Imatra, Finland (Actually this is more about cats)

Photos: CC BY-SA 4.0 - Insaneworks

^{Do you see it?}

Imatra is only about 7 km from the Russian border, so if you have long feet and a fairly quick step, you better be careful not to accidentally cross the border. And without a visa or a passport, that could be dangerous. Especially if you try to do that in the middle of the night, in the dark forest, following the path along the Imatra rapids and downstream towards the lake Laatokka (Ladoga) that locates in Russia, thinking that there's nothing to worry, the border must be far faraway, at least 60 km.

I mean, just saying.

Photos: CC BY-SA 4.0 - Insaneworks

Imatra is famous for it's rapids that has been a tourist site at least from the year 1772 when it was visited by the Russian Empress Catherine II. That makes Imatrankoski (koski = rapids) the oldest tourist site in Finland. In the late 19th century it was one of the most famous places to visit in the Europe as about 500 m³ of water ran thru it every second and 1 160 m³ / second in 1899, when there was the biggest flood known. The Grand Hôtel Cascade was built near the riverbank in 1903 and that increased the amount of tourists in Imatra. Today the hotel is called Imatran Valtionhotelli (Imatra state's hotel), and no, despite it's name, the state does not own it and the city of Imatra is part of Finland, not a separate state. But anyway, thinking about the tourist attraction, it makes total sense that there would be a power plant in there some day. Blocking the water. The first part of the plant was built in 1929 and when the plant finished in 1937, the whole rapids was dried and now it generates renewable energy for Finland.

^{I asked, do you see it?}

So in most days the Imatrankoski (Imatra rapids) is in the mode: "just add water". In the summer and some other random days Fortum (the company that owns the rights to produce the electricity from the rapids) arrange the discharge of water from the dam. Show lasts about 17 minutes. Perhaps I'll get back to you with the water photographs later this year and you can compare the summer / winter photography. As soon as I first manage to post the waterless winter photographs here in a separate post. Because this post focuses on the things I mentioned in the tittle. Not the rapids.

^{How about now?}

^{You must see it by now.}

^{If you don't see it, it must be only in my head.}

On the other side of the hotel, not in the rapids side, there is a Veteran museum. If you visit Imatra, I recommend that you do go and visit the museum, especially if you like old stories, gadgets and items. It's open every day and if you miss the opening hours you can call and ask if they would be nice and make an exception on your case.

^{Veteran museums worker, Manu the cat. An old-timer who likes to purr and talk and follow the visitors.}

^{Oh look, he turned he's head! So cute!}

Photos: CC BY-SA 4.0 - Insaneworks

^{He turned his head again! Soooooo absolutely adorable!}

Yes, I did take photographs of the building, inside and out and the items in the veteran museum, but because this post is more about cats than Imatra, rapids, veterans or wars, I will save those photos for another post. And that's a promise. I will. And I do. Tomorrow. Some day. Next week.

But isn't he cute thou?! Manu.

Oh, one thing that I could mention in this post is the Osmo’s Cosmos bar.

Photos: CC BY-SA 4.0 - Insaneworks

It was named after the cover band called Osmo’s Cosmos and it's members are all from Imatra. They play mostly 70s and 80s songs and are known for their colorful stage show and sense of humor. Check out the music video where they play on the roof of the hotel that I've been writing about. Not beside the cat, but a bit lower. You get a better view of the beautiful hotel.

#veteranmuseum #cat #steemitworldmap #suomi #valtionhotelli #musicvideo
^{!steemitworldmap 61.169380 lat 28.771039 long Imatra, Finland - more about cats d3scr}