Impilahti (russian: Импила́хти; krl, Imbilahti; sv, Impilax) is a rural locality in the

Republic of Karelia The Republic of Karelia (russian: Респу́блика Каре́лия, Respublika Kareliya; ; krl, Karjalan tašavalta; ; fi, Karjalan tasavalta; vep, Karjalan Tazovaldkund, Ludic: ''Kard’alan tazavald''), also known as just Karelia (rus ...

, Russia, located at the northern tip of

Lake Ladoga Lake Ladoga (; rus, Ла́дожское о́зеро, r=Ladozhskoye ozero, p=ˈladəʂskəjə ˈozʲɪrə or rus, Ла́дога, r=Ladoga, p=ˈladəɡə, fi, Laatokka arlier in Finnish ''Nevajärvi'' ; vep, Ladog, Ladoganjärv) is a fresh ...

near the Finnish border, about west of Petrozavodsk, the capital city of the Republic of Karelia. The nearest town is

Sortavala Sortavala (russian: Сортавала; Finnish and krl, Sortavala; sv, Sordavala); till 1918 Serdobol (russian: Сердоболь) is a town in the Republic of Karelia, Russia, located at the northern tip of Lake Ladoga near the Finnish bord ...

, which is located about west of Sortavala. Before the World War II, the area belonged to Finland, after which it became part of the Soviet Union. In 2012 the population of Impilahti was about one thousand. According to the 2010 census, 74% of the population are Russian, 9%

Belarusian Belarusian may refer to: * Something of, or related to Belarus * Belarusians, people from Belarus, or of Belarusian descent * A citizen of Belarus, see Demographics of Belarus * Belarusian language * Belarusian culture * Belarusian cuisine * Byelor ...

, 7% Karelian, 3%

Ukrainian Ukrainian may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to Ukraine * Something relating to Ukrainians, an East Slavic people from Eastern Europe * Something relating to demographics of Ukraine in terms of demography and population of Ukraine * So ...

and 2% Finnish.

Geography

In addition to Lake Ladoga, there are other smaller lakes in Impilahti and several rivers flow in the area. Most of the land area is forest. Minerals include granite, gneiss,

amphibolite Amphibolite () is a metamorphic rock that contains amphibole, especially hornblende and actinolite, as well as plagioclase feldspar, but with little or no quartz. It is typically dark-colored and dense, with a weakly foliated or schistose (flaky ...

slate Slate is a fine-grained, foliated, homogeneous metamorphic rock derived from an original shale-type sedimentary rock composed of clay or volcanic ash through low-grade regional metamorphism. It is the finest grained foliated metamorphic rock. ...

, sand and

gravel Gravel is a loose aggregation of rock fragments. Gravel occurs naturally throughout the world as a result of sedimentary and erosive geologic processes; it is also produced in large quantities commercially as crushed stone. Gravel is classifi ...

Sights and tourism

To the east of the village of Leppäsilta is a

Stone Age The Stone Age was a broad prehistoric period during which stone was widely used to make tools with an edge, a point, or a percussion surface. The period lasted for roughly 3.4 million years, and ended between 4,000 BC and 2,000 BC, with t ...

settlement. Impilahti's center has the status of a historical settlement. Building monuments include the preserved Impilahti

parsonage A clergy house is the residence, or former residence, of one or more priests or ministers of religion. Residences of this type can have a variety of names, such as manse, parsonage, rectory or vicarage. Function A clergy house is typically own ...

, school, bank and hotel from the Finnish era, as well as two

residential building A residential area is a land used in which housing predominates, as opposed to industrial and commercial areas. Housing may vary significantly between, and through, residential areas. These include single-family housing, multi-family residen ...

s. Impilahti has the graves of Soviet and Finnish soldiers who fell in the Winter and Continuation War, as well as Soviet prisoners of war. The municipality also has several

holiday village A holiday village (also abbreviated HV) is a holiday resort where the visitors stay in villas. There is a central area with shops, entertainment, and other amenities. One example is Center Parcs Center Parcs may refer to: * Center Parcs UK and ...

s and

hunting lodges Hunting is the human activity, human practice of seeking, pursuing, capturing, or killing wildlife or feral animals. The most common reasons for humans to hunt are to harvest food (i.e. meat) and useful animal products (fur/hide (skin), hide, ...

Transportation

The A130 highway between Olonets and Sortavala passes through Impilahti. There are bus connections from the center to Pitkyaranta and Sortavala.

Industry

In Impilahti, there are two

fish farm upright=1.3, Salmon farming in the sea (mariculture) at Loch Ainort, Isle of Skye">mariculture.html" ;"title="Salmon farming in the sea (mariculture">Salmon farming in the sea (mariculture) at Loch Ainort, Isle of Skye, Scotland Fish farming or ...

s, a cattle farm, a sewing factory and a building materials industry. From 2003 to 2022, a sawmill owned by Stora Enso operated in Impilahti.

Notable people

Aleksanteri Ahola-Valo Aleksanteri Ahola-Valo (27 January 1900, in Impilahti, Karelia – 15 September 1997, Simrishamn, Sweden) was a Finnish artist, architect and thinker. Inventor of "AE-evohomology" life philosophy. He was a witness to the Russian Revolution. "Ah ...

(1900–1997), artist and architect *

Aleksander Auvinen Aleksander Auvinen (23 December 1857, in Impilahti – 29 August 1918) was a Finnish Lutheran priest and politician. He studied theology at the University of Helsinki and was ordained a priest of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland in 1881. ...

(1857–1918), Lutheran priest and politician *

Arvid Genetz Arvid Oskar Gustaf Genetz (1 July 1848— 3 May 1915) was a Finland, Finnish politician, poet and linguist. He wrote under the pseudonym Arvi Jännes. His best known poems are "Herää Suomi”, ”Karjala” and ”Väinölän lapset”. He ...

(1848–1915), politician, poet and linguist * Emil Genetz (1852–1930), composer *

William Kanerva Yrjö William Kanerva (26 November 1902 – 10 October 1956) was a Finnish international footballer who earned 51 caps at international level between 1922 and 1938, scoring 13 goals. Kanerva played club football for HJK and HPS, and he compete ...

(1902–1956), footballer * Ensio Koivunen (1930–2003), serial killer * Mauno Luukkonen (born 1934), biathlete * Mikko Piitulainen (1878–1935), farmer, attorney and politician *

Pentti Saarikoski Pentti Saarikoski ( Impilahti, now in the Republic of Karelia September 2, 1937 – Joensuu August 24, 1983) was one of the most important poets in the literary scene of Finland during the 1960s and 1970s. His body of work comprises poetry and ...

(1937–1983), poet *

Jaakko Seise Jaakko Andreinpoika Seise (Jakov Andrejev Sjelajev) (14 March 1876 Impilahti – 12 January 1935 Salmi

(1876–1935), businessman, a member of the Finnish White Guard and a Nazi politician * Elias Simojoki (1899–1940), clergyman * Basilius Suosaari (born Vasili Tichanoff; 1861–1939), Finnish-Australian politician and farmer * Alli Vaittinen-Kuikka (1918–2006), nurse, midwife and politician

References

External links

Poselok Impilahti
– Kareliya.ru (in Russian)

– Luovutettu Karjala (in Finnish) {{Republic of Karelia Grand Duchy of Finland Former municipalities of Finland Rural localities in the Republic of Karelia Populated places established in 1638 Populated places in Pitkyarantsky District