Mankala: Landscape, power plant history and paddling

In Mankala, a striking river landscape meets industrial history and art. The “Pieni Järvineito” statue looks out over the landscape around Lake Kettujärvi from Talasvuori; at the power plant, buildings and former transport routes recall the area’s industrial past. For those who enjoy the outdoors, the Iitti circular paddling route also connects Mankala with the church village of Iitti and Vuolenkoski.

Mankala at a glance

• Sculptor Reijo Huttu created the “Pieni Järvineito” statue in 2017 as a tribute to the lake landscape and the Kymijoki.
• The massive red-brick Mankala power plant building defines the rapids landscape; the rapids themselves disappeared from view after the power plant was completed.
• A large log flume is located beside the power plant on the river’s south bank.
• Southeast of the power plant stands a director’s villa dating from the late 19th century; the former trackbed of a narrow-gauge railway is visible on its grounds.
• The Iitti circular paddling route follows the Kymijoki from Mankala to the church village of Iitti and returns via Vuolenkoski.

A changing river landscape

The power plant has changed how the story of the rapids is told today: the Mankala rapids disappeared from view after the power plant was completed, while the large red-brick building defines the impressive rapids landscape. For visitors, this creates an appealing contrast between the natural river setting and a structure that visibly shapes the landscape.

The log flume on the south bank is also part of this industrial context. It is located at the Mankala power plant and is another tangible feature of the river’s history. Together, the power plant building and the log flume paint a picture of how closely local history is tied to the water and its use, without representing just one period.

Traces around the director’s villa

The director’s villa southeast of the power plant dates from the late 19th century. The former trackbed of a narrow-gauge railway is also visible on the villa grounds. The railway once ran along the shore from the power plant to a waterside storage building. At one location, you can therefore trace both a preserved building and evidence of a former transport link.

When planning a trip, this variety offers a different way to experience the area than simply looking at the river: the architecture and visible trackbed add evidence of its industrial history to the landscape. Visitors interested in these connections can choose Mankala as a destination where the building, riverbank and historic transport routes reveal different aspects of local history.

Art that captured Mankala

The Mankala rapids featured in paintings and films. In the late 1910s, Väinö Hämäläinen, Pekka Halonen and Victor Westerholm captured them in several paintings. K. E. Ståhlberg filmed the rapids for two documentaries. The second film was shown in Berlin in 1911 under the title “Finland” and was considered Finland’s first tourism promotional film.

Another chapter in the area’s film history spans 1922 to 1949: during this time, mostly romantic lumberjack films and love dramas were filmed in Mankala and Vuolenkoski. This date range applies to both locations. Together with the earlier paintings and the film “Finland,” it shows how varied the area’s artistic representations have been. For visitors interested in depictions of landscapes, this offers a cultural perspective alongside the visible buildings and river scenery.

The “Pieni Järvineito” statue also connects art and landscape. It stands on Talasvuori in Mankala, looking out over the landscape around Lake Kettujärvi. Reijo Huttu created it in 2017 as a tribute to the lake landscape and the Kymijoki. Its subject offers a distinct perspective alongside the historic depictions of the rapids: here, the focus is on the lake landscape and the river.

The wider Vuolenkoski–Mankala landscape area

Beyond the immediate locality, the Vuolenkoski–Mankala landscape area covers a wider region in Iitti. It was classified as a regionally valuable landscape area in 2013. The Second Salpausselkä is clearly visible within this wider landscape area. The name and classification refer to the Vuolenkoski–Mankala area, not to Mankala alone.

This broader scale complements the specific impressions of the power plant, riverbank and Talasvuori with a regional landscape perspective. Visitors who want to consider shaped landscapes as well as cultural history when choosing a destination can distinguish between these two scales: individual places and buildings on the one hand, and the more extensive landscape area on the other.

Paddling the Iitti circular route

The “Iitti Ring” circular paddling route follows the Kymijoki from Mankala to the church village of Iitti and returns via Vuolenkoski. The route includes a portage at the Mankala power plant: paddlers get out before the plant and transport their kayaks around it overland on a kayak trolley. Before the Mankala dam, to the right after the power line that crosses the road, there is a landing place with a take-out ramp and kayak trolley.

There are clear safety restrictions. Strong suction can occur when the lock gates are open. A safety distance of at least 200 metres from the power plant must be maintained; paddling in the reservoir is strictly prohibited. Water levels and safety conditions must be taken into account before setting off. The condition of the landing place and its equipment should also be considered when planning the trip.

Visitors taking a different route to explore Mankala will find, after visiting the power plant, a smaller, winding, unpaved road leading west on the Kausala–Mankala–Kausala route. Its described course differs clearly from the circular paddling route on the Kymijoki. The waterway and road section are therefore two separate reference points for planning; the specific safety conditions for the paddling route still apply.

Making Mankala the focus of your accommodation search

The accommodation that suits your trip also depends on which side of Mankala you want to focus on. Power plant and cultural history, landscape subjects and the Iitti circular paddling route appeal to different interests.

For families interested in history and nature, the different periods offer plenty to talk about: from the statue created in 2017 to the artworks and films and the traces around the director’s villa. Those whose main interest is paddling should make the route, including its portage and safety conditions, a key part of their planning.

If you’d like to explore more destinations: Jaala, Veikkola, Hamina, Länsikylä, Pyhtää, Rekola, Kuusankoski and Kannusjärvi.

Frequently asked questions about Mankala

What is the “Pieni Järvineito” statue?

The statue stands on Talasvuori in Mankala and looks out over the landscape around Lake Kettujärvi. Reijo Huttu created it in 2017 as a tribute to the lake landscape and the Kymijoki.

What defines the landscape at the Mankala power plant?

The massive red-brick building defines the rapids landscape. The Mankala rapids disappeared from view after the power plant was completed.

What is the route of the Iitti circular paddling route?

The “Iitti Ring” follows the Kymijoki from Mankala to the church village of Iitti and returns via Vuolenkoski. Before reaching the Mankala power plant, paddlers get out and transport their kayaks around the plant overland on a kayak trolley.

What safety rules apply at the power plant?

Strong suction can occur when the lock gates are open. A safety distance of at least 200 metres from the power plant must be maintained; paddling in the reservoir is strictly prohibited. Water levels and safety conditions must be taken into account before setting off.

What historic traces can be found by the director’s villa?

A director’s villa dating from the late 19th century stands southeast of the power plant. The former trackbed of a narrow-gauge railway is visible on its grounds. The railway once ran along the shore from the power plant to a waterside storage building.

For an overview of destinations in the wider region: Kymenlaakso.