Kymi River
Encyclopedia
Kymi river is a river
in Finland
. It begins from the lake Päijänne, flows through the provinces of Päijät-Häme, Uusimaa and Kymenlaakso and discharges into the Gulf of Finland
. River passes the towns of Heinola
and Kouvola
. City of Kotka
is located in the immediate vicinity of the river delta.
Being one of the largest rivers in Southern Finland
, Kymi is a major source of hydroelectricity
. City of Kotka and towns of Kuusankoski, Myllykoski and Inkeroinen along the river are major centers of pulp
and paper industry. Formerly river was extensively used for log floating.
Kymijoki river has 5 mouths. River is divided into two main branches near Kultaankoski rapids in Kotka, about 15 kilometers inland from the Gulf of Finland. Eastern branch is divided into Korkeakoski and Koivukoski branches; Koivukoski branch is again divided into two mouths (Langinkoski and Huumanhaara). Korkeakoski branch has only one rivermouth.
Western branch divides into Ahvenkoski and Klåsarö branches, both having one mouth.
The westernmost Ahvenkoski branch of the river served as a border between Sweden
and Russia
from 1743 to 1809. The parts of Finland east of the river were later called Old Finland
. Old Finland was incorporated in the Grand Duchy of Finland
in 1812.
Upper and middle reaches:
Western branch:
Eastern branch:
River
A river is a natural watercourse, usually freshwater, flowing towards an ocean, a lake, a sea, or another river. In a few cases, a river simply flows into the ground or dries up completely before reaching another body of water. Small rivers may also be called by several other names, including...
in Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
. It begins from the lake Päijänne, flows through the provinces of Päijät-Häme, Uusimaa and Kymenlaakso and discharges into the Gulf of Finland
Gulf of Finland
The Gulf of Finland is the easternmost arm of the Baltic Sea. It extends between Finland and Estonia all the way to Saint Petersburg in Russia, where the river Neva drains into it. Other major cities around the gulf include Helsinki and Tallinn...
. River passes the towns of Heinola
Heinola
Heinola is a town and a municipality of inhabitants located in the Province of Southern Finland. Heinola is perhaps best known for its summer activities such as the Sauna-sitting World Championships.-History:...
and Kouvola
Kouvola
Kouvola is a town and municipality in southeastern Finland. It is located northeast of the capital, Helsinki.The city has a population of and covers an area of of which is water. The population density is ....
. City of Kotka
Kotka
Kotka is a town and municipality of Finland. Its former name is Rochensalm.Kotka is located on the coast of the Gulf of Finland at the mouth of Kymi River and it is part of the Kymenlaakso region in southern Finland. The municipality has a population of and covers an area of of which is water....
is located in the immediate vicinity of the river delta.
Being one of the largest rivers in Southern Finland
Southern Finland
Southern Finland was a province of Finland from 1997 to 2010. It bordered the provinces of Western Finland and Eastern Finland. It also bordered the Gulf of Finland and Russia.- History :...
, Kymi is a major source of hydroelectricity
Hydroelectricity
Hydroelectricity is the term referring to electricity generated by hydropower; the production of electrical power through the use of the gravitational force of falling or flowing water. It is the most widely used form of renewable energy...
. City of Kotka and towns of Kuusankoski, Myllykoski and Inkeroinen along the river are major centers of pulp
Wood pulp
Pulp is a lignocellulosic fibrous material prepared by chemically or mechanically separating cellulose fibres from wood, fibre crops or waste paper. Wood pulp is the most common raw material in papermaking.-History:...
and paper industry. Formerly river was extensively used for log floating.
Kymijoki river has 5 mouths. River is divided into two main branches near Kultaankoski rapids in Kotka, about 15 kilometers inland from the Gulf of Finland. Eastern branch is divided into Korkeakoski and Koivukoski branches; Koivukoski branch is again divided into two mouths (Langinkoski and Huumanhaara). Korkeakoski branch has only one rivermouth.
Western branch divides into Ahvenkoski and Klåsarö branches, both having one mouth.
The westernmost Ahvenkoski branch of the river served as a border between Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
and Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
from 1743 to 1809. The parts of Finland east of the river were later called Old Finland
Old Finland
thumb|right|260px|The areas that Sweden lost to Russia in the wars of 1721 and 1743Old Finland is a name used for the areas that Russia gained from Sweden in the Great Northern War and in the Russo-Swedish War...
. Old Finland was incorporated in the Grand Duchy of Finland
Grand Duchy of Finland
The Grand Duchy of Finland was the predecessor state of modern Finland. It existed 1809–1917 as part of the Russian Empire and was ruled by the Russian czar as Grand Prince.- History :...
in 1812.
Hydroelectric plants and rapids
In Kymijoki, there is 12 hydroelectric plants and several dams to regulate water level. First power plants were built is 1882. Canal and dam of Kalkkinen is used to regulate the water level at lake Päijänne. Hirvivuolle dam regulates water flow between eastern and western branches. Paaskoski dam near Tammijärvi regulates flow to Klåsarö branch and Strömfors dam regulates water level at Strömfors industrial area.Upper and middle reaches:
- Kalkkistenkoski rapids and regulating dam (Asikkala)
- Jyrängönkoski rapids (Heinola)
- Vuolenkoski, hydroelectric plant (Iitti)
- Mankala, hydroelectric plant (Iitti)
- Voikkaa, hydroelectric plant (Kouvola)
- Pessankoski rapids (Kouvola)
- Lappakoski rapids (Kouvola)
- Kuusankoski, hydroelectric plant (Kouvola)
- Keltti, hydroelectric plant (Kouvola)
- Myllykoski, hydroelectric plant (Kouvola)
- Anjalankoski (Ankkapurha), hydroelectric plant (Kouvola)
- Piirteenkoski rapids (Kouvola)
- Susikoski rapids (At the boundary of Kouvola and ja Kotka)
- Ahvionkoski rapids area, elevation 1,9 m (At the boundary of Kouvola and Kotka)
- Kultaankosket rapids, elevation 1,5 m (At the boundary of Kouvola and Kotka)
Western branch:
- Hirvivuolle, regulating dam, built in 1933 (Pyhtää)
- Hirvikoski rapids (Pyhtää)
- Paaskoski, regulating dam, built in 1933(At the boundary of Pyhtää and Loviisa)
- Klåsarö (Loosarinkoski), hydroelectric plant (Pyhtää)
- Ediskoski, hydroelectric plant (Pyhtää)
- Strömfors, regulating dam, built in 1965 (Loviisa)
- Ahvenkoski, hydroelectric plant (At the boundary of Pyhtää and Loviisa)
Eastern branch:
- Pernoonkosket rapids area, elevation 5 m (Kotka)
- Laajakoski rapids (cleared away, Kotka)
- Koivukoski, hydroelectric plant and regulating dam (Koivukoski branch, Kotka)
- Siikakoski rapids (Koivukoski branch, Kotka)
- Kokonkoski rapids (Koivukoski branch, Kotka)
- Langinkoski rapids (Langinkoski branch, Kotka)
- Hinttulankoski rapids (Huumanhaara branch, Kotka)
- Korkeakoski, hydroelectric plant (Korkeakoski branch, Kotka)