Sapoka's small but incredibly picturesque and well-kept water park has long been a pride and one of Kotka's central attractions . In general, Sapoka is a boat port from where voyage boats leave for Varissaari Island and also to the distant islands of the archipelago Lehmäsaari, Kaunissaari and Haapasaari . It is interesting that the bay around which the park is stretched resembles its own form like a boot . Therefore, among the Russian-speaking guides and tourists, a legend was established that the name of the park it comes from the word "boots" . By the end of the 20th century the bay had come to a rather neglected state of disrepair, with the growing popularity of environmental ideas it was decided to clean it and transform it into a park zone . Landscaping of the bay and part of the port territory began in 1990 ., and in four years the inhabitants of Kotka received a gift in the form of a green zone for walks and rest .
Sapoka is attractive at any time of the year: in the winter the park is conquered by the silence of the frozen bay, in the spring it is filled with flowering bulbs, in summer it is buried in flowering rhododendrons and azaleas, and autumn lovingly brightens Sapoku with bright colors.
More about the park
Home Sapoki - water, which is here literally everywhere. Apart from the water in the Gulf of the Baltic Sea, there are many large and small streams, there are lakes, ponds and even your own artificial waterfall 20 meters high erupting directly from the rock and located in the southern part of the park.
The stone is used everywhere in the design of the Sapoka park. Two stone stairs lead to the top of the waterfall, where you can see about 20 stone slabs. These are the so-called stone eagles - an exhibition of various breeds of Finnish stone, which are used in construction and decoration, which also demonstrates the variety of ways to process it. The stones for this collection are collected from different parts of Finland. The obelisks themselves are made up of a massive lower part and a small bird's head, on which a description of the sample is placed.
The territory of the park is actively used for planting ornamental plants , here hundreds of amazing and sometimes exotic species for Finland have taken root . Interesting specimens are marked with information plates with the Latin name of the species, as well as names in Finnish and Swedish . Variety of flora became possible due to the fact that in the park there were created plots with different microclimate . At the appropriate places are selected plants that perfectly feel themselves in the shade, preferring scorching sun or swampy soil .
Advantages water park in Kotka have been repeatedly evaluated by various awards. For example, in 1993 it was recognized as the best object with external lighting, in 1994 - the ecological design of the year, and in 1996 the park was awarded for the best stone building in Finland. By the way, so many awards have not been received by any park of the country. In addition, Sapoka is an example of compliance with all norms of building ecology, when it was created, only natural materials and natural stones were used.
How to get to the park
When searching for Sapoka park, it's easiest to orientate to the aquarium "Maretarium", located at: Kotka, Sapokankatu, 2. The park is located here, even their parking is uniform. You can also reach the park by typing Tallinnankatu in the navigator.