Jatkot aina 05 asti! Perjantaina 02.00 HERO Lauantaina 01.45 DJ Oku Luukkainen Jatkoille sisäänpääsy vain 5 € tai konserttilipulla. Areenalla bailataan aamuun asti! Liput vain 5 €! Jatkot järjestää: KALAMAJA (Fish Hut) Fishing harbor Kuusinen (Kuusisen kalasatama). tel. +358 500 559625 Welcome to our sunny seaside terrace! Enjoy your stay with our fresh, local and homemade smoked salmon, salted salmon and soup. • Fish shop • Café to serve get local Salmon soup and Sandwiches • Sauna FLOATING SAUNA WITH GREAT SEA VIEW! @kalamajakuusinen
BEER MADE FROM MALT, hops, and water is said to be the oldest and most popular alcoholic beverage in the world. Already in ancient Sumer in 4000 BC, pictures of people drinking beer were drawn to clay tablets. “THE POPULARITY tells us that beer is a finished product,” says entrepreneur Kari-Jukka Koivistoinen from Kotka Steam Brewery. “Beer has been used as a drink instead of water because it can be preserved for much longer.” BEER IS OFTEN related to the Bavarian Oktoberfest and the English pub culture. But beer, such as small ale and Finnish beer Sahti, has also been produced in Finland for a long time: in our national epic Kalevala, beer brewing is discussed more than the creation of the world. TRADITIONS ALSO EXIST in Kotka. Matias Puranen and Kari-Jukka Koivistoinen opened their microbrewery in spring 2018 in the beautifully renovated premises of the Kotka Steam Brewery built in 1894. At the beginning of the last century, that brewery was one of the country’s largest in terms of production. REINHEITSGEBOT, a Bavarian Beer Purity Law of 1516 defined its raw materials to be water, malted barley, and hops. The base is still the same, but some of Kotka Steam Brewery’s products also have other ingredients such as ginger to add more flavor, and wheat can be used to replace malt because of its better foaming capacity. THE MALT USED by Kotka Steam Brewery comes from a malthouse in Lahti. In the brewery, the malt is crushed and hot water is poured over it. After one hour or so, the liquid is strained and boiled. Is this the secret of beer? Not quite: “AT THE BEGINNING, bitter hops are added to the mixture, and aroma hops can be poured in at the end,” Kari-Jukka Koivistoinen explains. “After cooking, the beer is cooled down and poured into fermentation tanks. At this stage, some dry hops can be added to IPA beers.” TYPICAL FERMENTATION time for Ale beer is three weeks, but Lager might spend one and a half months in its tank. Some beers are at their best straightaway, while others mature for a long time. Strong beer can stay fresh in its bottle or can for a couple of years. THE POPULARITY of craft beer continues. At Kotka Steam Brewery, regular visiting tours are organized for guests who wish to know more about beer brewing and the history of the house. Plans have also been made to start exporting products abroad. Text: Martti Linna Photos By: Pekka Vainio Kari-Jukka Koivistoinen had the dream of opening a craft brewery in Metsola district already in the 1990s, but the time was not right. FLAVOR AND TRADITIONS THE ANCHOR /// KOTKA-HAMINA REGION /// SUMMER 2019 6
LIVE. LOVE. SHOP. REPEAT. More than 60 stores Free wifi • Atm • Tax free Pharmacy Children’s play area Mehr als 60 Geschäfte Kostenloses WLAN Geldautomat Apotheke Kinderspielplatz Shopping Centre Pasaati | Einkaufszentrum Pasaati Keskuskatu 10, 48100 Kotka | www.pasaati.fi Open: Mon–Fri 7 am – 9 pm • Sat 7am –6 pm • Sun 12 am–6 pm Öffnungszeiten: Mo–Fr 7–21 • Sa 7–18 • So 12–18 Be Our Guest! Shopping, pampering, treats and time spent together – that’s what Pasaati is made of! At Shopping Centre Pasaati you will find more than 60 stores, restaurants and cafes, so there will be something to do no matter what the weather is like! Pasaati is situated in a central location in the city centre of Kotka at the side of the market square, so it is easy to reach us. The city attractions are not far away which means you can enjoy the glory of the city of parks in connection with a shopping day. Welcome to good mood summer