Imatra

The Imatrankoski rapids on the River Vuoksi have drawn visitors to this South Karelian town for over 300 years, among them Catherine II, Alexandre Dumas, and Richard Wagner. Set on Lake Saimaa close to the Russian border, Imatra also holds the Valtionhotelli state hotel and a church designed by Alvar Aalto. Restaurants and shops concentrate around the Imatrankoski district, and the town sees heavy Russian cross-border tourism, with tax-free sales among the highest in Finland.

• Population24,581
• Nearest water from center0.6 km
• Nearest mountain from center1.2 km