The waterfall Kivach is the most famous waterfall in Karelia. It takes the second place in Europe among plain waterfalls. The total height of fall is 10, 7 meters. The deep canyon of the waterfall is formed by black diabase rocks, above which pine trees raise. Kivach is beautiful in any season. In winter it is like sleeping snow giant from hard breath of whom a cloud of steam raise. In spring the waterfall is especially powerful and majestic. Having absorbed all the strength of flood time, it throws into enraged whirlpool as a united threatening and raging stream. In summer the flood subsides, and four ledges – steps of the waterfall to which a three-stage cascade joins at the left bank become visible in the main stream.

The Karelian legend of the origin of the waterfall tells about two rivers-sisters Suna and Shuya who didn’t want to part with each other and flow side by side all the time. Once tired Suna let her sister more comfortable stream and lay to have a rest. When she woke up, she found out that Shuya was far along and she rushed to catch up with her, wiping off everything on her way. At the site where Suna punched out rocks and broke to pieces boulders a waterfall appeared.

Outskirts of the waterfall are pronounced as a reservation zone. It’s one of the smallest Russian nature reserves. Here the museum of Karelian nature and arboretum where you can see a famous Karelian birch are situated.

After G. R. Derzhavin, the first Olonets governor and an outstanding poet devoted to the waterfall his famous ode “Waterfall” in 1971, Kivach took the foreground in the creative work of many poets, artists and prose writers.

Photo-exhibition “Waterfall Kivach”