shopping! Seien Sie unser Gast! Einkaufen, sich verwöhnen, genießen und zusammen sein – daraus ist Pasaati gemacht! Im Einkaufszentrum Pasaati stehen Ihnen mehr als 60 Geschäfte, Restaurants und Cafés zur Verfügung, so dass sich für alles etwas zu tun findet, wie das Wetter auch immer ist! Pasaati befindet sich zentral im Zentrum von Kotka am Rande des Marktplatzes, so dass es einfach ist, zu uns zu kommen. Die Entfernungen zu den Sehenswürdigkeiten der Stadt sind kurz, so dass Sie bei einem Einkaufsbummel die Pracht der Parkstadt genießen können. Willkommen zum Gute-Laune-Sommer-Shopping! THE ANCHOR /// KOTKA-HAMINA REGION /// SUMMER 2019 7
THE INTERNATIONAL KOTKA WOODEN BOAT FAIR will be held in Kantasatama Harbor from July 24th to 27th. Around 150 stunning wooden boats will be on display at the Finnish Wooden Boat Center’s piers, including mahogany boats, sailboats, traditional Fiskar boats, rowing boats, and a special steam-powered paddle boat. The oldest boats are from the 1910s and 20s, while the newest works are specially made for the fair. All registered boats can be seen in the photo gallery available on the fair’s website. “FOR A LONG TIME, Kymenlaakso region has had the most skillful boat builders in Finland. Kotka is the right place to organize a Wooden Boat Fair,” says event producer Jani Vahto. 26-YEAR-OLD JANI VAHTO’S task is to plan the fair program, find exhibitors, and serve as an expert on wooden boats. His special area of expertise is speedboats from the 1920s-30s. “I want to do my part in developing the Finnish wooden boat culture. At the fair, wooden boats are also introduced to those who do not usually have access to them. Hopefully some will get inspired and start thinking that they could own a wooden boat as well.” FINNISH WOODEN BOAT CULTURE has a long tradition. Back in the day boats were made of wood, but fiberglass boats became more common in the 50s and 60s and eventually took over wooden boats. Today, appreciation for wooden boats is growing all over Finland. “A wooden boat is considered nostalgic, and nostalgia is fashionable,” Vahto says. VAHTO WILL ALSO BRING his own boat to the fair. It is a Sikari boat made at the Turku boatyard in 1929, where a new type of hull design was tested. The bow of the boat resembles a motor torpedo boat. The shape tapers towards the stern, and a propeller is fitted to the tail. Sikari is one of the world’s earliest surface-piercing propeller boats that has a high speed. “Some say that the Ford Flathead V8 engine got Sikari to reach 60 knots. That is quite something.” WOOD IS A WONDERFUL living, natural material that has its own complications. The Sikari boat had been left untouched for decades. Jani Vahto’s father had found it in disrepair in the late 70s. After hundreds of hours of work, only the engine remained unfixed. In the past few years, Sikari has been a joint project between father and son. This summer, the boat can be launched for the first time since the 1960s. WOODEN BOATS MEAN different things to their users. Some enjoy handcrafting projects, and wooden boats can give them a lot of joy. Others like the aesthetics of a wooden boat, but let other people do the woodwork. Jani Vahto takes pleasure in exploring the history of old boats and tracking down their former owners. “I am fascinated by old wooden boats because they have a life story. I try to put together the whole story of a boat. Only then the restoration is completely done. Every old boat has a history. If well-kept, its story can continue. That is marvelous.” Text: Mika Rokka Photos By: Juha Metso See Jani Vahto’s video interview on our website: www.ankkurilehti.fi “A wooden boat is considered nostalgic, and nostalgia is fashionable,” Vahto ponders. “I want to do my part in developing the Finnish wooden boat culture,” Vahto says. “SOME SAY THAT THE FORD FLATHEAD V8 ENGINE GOT SIKARI TO REACH 60 KNOTS. THAT IS QUITE SOMETHING.” SIKARI BOAT ARRIVES AT KOTKA 24.–27.7.2019 THE ANCHOR /// KOTKA-HAMINA REGION /// SUMMER 2019 8
