In SounDome's ice igloo, you can admire underwater Vuokse this winter

Ice igloos are currently being built at the Vuoksen Fishing Park in Varpasaari. Exhibitions will open in the igloos later in the winter, where you can see and try ice instruments and admire the underwater world of Vuoksi.

- In previous years, we have organized ice instrument concerts. They cannot be organized this year due to corona restrictions. Instead, visitors get to try the instruments and get to know Vuosi, Juuso Partanen About SounDome.

The construction of the igloos started over the weekend

Two igloos will be built in the fishing park. Both igloos have a diameter of eight meters and are connected to each other by a tunnel.

- On the scale of southern Finland, these are large structures, Partanen says.

Partanen started the preparatory work together Jere Nuppolan and the entrepreneur of Kalastuspuisto Toni Kainulainen with last week. At that time, ice was made, the ice removal site in Saimaa was knocked open, and the soil that came to the bottom of the igloos was frozen and tamped.

The actual construction work started over the weekend.

Ice instruments and underwater Vuokse

Two exhibitions will be opened for the finished igloos. In the first one, you can see and try ice instruments. In the second igloo, a video showing Vuoksi's underwater life is shown, and in addition, Vuoksi-themed ice sculptures are made there.

- Vuokse was photographed by a diver Jussi Solehmainen. We have made the work together from the material he photographed, says Partanen.

An entrance fee of five euros is charged for the exhibition. You can enter individually or in small groups so that safety distances are maintained at all times.

It will be ready in January-February

It should be ready during January or early February at the latest. The weather in the coming weeks will affect the progress of the construction work.

What is important is long-lasting frost and suitable air humidity, says Partanen.

Building igloos is a multi-step process. In the first step, water is sprayed over the air-filled molds with a pressure washer. In the second step, a snow cannon is used.

Breaks must be taken between construction phases and the ice must be given time to harden.

- The harder and longer the frost period comes, the better. The goal is to make the walls 40 centimeters thick, says Partanen.

The igloos and exhibitions are organized by SounDome from Imatra. The city of Imatra works as a partner in the project.

For more information:

Juuso Partanen, SounDome, 040 706 5584, juso. beardedgmail.com (juuso[dot]partanen[at]gmail[dot]com)  
SounDome's website: SounDome