Boats can be refueled in Virtakivi’s guest harbor this summer.
Kimola’s channel opens on Friday, May 5. This is the third full boating season when the canal is open.
The 5.5 kilometer long Kimola canal was commissioned in August 2020, and at the same time it brought the long-awaited channel from Kouvola all the way to Pielavede in Pohjois-Savo.
This week, on the opening day, Friday, the channel will be available from 9 o’clock. On other days, the channel opens already at 7 o’clock.
The special feature of the Kimola canal is the 12-meter barrier height and the approximately 70-meter long boat tunnel.
New services
The end point of the route is in Kouvola in Voikka, where Virtakivi’s guest harbor serves. Fuel distribution has now been received at the guest port.
Boat berths in the guest harbor must be reserved with a mobile application. You can book a boat berth for one day at a time.
Bicycles are also available for rent in the guest port, which you can use to explore the surroundings.
The nearest bus stop is about 400 meters from the port. The stop has a connection to, for example, the Kouvola travel center.
Converting the Kimola canal to traffic use cost a total of around 21 million euros. The state paid about 14 million for this.
The canal is owned by the city of Kouvola, and in addition to Kouvola, the municipalities of Iiti and Heinola are responsible for its maintenance.