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Kummakivi: Finland's Balancing Act of Nature

Marvel at Kummakivi, a gravity-defying glacial erratic in Finland's serene forests, balancing for millennia and captivating nature enthusiasts.

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Kummakivi, meaning 'strange stone' in Finnish, is a remarkable glacial erratic boulder in Ruokolahti. This massive rock, estimated to weigh around 500 tons and measuring approximately 7 x 4 x 5 meters, balances precariously on a convex bedrock with a minimal footprint, defying gravity and captivating visitors.

A brief summary to Kummakivi

  • Monday 12 am-12 am
  • Tuesday 12 am-12 am
  • Wednesday 12 am-12 am
  • Thursday 12 am-12 am
  • Friday 12 am-12 am
  • Saturday 12 am-12 am
  • Sunday 12 am-12 am

Local tips

  • Wear appropriate footwear for a forest hike, as the path to Kummakivi can be uneven with moss, branches, and rocks.
  • Visit during snow-free months to easily navigate the forest trail and see the small boulder supporting Kummakivi.
  • Bring mosquito repellent during the summer months to protect against mosquito bites.
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Getting There

  • Driving

    To reach Kummakivi by car, navigate to Kummakiventie 56, Ruokolahti. From the main road (Route 62), turn onto Kummakiventie. Follow Kummakiventie and turn onto the narrow dirt road. Drive to the end of this road to reach a parking area. From the parking area, a 5-10 minute walk along a forest path leads to Kummakivi. Note that the dirt road to the parking area is steep. Parking is free. Be aware that road signs may be limited.

  • Walking

    From the Kummakivi parking area, follow the well-trodden forest path for about 5 minutes. At the Y-fork in the path, turn right. Continue along this path for a short distance to reach Kummakivi. The walk from the parking area to the boulder is approximately 500 meters and takes about 5-10 minutes, depending on fitness.

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Discover more about Kummakivi

Kummakivi presents a truly unique and awe-inspiring sight: a massive boulder seemingly frozen in a perpetual balancing act. This natural wonder is a glacial erratic, transported to its current location during the last Ice Age approximately 11,000 to 12,000 years ago. The boulder rests on a convex bedrock surface, with only about 0.5 square meters of its area in contact with the supporting rock. This precarious positioning makes it appear as though it could topple at any moment, yet it remains firmly in place. Both Kummakivi and the bedrock beneath are composed of mixed granite-cordierite-mica gneiss, typical of the region. Grooves and chatter marks on the rocks bear witness to the glacial erosion that shaped the landscape. The area surrounding Kummakivi emerged from under the continental ice sheet around 11,500 years ago, when the environment was vastly different, with the boulder perched on the shore of an ancient ice lake. Located in a forest near the border of Ruokolahti and Puumala, Kummakivi has been a point of interest for tourists since the 19th century. To preserve this geological marvel, Kummakivi was protected as a natural monument in 1962 under the Nature Conservation Act. Visitors can explore the surrounding South Finnish coniferous forest and lake ecosystems, and also discover a nearby moss bridge ('sammalsilta' in Finnish) across Pitkäjärvi lake. This bridge was originally built in the 1930s by the Kaukas company for forest workers.

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