LANGINKOSKEN KEISARILLINEN KALASTUSMAJA ON AVOINNA 2.5. 31.8. DIE KAISERLICHE FISCHERHÜTTE VON LANGINKOSKI HAT GEÖFFNET VON 2.5. 31.8.19 Herzlich willkommen im kaiserlichen Ambiente! Tervetuloa Keisarillisiin Tunnelmiin! kansallismuseo.fi THE ANCHOR /// KOTKA-HAMINA REGION /// SUMMER 2019 9
FATHER BOUGHT A WOODEN BOAT that needed a little fixing up. The family’s 13-year-old boy got interested in renovating the boat. His work was so good that friends and relatives started to bring their boats for him to repair. Gradually he started to acquire paying customers. Now Veijo Sorvari, a citizen of Kotka, has been building and repairing wooden boats full-time for over 30 years. LOCATED IN KOTKA’S SIKOSAARI, Veistovene Boatyard employs two other men in addition to its entrepreneur. The company specializes in repairing and rebuilding wooden boats, and it is the oldest in its field in the city. Brand new boats ordered from Sorvari are mainly wooden rowing boats or slightly larger boats that can be fitted with an engine. IN ADDITION TO HIS OWN WORK , Sorvari is the chairman of the Puuveneveistajät association, which unites Finnish wooden boat builders. The association has forty experts from all over the country. Different traditions can be seen in their work. “IN THE EASTERN Gulf of Finland, boats have always been carver-built rather than clinker-built. Pine has been the traditional building material. At some places up north, boats have been made of spruce,” Sorvari describes the differences. “HERE, THE HULL of an authentic Summalainen boat has been quite plump in the back and narrower in the front, whereas in a Pellinkiläinen boat the design has been reversed. Wider boats for shallow water use have been popular in the North.” ACCORDING TO SORVARI , wood is easy to work with, as it is bendable and relatively light. The natural knottiness of wood can sometimes cause problems, and some wood species are do not bend very easily. Wood is a living material. It means that it will decay with time. ON THE COAST of the Eastern Gulf of Finland, wooden boats are made for heavy use, often for fishermen. Satisfactory models and methods have been found based on user feedback. Today’s boat builders also have traditional professional pride. “TOOLS AND DEVICES HAVE CHANGED , but the working methods have remained the same. This is still handicraft. The old masters of Summalainen boats are to be respected, but not imitated. Boat builders must have their own vision to follow.” ACCORDING TO Veijo Sorvari, the development of local boat models has been based on everyday needs: “Boats were first made for rowing. Then a motor needed to be fitted on them. Next, a small cabin was added over the engine to protect it from getting wet. Then it was realized that a small cabin had to be put on top of the boat as well so that the boat user did not get wet.” Text: Martti Linna Photos by: Pekka Vainio Wooden boat builders will be present at the International Kotka Wooden Boat Fair, held in the Kantasatama Harbor from July 24th to 27th. Visitors can enjoy work demonstrations and exquisite boats in the floating boat exhibition. PINE HAS BEEN THE TRADITIONAL BUILDING MATERIAL. REAL BOATS FOR REAL USE “A semi-planing cruiser with nice decor and great shape,” Veijo Sorvari replies when asked what kind of a wooden boat he would like to build in the future. “It would be a pine boat, with the addition of some mahogany.” This beauty made of mahogany was carved in the 1960s in Summa, Hamina. After being carefully examined and refurbished by Veijo Sorvari, its life can continue for a long time. 24.–27.7.2019 THE ANCHOR /// KOTKA-HAMINA REGION /// SUMMER 2019 10
The Port of HaminaKotka is a versatile Finnish seaport serving trade and industry. The location of HaminaKotka at the logistics hub makes the port truly unique – it opens up connections to all parts of the world. Welcome to the port of HaminaKotka! haminakotka.com The Port of Opportunities THE ANCHOR /// KOTKA-HAMINA REGION /// SUMMER 2019 11
