TikTok videos turn remote Finnish pond into summer attraction

Kaunisjärvi, a clear spring-fed pond in Ilomantsi, has drawn visitors from across Finland after social media videos made it popular, Yle reports. The previously quiet spot along the Susitaival hiking route has seen crowds of motorhomes, campers and swimmers this summer.

Videos of the pond have been viewed hundreds of thousands of times on TikTok, YouTube and Instagram. Hemi and Sirpa Hytönen drove three and a half hours from Imatra after watching videos of the location throughout the spring.

“I have watched countless videos on YouTube. I told my wife that now we should go and see what kind of place it is,” Hemi Hytönen said beside their motorhome on the shore.

Valtteri Hagman, 11, saw Kaunisjärvi on TikTok and suggested the trip to his family. Hagman and Anna-Kristiina Lätti were visiting Kontiolahti on holiday from Nurmijärvi when they went swimming in the pond.

“I saw a video on TikTok, so I thought it would be nice to come swimming here. This is the TikTok pond,” Valtteri said.

Anna-Kristiina Hagman was also impressed. “It is just like swimming in a swimming pool or on a beach in the south. It was definitely worth coming to see.”

The sudden popularity began after several social media influencers visited the clear-water spring-fed pond earlier this summer. Pasi Hagman, also from Nurmijärvi, said he had not expected to see so many people.

“If you want peace and quiet, it is a worse thing. But it is good that people come and spend time in nature,” said Jukka Lätti, who was surprised by the number of visitors.

Kaunisjärvi lies in a small nature reserve among eskers. Visitors interviewed by Yle had not seen litter, and the path around the pond had remained clean. However, the popularity has caused some problems: some visitors have been unable to use the lean-to shelter for meals, toilet paper has been hanging from trees beside the car park, and the outhouse by the shore has been full.

“I hope people understand how to appreciate this nature,” Hemi Hytönen said.

The Hytönens had no other attractions in the Ilomantsi area on their list. “This is the phenomenon we wanted to experience,” Sirpa Hytönen said.