A historical wooden building with a tower and intricate windows, set on a cobblestone street, surrounded by trees. Historic building entrance with decorative patterns, wooden doors, and stone base, set against a clear blue sky.
Finland

Kotka: Town on the Eagle Island

Kotka community center
 Kotka, Finland, July 2023

Kotka (Finnish for “eagle”) is a small port town in southern Finland. It takes its name from Kotkansaari, the “Eagle Island” it sits upon. And Kotkansaari, in turn, was named after the merikotka ("sea eagles") that once nested there before the town was built. Don't worry, though; that's almost all the vocabulary you need for today.

If you search for tourist attractions on Kotka’s official website, you’re quickly redirected to the neighboring towns of Hamina and Loviisa. Yet Kotka isn’t without its charms. Broad streets lead into the center, which features an abundance of space interspersed with old wooden houses.

One highlight is the Orthodox Church of St. Nicholas, the oldest building in town. A cemetery once lay next to it, but only a small corner and a few gravestones remain. The city also boasts a few lovely parks. In Sibelius Park, two bronze eagles grapple with each other in a sculpture aptly titled Kotkat—the Finnish plural of "eagle." (And thus, you have acquired yet another vocabulary item.)

Speaking of vocabulary: in Finnish mythology, Vellamo is the goddess of the seas. Her name comes from the verb "velloa", meaning to surge, stir, or swell. Why bring this up? Because an architecturally striking maritime museum that bears her name stands right by the old harbor. Unfortunately, when I visited, its doors were closed, so I had to content myself with admiring it from the outside.

Map of Kotka
A large industrial crane standing on a dock, with sunlight shining through its structure and a river in the background.
A large industrial crane stands beside a red buoy on a rocky shore, with ships in the background and a cloudy sky above.
A waterfront scene featuring industrial cranes beside calm waters, with buildings visible in the background and a cloudy sky.
A towering dock crane overlooks a serene harbor, with a "MIA ♥ KOTKA" sign nearby and boats in the distance.
A narrow alleyway with a green tree at the end, flanked by white wooden buildings and a pastel-colored facade.
A street scene featuring a brick building adorned with a vibrant mural, grassy areas, and nearby trees.
Mural on the façade of the former Toivo Pekkanen Elementary School.
A historical wooden building with a tower and intricate windows, set on a cobblestone street, surrounded by trees.
Kotka's old fire station, built in 1898. Today, the building is home to art exhibitions and workspaces for professional artists.
A modern building with a textured exterior, featuring large windows and bicycles parked nearby, surrounded by greenery.
The public library and music school.
Historic building entrance with decorative patterns, wooden doors, and stone base, set against a clear blue sky.
Kotka community center
A historic building with ornate architecture surrounded by greenery on a cobblestone street, showing a blend of classic and modern design.
Historic round building with a prominent dome, surrounded by green lawns and trees on a sunny day.
St. Nicholas Church is the main place of worship for the Orthodox community in Kotka. Built between 1799 and 1801, it long preceded the establishment of the city, which was founded almost eighty years later.
A historic building with a green dome and spire, surrounded by trees and grassy area, under a clear blue sky.
A serene cemetery area with gravestones and a weathered wooden fence, surrounded by lush green trees and grass.
Next to the church was a cemetery, a small part of which has been preserved with its gravestones. Some of the commanders of the Ruotsinsalmi sea fortress, which was destroyed in 1855 during the Crimean War, are buried here.
A historic church with a tall spire, viewed through ornate gates, surrounded by greenery and a brick pathway.
A historic wooden building surrounded by lush greenery and tall trees, featuring a path and benches in a sunny park setting.
A ornate fountain with a statue in a landscaped park, surrounded by trees and benches on a sunny day.
A water fountain featuring a soaring sculpture, surrounded by green trees and manicured lawns on a sunny day.
A bronze sculpture of two soaring birds and a smaller figure, symbolizing freedom and strength against a clear sky.
In the middle of Sibelius Park stands Jussi Mäntynen's sculpture “Kotkat” (“Eagles”) from 1955.
A vintage steam locomotive with a green engine and brown passenger car, resting on tracks surrounded by trees and buildings.
An old port crane stands tall over a dock, with blue skies and scattered clouds in the background, showcasing maritime infrastructure.
A towering crane by the water, featuring a blue control cabin and rusted metal structure against a clear sky.
At the old port of Kotka, decommissioned cranes stand on the quay, gathering rust. Their enormous successors can be seen towering in the distance at the new port.
A boat sails through calm waters with industrial storage tanks and cranes in the background under clear skies.
Two boats on calm water, surrounded by lush trees and residential buildings in the background, showcasing a tranquil waterfront scene.
A modern building facade featuring a colorful striped design, surrounded by rocks and greenery, against a clear blue sky.
A modern building exterior featuring colorful striped designs and promotional banners, surrounded by smooth stones and open space.
The Naval Museum and Event Center “Vellamo”
A modern port scene featuring green cranes, a walkway, and a sleek building along a road. The sky is clear with scattered clouds.
A pedestrian walkway leading towards a marina, lined with railings and artwork, under a clear blue sky with scattered clouds.
A modern architectural structure with a vibrant yellow ceiling and colorful, patterned wall, featuring large windows and an open space.