Location: 60 km from Petrozavodsk, Kondopoga District, Republic of Karelia
Height: 11 meter cascade
Visitors: 40,000 a year
Kivach Waterfall is located in Kondopoga District of Republic of Karelia in Russia. It is set in one of the most beautiful areas in the region surrounded by virgin forests. This water cascade has a total descend of 11 meters. Kivach Waterfall is located in the Kivach Nature Reserve on a Suna (or Sunnah) River. At a total height of 11 meters it is the second tallest natural lowland waterfall, second only to the Rhine Waterfall. Noise from the powerful rush of bubbling streams can be heard for miles in all directions. Picturesque landscape creates an extraordinary impression and attract numerous tourists.
Local native people claimed that Kivach Waterfall was created by two sisters- goddesses who lived in rivers Shuya and Sunnah. They often liked to walk together wherever they went. One day Sunnah fell asleep and Shuya went ahead. Once Sunnah woke up she realized here sister was far ahead of her. She began to sprint across hills of Karelia to catch up with her sister. Young goddess broke a mountain and on a site of a deep scar Kivach Waterfall began to flow.
The name of Kivach Waterfall probably is derived from native Karelian word "kivas" that can be translated as a "snowy mountain". Other theories suggest that the name comes from a Russian word "kivat" which means to bow down or finish word "kivi" that can be translated as a stone.
This geological formation of Kivach Waterfall was hidden for most of the World until governor of the state Gabriel Romanovich Derzhavin come here by accident. In addition to political career he also gained fame as a poet. He dedicated famous poem "Waterfall" to Kivach Falls. It became so famous that even Russian Emperor Alexander II visited this site. It was also around this time the first trail was made for easier hiking to the falls. Local authorities also constructed a bridge across Suna river with a small gazebo on the right bank and a small cottage on the left bank of the river.
In the twentieth century Kivach National Park was established to protect virgin forests surrounding the Kivach Waterfall. Over 80% of the nature reserve is covered by century old pine trees. Hunting and fishing is strictly prohibited so the rivers are full of pike, perch and bream, while the forests are inhabited by wolves, foxes and bears. Over 40,000 visitors come here annually, mostly in the summer months of the year. After two hydroelectric plants were built on the Suna river (Paleozerskaya and Kondopoga), Kivach Waterfall lost its former power. However in the spring months falls swell in its previous strength.
Kivach National Park contains Arboretum and a local Nature Museum. Additionally there is a monument dedicated to the fallen Soviet soldiers who died here during World War II defending these lands against the German forces.