5 Euro of Finland 2013 UNC - Provincial Buildings: Karelia

The Provincial Buildings coin series celebrates buildings or structures relating to Finland’s historical provinces. Each of these landmarks describes in its own unique way Finnish culture, the spirit of the time and the people themselves. The ’Provincial Buildings’ coin series memorialises one building or structure from each of Finland’s historical provinces. These provinces are Åland, Finland Proper, Satakunta, Uusimaa, Karelia, Tavastia, Savonia, Ostrobothnia and Lapland.

The Karelian coin depicts the Imatrankoski power plant. The Imatra power plant built on the rapids combines the wonder of natural forces and a tour de force of engineering. Imatra rapids are Finland’s oldest tourist attraction, and people have come even from abroad to admire their surging white waters as early as the 18th century. The power of the rapids was harnessed for hydroelectric power in 1929, but for the enjoyment of tourists the dam is opened about a hundred times a year.