A PEEK UNDER THE SURFACE AQUARIUM HOUSE MARETARIUM is located in Kotka’s Sapokka Bay. Maretarium has 22 theme fish tanks, showcasing different fish species of Finnish waters. The largest pool is the Baltic Sea tank, which can hold half a million liters of water. There are about 60 different fish species and 1100 fish individuals in Maretarium. The aquarium is open every day from 10 am to 7 pm in the summer. PERCH ARE CURRENTLY SPAWNING in the pool located on Maretarium’s second floor. Perch, which has dark stripes on its flanks, is the national fish of Finland and known to all Finns. “These perch individuals came to the house around the same time as me, about 17 years ago. At first, they were very small and weighed only 150 g. Now they are already 2.5 kg, albeit only middle-aged. It is expected that they will live until the age of 30,” says aquarist diver Petri Päivärinta. MOST OF THE FINNISH FISH species can be found in Maretarium. All fish from small, nine-spined sticklebacks to almost two meters long Siberian sturgeon can be seen in close proximity. The information labels describe the habits and possible threats of different species. The favorite fish of Päivärinta, who takes care of the well-being of the fish, is viviparous eelpout. “Viviparous eelpout observes its environment carefully and is very lively. This groundfish that lives in the Baltic Sea is our only type of fish that gives birth to live larvae. In Maretarium, viviparous eelpout can be seen in a small pool that contains three of its conspecifics.” A TYPICAL WORKDAY at Maretarium starts with checking the water circulation and well-being of the fish. Maretarium’s fish are fed once a day. The fish are given diverse and varied food, such as pellets, frozen Baltic herring, shrimps, blue mussels, and vegetarian food for cyprinids. In June and July, a diver feeds the Baltic Sea tank’s fish every day at 3pm. Petri Päivärinta has 30 years of experience as a diver. “DIVING IS SOMETHING ELSE. You cannot hear anything else except your own breathing. It is quite easy to feel at ease underwater if you let your mind relax and get used to the environment. If you never try diving, you will miss out on something big.” IN THE BALTIC SEA, fresh water and salt water mix together, creating a unique ecosystem. The Baltic Sea is classified as a particularly sensitive sea area. However, the Baltic Sea is one of the most polluted seas in the world. Problems arise, for instance, from eutrophication, oil transportation, increasing maritime traffic, and climate change. When the condition of the sea is poor, the fish stock is also in danger. Petri Päivärinta has dived in the nearby waters of Kotka hundreds of times and has noticed an improvement in the water quality. “Bladderwrack populations, also called as the lungs of the sea, have recovered and are more visible. Persistent conservation measures have made an influence, and the Baltic Sea’s future looks bright. We are all responsible for the welfare of our seas.” Text: Mika Rokka Photos By: Juha Metso See a video about Maretarium on our website: www.ankkurilehti.fi WE ARE ALL RESPONSIBLE FOR THE WELFARE OF OUR SEAS. THE ANCHOR /// KOTKA-HAMINA REGION /// SUMMER 2019 12
THE ANCHOR /// KOTKA-HAMINA REGION /// SUMMER 2019 13 CAFE RESTAURANT TERRACE BY THE SEA SAPOKKA Harbor follow number 13 from citymap Bakery, local delicacy, new bistro menu, refreshments, coffee and spirits available... Feel the sun&sea! This moment is yours we will make the best out of it. Ask exclusive boat tour for 12! puuvenemessut.fi Lähes 150 upeaa puuvenettä esillä Kotkan Kantasatamassa, Suomen Puuvenekeskuksen (Tornatorintie 15) alueella keskiviikosta lauantaihin 24.–27. heinäkuuta. Torstaista sunnuntaihin Kantasatamassa juhlitaan myös Kotkan Meripäiviä, joten puuvenekaunotarten ihailemisen jälkeen voit kääntää nokan kohti festarihumua! TERVETULOA MESSUILLE! Junalla suoraan kohteeseen! Lähimmältä junapysäkiltä vain 80 metriä messualueelle. Edukkaasti messuille! Neljä päivää voimassa oleva ranneke aikuiselle vain 10 €! Alle 15-vuotiaat huoltajan seurassa ilmaiseksi. Herkutellaan! Messukansan vatsoista huolehtii alueella toimiva ravintola Olki.
