Rapids shows and Kruununpuisto walking tours are popular

This summer, the rapids are bubbling again, accompanied by music, after a couple of years of dam repair.

- There have been a lot of people at the rapids shows this summer. Even on rainy days, spectators find the place in droves. Wednesday has become a very popular screening day, Imatra Base Camp Pentti Miikki says.

Even though the rapids shows were not seen in Imatra last summer, the interest in them has remained in people's minds.

- The shows have been found again and there is interest in them. It's great that the information has reached the public, says Miikki.

The Imatra rapid will be illuminated in the fall

Koski will soon have new lights to enhance the shows during the winter.

- The local Etec Automation Oy was selected as the project's contractor through tendering. In the future, the rapids will be illuminated with special lighting, which will enhance rapids displays, says the developer Henry Tapiola from Mitra.

The lights will be installed during the coming autumn, and they will be used in rapids shows during dark times. In summer, lights are not necessary.

- Furniture has a long delivery time. The estimate is that full implementation will take place by the end of October. In addition to installation, adjustments and alignments must be made, says Tapiola.

The lighting project is huge.

- The price of the contract is 158 euros. In addition, the price comes from the design, so the final costs are estimated at 000 euros, Tapiola says.

Walking tours are of interest to domestic tourists

Kruununpuisto organizes guided tours on raft show days. The tours have been a success this summer.

- It has been much busier than last summer, when there were no rapids shows. We do not need advance registration, and there are no restrictions on the number of participants. This is an advantage, but it is also difficult to prepare for the popularity, once 80 people showed up for the tour, the association of the Imatra Travel Guides Päivi Lappalainen says.

The tours usually have one guide. The guidance is basically held in Finnish.

- Sometimes we even have two guides, especially when we have received information about a larger group. With advance registration, you can also book guidance in Swedish, English, German or Russian. From time to time, depending on the situation, we have agreed that, for example, both Finnish and English can be used on the tour, if someone requests it. We always try to respond to the wishes of the participants as much as possible, says Lappalainen.

Most of the participants are Finns living abroad. The people of Imatra often also bring their guests on the tour, Lappalainen describes.

- We get a lot of questions in advance about, for example, timetables, route shapes and rapids shows. There are many more contacts than last summer, Lappalainen says.

After the peak summer, we will consider further plans for tours.

- We are thinking about the possibility of additional guides, especially for large groups. One option could be several rounds on the same day. Although the rapids shows attract a lot of participants to the walking tour as well, my principle is that the tours are held even if the rapids are not bubbling. A live guide is necessary, the tours run smoothly alongside the virtual guides, Lappalainen sums up.

Walking tours are organized on August 25.8. from Wednesday to Sunday at 17 p.m. The price of the guide is 5 euros for adults and 14 euros for children up to 2,5 years of age. More information about the tours here.

Additional information:

Rapids shows:

Pentti Miikki, tel. +358 20 617 7011, pentti.miikkiimatrabasecamp.fi (pentti[dot]miikki[at]imatrabasecamp[dot]fi)

Imatra Base Camp, Tourism

About the lighting contract:

Builder Henry Tapiola, Mitra, tel. 05 2352827, henry.tapiolamitra.fi (henry[dot]tapiola[at]mitra[dot]fi)

Kruununpuisto tours:

Chairman Päivi Lappalainen, tel. 050 354 5071, imatranmatkiluoppaaat(at)gmail.com

Imatran Travel Guides