Description of the attraction
The Kutsayoki River is located in the southwest of the Murmansk region of the Russian Federation. It flows in an uninhabited area near the Russian-Finnish border. The length of the river is measured at 44 kilometers. In some places the maximum depth is 6 meters. The bottom of the river is mostly sandy and rocky. The shores are mostly sandy-sandy loamy, but in places stone with gravel and boulders, 1 - 4 meters high, 10-30 degrees steepness. There are cliffs up to 30 meters. Floodplains are swampy in places, intermittent. The Kutsajoki River originates from Lake Nivjärvi, at the confluence of the two rivers Ontonjoki and Vuosnajoki. It itself merges with the Tuntsajoki River, thereby forming the Tumcha River.
The nearest settlements to the river are the village of Alakurtti and the uninhabited village of Vuoriyarvi. The river has a large number of rapids and rifts, which are formed by rocky outcrops. It also has two large waterfalls. Small Yaniskengas waterfall reaches a height of about 8-10 meters. In tourist guides and reports it is called "Oba-na". For water tourism, the waterfall is considered passable, but in terms of the difficulty of passing it belongs to the 6th category. However, this waterfall has an additional danger, the whole point is that from the influx it is completely inaudible and visually barely noticeable.
Big Yaniskengas is the name of the second waterfall on the Kutsayoki River. The tilt angle is approximately 70-80 degrees. The height is almost 20 meters. The waterfall has 3 steps. The first is almost 7 meters, the second is about 12 meters, the third is about 1.5 meters. It is called "Mamanya" in tourist guides. This waterfall is extremely dangerous and difficult to pass, but daredevils do not give up their attempts. There are five known cases of successful development of the waterfall by kayakers. The waterfall has an additional danger, as well as the previous waterfall, from the influx it is not audible and is almost invisible visually. In spite of everything, the river is very popular among water tourists. It is worth noting that the waterfalls are very picturesque and adorn the route.
In addition to these waterfalls, there are interesting and difficult rapids on the river, among which the following can be noted: "Close", "Doubtful", "Waterfall" and "Stupenka".
In November, or rather in the first half, the Kutsajoki river freezes up and opens up in mid-May. At the end of winter, the ice thickness is 0.7-1 m. However, not the entire river freezes, the rapids remain untouched. During high water, which usually occurs in the second half of May and the first half of June, the water level in the river increases by 2-3 meters. The dry season starts from the end of July and lasts until September. During summer rains, the water level in Kutsajoki can rise by 1 meter. The Kutsajoki River is not navigable, the water supply is replenished by snow and rain.
The vegetation along the banks is standard taiga: birch, pine, spruce. Berries - lingonberry, cloudberry, blueberry, blueberry (sometimes they do not have time to ripen during the summer period). Mushrooms - boletus, russula, porcini, boletus, etc. Fish, mainly grayling, trout, perch, pike, roach, trout is caught. There are many birds - geese, black grouse, ducks, you can meet swans and cranes. Large animals include bear and elk.
The climate of this area, due to its location near the Arctic Circle, especially at the beginning of summer, is unpleasant, characterized by sharp changes in weather. However, the combination of high mountains, tight canyons, powerful and picturesque rapids with an abundance of mushrooms and berries, as well as good fishing is a good incentive for tourists. And the name of the river itself speaks for itself, because in translation Kutsayoki means “calling river”.
