orijarvi.html

Kisko's small municipality in Southern Finland has for centuries gained extra wealth of underground business, that is to say mining. Today there are no active mines, and the best existing relic is the Orijärvi copper mine, deposited by a farmer in 1757. Among copper, the ore contained reasonable amounts of zinc, lead and silver. The mine employed about 500 people at it's best times before the end of 1860's, after that it's been off use. Some of the buildings have been rejuvenated and preserved as historical monuments, but the area is very silent and seems to have quite seldom any visitors.

We visited the area once and quickly in 2000. People who live nearer have visited more often and can supply better stuff, so check the link at the bottom of the page.

	There's a not-too-old sign telling it's a mine on the gate, anyway, we had proper outfit so no problem.
	Boulder fields near the rear gate.
	The deep artificial lake has some shallows like this one, the pits should be deep down to 150 meters.
	Colour of the water leaves no need for guessing what they quarried here.
	Unlike in many other areas, there are no disturbing fences around the steep precipices. So if one chooses to pass the don't enter -gates and walk too close to the edge, he can freely fall.
	This tower is in top shape. It's obviously protected by the local native region association, but it's mysterious that otherwise the place seems totally forgotten. There's vegetation all around the buildings like no-one had walked there for years, and the tower doesn't even seem to have a walkable route in. So it must just be admired from outside.
	Foundations of machinery installations last run almost 150 years ago.
	The engine room is also in good condition. They had steamer operated pumps for drying mine air, otherwise manpower was used rather much.
	The mining symbol also appears in the seal of Kisko. These paintings are on the doorway of the engine building.
	Probably old as hell cellar at the area's outskirts.
	Most residential houses have disappeared, but this one had better luck. It's still not resided.

There's a not-too-old sign telling it's a mine on the gate, anyway, we had proper outfit so no problem.

Boulder fields near the rear gate.

The deep artificial lake has some shallows like this one, the pits should be deep down to 150 meters.

Colour of the water leaves no need for guessing what they quarried here.

Unlike in many other areas, there are no disturbing fences around the steep precipices. So if one chooses to pass the don't enter -gates and walk too close to the edge, he can freely fall.

Who has the power, Timo Kantonen, the DM or just the mine tower?

This tower is in top shape. It's obviously protected by the local native region association, but it's mysterious that otherwise the place seems totally forgotten. There's vegetation all around the buildings like no-one had walked there for years, and the tower doesn't even seem to have a walkable route in. So it must just be admired from outside.

Foundations of machinery installations last run almost 150 years ago.

The engine room is also in good condition. They had steamer operated pumps for drying mine air, otherwise manpower was used rather much.

The mining symbol also appears in the seal of Kisko. These paintings are on the doorway of the engine building.

Probably old as hell cellar at the area's outskirts.

Most residential houses have disappeared, but this one had better luck. It's still not resided.

REFERENCES:

Rakennettu kulttuuriympäristö, Museovirasto/Ympäristöministeriö, Museoviraston rakennushistorian osasto, 1993

SITES WITH NOTEWORTHY CONTENT CONCERNING ORIJÄRVI:

The Silent The Complete