Global Sisters Report a project of National Catholic Reporter Sign up now "Women Outside the Church at Ruokolahti," an 1887 painting by Albert Edelfelt (Wikimedia Commons/kansallisgalleria.fi) View Author Profile the world today greatly needs the involvement of committed laity beyond church compounds; nevertheless what about laywomen who feel called to roles currently open only to clergy in the Catholic Church any decision the Catholic Church might take regarding the sacrament of holy orders for laywomen would put it in a Catch-22 situation.  Pope Francis' recent "no" to women deacons during an interview the church needs to read the signs of the times and update its mindset and structures if the response were to change to "yes" in the near future would women clerics be any different from male clerics regarding their use of power which inevitably would become a privilege?  When I reflect on this question with a genuine desire to discern I wonder about laywomen who spend several hours daily or weekly serving the church and they cannot give up involvement in church activities at any cost the younger generation drifts away from the church and steps are being taken to address it.  I have observed the same women involved in multiple parish activities either as leaders or as participants of several groups or lay ministries Parish priests report to the bishop that peer groups and associations in their parishes are active.  This phenomenon is mirrored at the diocesan and international levels A select group of approximately 200 laypersons are involved in multiple diocesan initiatives are members of numerous international movements and associations They feel called to challenge the status quo through prophetic endeavors but often meet online or in person with the same participants The average age of members of these groups is also increasing during a seminar on women's issues where women participants were in the majority a priest pointed out that the women organizers (almost all above 65) seemed to favor a select group of participants while other women on the margins struggled to gain attention and speaking opportunities similar dynamics have been observed during consultations for the Synod of Bishops on synodality at various church levels After any document is released by the local or universal church laity in various WhatsApp groups question why they were not involved in the selection of participants for the process Feminists come with heads and hearts of all shapes and sizes not only in India and Asia but all over the world They often share how they cling to the edges of the boat with their fingernails Frustration deeply pervades their individual and collective consciousness yet several questions arise in my spiritually discerning mind Is there even one meeting where a woman does not undermine another woman This occurs in various forms: indifference Only a few are able to rise above differences to stand in solidarity with women who suffer or who are targeted for various reasons The causes behind these behaviors could include distorted motivations Life has inflicted such deep wounds on their psyche that even though they may seem to act in good faith they feel justified in using any means to change the direction of the church Those who think differently often become threats and are treated as outcasts I have been seriously reflecting on and praying for women's equality in church ministry though synodality is very close to my heart and was reflected throughout my doctoral dissertation on spiritual guidance and formation the outcome of the 2024 synod left me conflicted I fear the church is becoming more bureaucratic and clerical than I have ever witnessed in my lifetime I feel if access to holy orders or its equivalent were restored for women the church would go back 400 years before beginning to move forward at full speed because patriarchy has stifled the growth of most Catholic laywomen While I recently discovered a possible scriptural justification for the ordained ministry of laywomen it took me time to decide to share my findings with other researchers A forthcoming column is dedicated to the theme I tend to agree with Pope Francis that it is too early to make a definitive statement on women deacons Yet waiting beyond 2025 would seem too late as well but aren't we stuck in a Catch-22 situation?  then enter your email address and click "subscribe" Global Sisters Report HELSINKI FINLAND The property targeted by the Finnish Ministry of Defense's blocked transaction was located in Ruokolahti on October 19 the Ministry announced three negative permit decisions concerning real estate transactions involving Russian buyers These decisions pertained to two properties in Ruokolahti The Ministry cited national security concerns as the basis for these rejections./ Srt Lehtikuva Finland’s parliament has passed a law banning non-resident Russian citizens from purchasing property in the country It applies to foreign nationals and companies not permanently resident in Finland Russian citizens who live permanently in the country remain eligible to buy property but must obtain permission from the Finnish Ministry of Defence The new law targets individuals and entities from countries the European Union considers to be engaged in wars of aggression or hostile acts Finland’s government has linked the move directly to Russia “This decision sends a clear message — we will not allow Finland to be undermined,” Antti Häkkänen “I was very pleased that Parliament so comprehensively supported this proposal.” The Finnish Ministry of Defence is preparing a policy to define countries considered a threat This includes states that violate the territorial integrity and those posing risks to Finland’s infrastructure or autonomy reported that while Russia is not named in the law the current implementation applies only to Russian nationals The restriction follows months of growing concern over Russian property ownership in Finland Government officials cited worsening security conditions and the threat posed by property linked to Russian interests The Finnish Defence Ministry previously stated that Russia represents a long-term threat to European security and identified property transactions as a possible method of influence or disruption There have been reports of suspicious Russian-owned properties in Finland Some included fortified buildings with private helipads or unprofitable hotels located near critical infrastructure Authorities have raised concerns that these properties could be used for purposes other than civilian activity Prime Minister Petteri Orpo told Bloomberg News that such properties “could be used to cause harm or perhaps as a springboard for a broader operation.” The Finnish government is also drafting a new bill to increase its powers to interfere with or restrict the use of already acquired property if it is believed to pose a security risk The new legislation follows broader measures by Finland aimed at protecting its eastern border and limiting Russian influence the Finnish parliament approved a law allowing border guards to return asylum seekers arriving from Russia This measure was introduced to counter attempts to use migration as a geopolitical tool Finland shares a 1,300-kilometre border with Russia — the longest of any NATO member Finnish authorities have accused Russia of enabling illegal crossings Finnish border guards recorded a sharp increase in the number of people without proper documentation attempting to cross from Russia Prime Minister Orpo stated that Russia was helping migrants from the Middle East and Russia to enter Finland without valid documents Finland began closing border checkpoints on its southeastern frontier the Finnish government extended the closure of those checkpoints indefinitely Finland has introduced a series of national security measures These include changes to border control and foreign property laws The government maintains that the actions are aimed at reducing the threat of foreign influence and safeguarding the country’s sovereignty Advertisement inquiries and other after-sales issues: info@helsinkitimes.fi Helsinki Times is the first and only English language newspaper providing news about Finland in English A weekly print edition of Helsinki Times was published from March 2007 up until Feb Helsinki Times is an online-only publication and other groups and individuals interested in Finland from all around the world © Helsinki Times All rights reserved.  Terms of Use | Privacy Policy The Kummakivi (Finnish for "strange rock") can be found balanced upon another rock in the middle of the forest This strange sight perplexed visitors since its discovery and spawned stories of giants having balanced the rock in its position but geologists have a more realistic explanation: glaciers This isn't the first balancing rock to be discovered and scientists believe that glaciers - capable of carrying such a heavy rock with them - left it behind as they receded to the North over 8,000 years ago The power of glaciers trumps even giants A striking geological formation in Southern California An enormous boulder deposited by the Scabland floods lies in the Quincy Basin among a host of smaller boulders An artificial cave littered with semi-precious stones waiting to be picked up The rocks exposed at Valley of Fire State Park also occur in a much less known but equally spectacular area a few miles to the southwest a flying dragon was blinded by a lighthouse and crashed leaving a permanent mark on this island rock A family-owned store specializing in minerals and alcoves that invite exploration and scrambling the approximate age of the massive Kummakivi Balancing Rock is 11,500 years We were not able to verify that its weight is approximately 500,000 kilograms (1.1 million pounds) claimed that the Kummakivi rock weighs 500,000 kg (1.1 million pounds) and "has been balancing on top of another rock for 11,000 years." explains in less fanciful terms how one rock comes to rest on another Precariously balanced rocks "form as blocks preserved on cliffs, or when softer rocks erode and leave the harder rocks behind," noted an October 2020 article from Imperial College London "They can also form when landslides or retreating glaciers deposit them in strange positions." According to the aforementioned social media and online portals, the estimated age of the rock varies between 8,000 and 12,000 years. Saimaa Geopark in Finland which was awarded Global Geopark status by UNICEF in 2021 stated that the rock is 11,500 years old and approximately 7 meters (about 23 feet) long (According to UNESCO unified geographical areas where sites and landscapes of international geological significance are managed with a