DURING ITS HISTORY, the Kymijoki River, which flows through many branches into the Gulf of Finland, has often served as a border between two kingdoms. For example, under the Treaty of Turku in 1743, the border between Russia and Sweden-Finland was drawn along the Gulf of Finland to the westernmost branch of the Kymijoki River in Ahvenkoski. THE GREAT RIVER has been mentioned in the maps of military commanders later on as well. “For example, the Kymijoki River was the main obVIKINGS AND FORTRESSES ISLAND OF RANKKI The Fortress Island of Rankki, which was closed for almost a hundred years, is now a popular tourist destination. In addition to coastal artillery and fortresses, different types of accommodation can be found on the island. Plans have been made to open a history and heritage center for the coastal artillery on the island, called “RT-RAUTAA”. jective of Marshal Govorov, who led the Russian offensive in Karelia in the summer of 1944,” tells Major Pertti Huhtanen (Ret.), a history instructor based in Kotka. IF THE KYMIJOKI RIVER and its beaches are historically significant, the same can be said about the Gulf of Finland from Ahvenkoski all the way to the eastern Neva River and its various branches. Throughout the centuries, numerous peoples have fought in its sea areas: Russians, Estonians, Finns, Swedes, Danes, British, French, Germans… “THE GULF OF FINLAND has been Russia’s and Soviet Union’s only sea route to Western Europe. It has often been a major cause of war,” says Huhtanen. “RUSSIA, GOVERNED from Moscow, has repeatedly been cut out of the Baltic Sea. This, of course, has not been tolerated by the great and powerful kingdom.” “NEVA RIVER was already an important trade and travel route in the Viking Age,” Huhtanen recalls another cause of war. “Today’s Gulf of Finland has similar significance as a trade passage, although on a different scale.” MARITIME WAR in the shallow and narrow sea area that is rocky and full of small islands has been unlike anything else. No wonder the German submarine soldiers who were accustomed to the deep waters of the Atlantic called the Gulf of Finland “a bathtub” during the last wars. CITING A CHINESE military strategist Sun Tzu, Major Huhtanen says there are three key principles of war: intelligence, deception, and surprise. All of them have been used and seen in the Gulf of Finland. This was the case during the Winder War in March 1940: “THE SOVIETS started their attack from the island of Suursaari along the ice towards Kotka and the Finnish coast. It came as a surprise to them that the Finnish coastal artillery placed on the islands of Kirkonmaa and Rankki was able to shoot much farther and more effectively than expected. The fire stopped the attackers and caused them heavy losses.” Text: Martti Linna Photos By: Pekka Vainio The heavy cannons of Rankki’s coastal fortress have protected important harbors as well as the coast of the Gulf of Finland. The 152 mm Canet cannon’s grenade weighs about 45 kg. THE GULF OF FINLAND’S HISTORY IS RIDDLED WITH WAR During his career as a commissioned officer, Pertti Huhtanen had the chance to serve as the Head of Coastal Forests of both Rankki and Kirkonmaa islands and as a UN peacekeeper in Suez and Cyprus. THE ANCHOR /// KOTKA-HAMINA REGION /// SUMMER 2019 14
WINE & FRIENDS PIZZA & SALAD COFFEE & COLD DRINKS OPEN 11–24, FRI & SAT 11–02 LUNCH & FRENCH BISTRO OPEN 11–22, SUN 12–18 BURGER & COLD BEERS KARAOKE & PARTY OPEN 16–04, SAT & SUN 12–04 VENN, FRANS & ROSALIE -BISTRO, AMARILLO | Keskuskatu 21, 48100 Kotka | raflaamo.fi THE ANCHOR /// KOTKA-HAMINA REGION /// SUMMER 2019 15
