Korkeasaari ( sv, Högholmen) is an island in
Helsinki
Helsinki ( or ; ; sv, Helsingfors, ) is the capital, primate, and most populous city of Finland. Located on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, it is the seat of the region of Uusimaa in southern Finland, and has a population of . The city ...
. The literal meaning of Korkeasaari is "Tall Island/Islet". It is part of the
Mustikkamaa–Korkeasaari district.
Korkeasaari Zoo is located on the island and named after it.
The island of Korkeasaari is a rocky island. Two smaller islands are located next to it: ''Hylkysaari'' and ''Palosaari''.
History
A sacrificial stone from the
Bronze Age
The Bronze Age is a historic period, lasting approximately from 3300 BC to 1200 BC, characterized by the use of bronze, the presence of writing in some areas, and other early features of urban civilization. The Bronze Age is the second prin ...
has been found on the island. It is the first one found in the Helsinki area.
Korkeasaari has been in recreational use for people living in Helsinki for a long time. Locals used it for fishing and for herding. After the
Crimean War
The Crimean War, , was fought from October 1853 to February 1856 between Russia and an ultimately victorious alliance of the Ottoman Empire, France, the United Kingdom and Piedmont-Sardinia.
Geopolitical causes of the war included the ...
a steam boat started operating to the island, and the island became a popular place to spend time.
Korkeasaari was rented to ''Helsingin Anniskelyhtiö'' in 1883, and the company started renovating the island. Roads were built and city gardener L. A. Jernström planned planting areas to the island. A restaurant designed by
Theodor Höijer was built in 1884, and it is still located on the island and used as a restaurant. In 1889
Korkeasaari Zoo was established and located to the island.
Transportation
In 1972, a bridge was built to connect Korkeasaari to the mainland via
Mustikkamaa. Before that, a ferry was the only option to arrive to the island. A ferry still operates to Korkeasaari from the
Market Square during the summer. In August 2016, planning of ''Kruunusillat'' bridges started. They will connect Korkeasaari to
Hakaniemi and
Kruunuvuorenranta, and also bring a
tram
A tram (called a streetcar or trolley in North America) is a rail vehicle that travels on tramway tracks on public urban streets; some include segments on segregated right-of-way. The tramlines or networks operated as public transport are ...
connection to the island.
Gallery
File:Cup marked stone (Korkeasaari, Helsinki).jpg, Sacrificial stone in Korkeasaari
File:Restaurant at Helsinki Zoo, Korkeasaari (Högholmen).jpg, Restaurant designed by Theodor Höijer, photographed in the 1900s.
File:KorkeasaariPukkiRestaurant.JPG, The same restaurant building, still in use.
File:Korkeasaaren lautta Högholmen Korkeasaaren rannassa - N10167 - hkm.HKMS000005-km0023xj.jpg, Ferry to the Zoo in the 1920s.
File:Old bear cage in Korkeasaari.jpg, Old ''Bear Castle'' still located in the zoo, but not in use.
File:Bear Helsinki Zoo.JPG, Current ''Bear Castle'' in the Zoo.
File:Amazonia C IMG 3678.JPG, Modern tropical building Africasia, built in 2003.
File:Korkeasaari - Marit Henriksson.jpg, Old architecture can still be found at the zoo.
File:Korkeasaari.jpg, Bridge that connects Korkeasaari to Mustikkamaa.
References
{{Helsinki Cityscape
Parks in Helsinki
Islands of Helsinki
Islands of Uusimaa