Geopark congress draws 450 visitors to Saimaa

The European Geopark Congress has filled hotels in Lappeenranta, Yle reports. The event has brought 450 visitors from around the world to southeastern Finland.

Saimaa Geopark is a tourism and protected area in eastern Finland that showcases the unique nature of the Saimaa lake region. During the congress, participants from 32 countries are visiting natural attractions across South Karelia and South Savo.

Visitors are exploring Saimaa on cruise and sailing vessels, by canoe and in traditional church boats.

One of the attractions is Kummakivi, a natural monument in Ruokolahti, South Karelia. The rock is seven metres wide and five metres high and weighs at least 180 tonnes. Its distinctive feature is its very small contact surface: it rests firmly on the rock beneath it on an area of only about half a square metre.

A 40-centimetre chocolate sculpture depicting Kummakivi is on display in the foyer of Lappeenranta Theatre. The highly detailed work was made by Eija Kuningas, a respected confectioner’s journeyman who also works as a product development specialist and confectionery teacher at Sampo vocational college in Lappeenranta.

The chocolate Kummakivi would melt in excessive heat and sunlight, so it has been placed in a carefully selected location inside the theatre.

The real Kummakivi has been protected as a natural monument since 1962. Markku Heinonen, Saimaa Geopark’s international affairs coordinator, says Saimaa’s natural environment fascinates people from around the world.