THE ANCHOR /// KOTKA-HAMINA REGION /// SUMMER 2019 16 75-YEAR-OLD MATTI HORTO, an entrepreneur at Kotka’s restaurant Wanha Fiskari, lived on the shore of the Kymijoki River as a child. In the early 1970s, he made himself a sea-going boat out of glass fiber. “I took the boat out to the high seas to fish as well as to the Soviet Union’s territorial waters. Finns were able to fish there at specific, rented areas. Similarly, the trawlers of Kirovsk›s fishing fleet group came to Finnish waters to catch European sprat, which does not live in the Estonian coastal waters.” KYMIJOKI RIVER’S natural salmon population was destroyed in the 1930s when power stations were built on the river. Salmon from Lake Ladoga, a close relative of the former salmon, was planted on the river in order to revive the stock in the early 1980s. Gradually those salmon were also found in the catches of fishermen in the Gulf of Finland. Matti Horto built himself a bigger boat, which was completed in 1987. THREE YEARS LATER he made an even bigger decision and bought a small diner called Wanha Fiskari in Kotka’s Sapokka together with his wife Riitta. Matti and Riitta renovated the place and it became the most well-known fish restaurant in Kotka. Haili (small Baltic herring of the eastern Gulf of Finland), zander, European perch, siika (a type of freshwater whitefish), and seasonal fish burbot are species of fish that the restaurant’s customers especially like — without forgetting the host’s specialty, smoked salmon. “AT FIRST WE HAD A COOK, I served, and Matti picked up the fish from the sea from his own fishing nets,” Riitta Horto remembers. “If the chef told us that we are running out of salmon, Matti would jump into his boat at Sapokka harbor, go to the fishing nets, clean the fish, and bring it to the kitchen. Today the fish comes to the restaurant as fillets.” ACCORDING TO special planner Mikko Malin from the state-owned Metsähallitus enterprise, even more fishermen would still be able to fish in the low-salt waters of the Gulf of Finland and Kymijoki River. “THE LOCAL FISH SPECIES are almost like the whole Baltic Sea species in miniature. Fishing for fish species such as northern pike, European perch, and common bream is not so common here than for instance in the Archipelago Sea. The Baltic herring and European sprat stocks, as well as the abundant signal crayfish stocks, are also underutilized.” Text: Martti Linna Photos by: Pekka Vainio IN THE 1980S, FINNISH FISHERMEN WERE ALSO ABLE TO FISH IN SOME PARTS OF THE SOVIET UNION WATERS. FISHING AND COOKING AS A WAY OF LIFE Zander ( Stizostedion lucioperca), closely related to European perch, is one of the best Finnish food fish. In Finland, there is no need for a fishing license for angling, ice fishing, or litkaus, a type of fishing method for catching Baltic herring. These fishing methods are included in the general fishing rights of citizens. “Fresh fish can be recognized from its smell,” says Riitta and Matti Horto who have been running the Wanha Fiskari restaurant for nearly 30 years. “Fresh fish does not smell. Before cooking, we must know where it has come from and how it has been processed, and it must be tasted before it is served to the customer.” Special planner Mikko Malin is also a devoted fisherman and a co-owner of a fishing boat. “This is a kind of a caveman’s job, to be in the nature. Learning how and where to fish as well as taking fish home for food makes you feel really good.”