Kymi River

Kymijoki Kymmene älv
Kymi River
Origin	Päijänne
Mouth	Baltic Sea
Basin countries	Finland
Length	204 km
Source elevation	78.2 m
Avg. discharge	283 m3

Kymi river (Finnish: Kymijoki, Swedish: Kymmene älv) is a river in Finland. It begins from the lake Päijänne, flows through the provinces of Päijät-Häme, Uusimaa and Kymenlaakso and discharges into the Gulf of Finland. River passes the towns of Heinola and Kouvola. City of Kotka is located in the immediate vicinity of the river delta.

Being one of the largest rivers in Southern Finland, Kymi is a major source of hydroelectricity. City of Kotka and towns of Kuusankoski, Myllykoski and Inkeroinen along the river are major centers of pulp and paper industry. Formerly river was extensively used for log floating.

Kymijoki river has 5 mouths. River is divided into two main branches near Kultaankoski rapids in Kotka, about 15 kilometers inland from the Gulf of Finland. Eastern branch is divided into Korkeakoski and Koivukoski branches; Koivukoski branch is again divided into two mouths (Langinkoski and Huumanhaara). Korkeakoski branch has only one rivermouth.

Western branch divides into Ahvenkoski and Klåsarö branches, both having one mouth.

The westernmost Ahvenkoski branch of the river served as a border between Sweden and Russia from 1743 to 1809. The parts of Finland east of the river were later called Old Finland. Old Finland was incorporated in the Grand Duchy of Finland in 1812.

Hydroelectric plants and rapids

In Kymijoki, there is 12 hydroelectric plants and several dams to regulate water level. First power plants were built is 1882. Canal and dam of Kalkkinen is used to regulate the water level at lake Päijänne. Hirvivuolle dam regulates water flow between eastern and western branches. Paaskoski dam near Tammijärvi regulates flow to Klåsarö branch and Strömfors dam regulates water level at Strömfors industrial area.

Upper and middle reaches:

• Kalkkistenkoski rapids and regulating dam (Asikkala)
• Jyrängönkoski rapids (Heinola)
• Vuolenkoski, hydroelectric plant (Iitti)
• Mankala, hydroelectric plant (Iitti)
• Voikkaa, hydroelectric plant (Kouvola)
• Pessankoski rapids (Kouvola)
• Lappakoski rapids (Kouvola)
• Kuusankoski, hydroelectric plant (Kouvola)
• Keltti, hydroelectric plant (Kouvola)
• Myllykoski, hydroelectric plant (Kouvola)
• Anjalankoski (Ankkapurha), hydroelectric plant (Kouvola)
• Piirteenkoski rapids (Kouvola)
• Susikoski rapids (At the boundary of Kouvola and ja Kotka)
• Ahvionkoski rapids area, elevation 1,9 m (At the boundary of Kouvola and Kotka)
• Kultaankosket rapids, elevation 1,5 m (At the boundary of Kouvola and Kotka)

Western branch:

• Hirvivuolle, regulating dam, built in 1933 (Pyhtää)
• Hirvikoski rapids (Pyhtää)
• Paaskoski, regulating dam, built in 1933(At the boundary of Pyhtää and Loviisa)
• Klåsarö (Loosarinkoski), hydroelectric plant (Pyhtää)
• Ediskoski, hydroelectric plant (Pyhtää)
• Strömfors, regulating dam, built in 1965 (Loviisa)
• Ahvenkoski, hydroelectric plant (At the boundary of Pyhtää and Loviisa)

Eastern branch:

• Pernoonkosket rapids area, elevation 5 m (Kotka)
• Laajakoski rapids (cleared away, Kotka)
• Koivukoski, hydroelectric plant and regulating dam (Koivukoski branch, Kotka)
• Siikakoski rapids (Koivukoski branch, Kotka)
• Kokonkoski rapids (Koivukoski branch, Kotka)
• Langinkoski rapids (Langinkoski branch, Kotka)
• Hinttulankoski rapids (Huumanhaara branch, Kotka)
• Korkeakoski, hydroelectric plant (Korkeakoski branch, Kotka)

External links

Media related to Kymi River at Wikimedia Commons

• (Finnish) Kymi river