holistic concept of protection education and sustainable development." The designation is considered similar to UNESCO World Heritage sites.) While some social media posts and online sources claim that the weight of Kummakivi rock is 500,000 kg (approximately 1.1 million pounds) Kummakivi is not the only rock in such a peculiar situation There are other examples of PBRs in different places sent by a reader under the headline "Your pictures: Resting." Considering that reputable sources report the age of the Kummakivi rock to be around 11,000 years but we were unable to verify the estimated weight of the rock "A Rock like No Other – the Kummakivi of Ruokolahti." FINLAND https://finlandnaturally.com/mustsee/a-rock-like-no-other/ "Earthquake Forecasting Clues Unearthed in Strange Precariously Balanced Rocks | Imperial News | Imperial College London." Imperial News https://www.imperial.ac.uk/news/205493/earthquake-forecasting-clues-unearthed-strange-precariously/ "The Mysterious Kummakivi Balancing Rock: A Natural Wonder Explained." Unusual Places "Why Scientists Fall for Precariously Balanced Rocks." Atlas Obscura http://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/precariously-balanced-rocks http://www.atlasobscura.com/places/kummakivi-balancing-rock https://www.geologyin.com/2022/11/kummakivi-balancing-rock-seems-to-defy.html "Kummakivi Erratic Boulder." Saimaa Geopark https://saimaageopark.fi/en/kummakivi-erratic-boulder/ Secret Marvels: Top 10 Nerve-Racking Rocks - Lonely Planet https://web.archive.org/web/20230322040417/https:/www.lonelyplanet.com/articles/secret-marvels-top-10-nerve-racking-rocks https://www.bbc.com/news/in-pictures-24621801 Damakant Jayshi is a former writer for Snopes This material may not be reproduced without permission Snopes and the Snopes.com logo are registered service marks of Snopes.com Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker Warm weather increases the likelihood of blue-green algae The blue-green algae situation on the beaches is monitored daily and Imatra's real estate and regional service inspects the Swimming Beaches in the mornings the blue-green algae situation may change quickly during the day and therefore every beach visitor should visually check the swimming water before going for a swim The notice boards at the swimming beaches of Ukonniemi, Lempukka, Immalanliette and Rauti have instructions for identifying blue-green algae. Instructions are also available about this news If blue-green algae is found on the beaches it will be announced on the beach notice boards and on the city's website at imatra.fi/uimarannat If a citizen sees blue-green algae on the beach, they are expected to notify the address health controlimatra.fi (health control[at]imatra[dot]fi). In addition, the notification can also be made to the Finnish Environment Agency observations were sent In the stick test, you try to lift the algae mass into the air with a stick. If the mass breaks down into small, green particles, the algae is blue-green algae. Tests for the identification of blue-green algae are also sold in shops and pharmacies. health controlimatra.fi (health control[at]imatra[dot]fi) health controlimatra.fi (Swimming beaches) The observation of blue-green algae in water areas is based on the observations and reports of individual persons, as well as the sampling carried out by the authorities and Open image viewerOwners of summer cottages have cut back considerably on building and renovation work in recent years 11:42Interest in holiday cottages in Finland has clearly declined from its peak during the coronavirus pandemic according to the preliminary results of a new survey cottage owners spent an average of 85 days at their holiday homes This latest survey on summer cottages and their use was commissioned by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and an official advisory body known as the Island Committee More than 1,100 cottage owners responded to the survey in January and February of this year - The average cottage is 91 kilometres from home and 70 square metres in size - 75% of cottages are connected to the electricity grid - Solar panels are in use at 19% of cottages and heat pumps at 34% - 55% of owners bring their drinking water to their cottage Owners of summer cottages have cut back considerably on building and renovation work in recent years the average amount spent on building and renovating at summer cottages last year was 2,500 euros fewer people upgraded equipment in their holiday homes over the past year While the survey did not explore the reason reveal the decline in building and repairs who heads the Finnish Leisure Homeowners' Association (Vaal) believes that waste-water renovation is part of the explanation Open image viewerNew waste water systems were still being installed at summer cottages at a brisk rate a few years ago Image: Pekka Pantsu / YleNew waste water regulations came into force at the beginning of 2018 many cottage owners put a lot of money into sewage disposal systems the decline in renovation spending may also be partly due to the current tight financial situation in many households "Many of the cottages were built in the 1970s and 1980s There is enough general maintenance to be done Roof renovation is probably the most typical followed by a steady stream of everything else," Tervo says A recent Finnish Leisure Homeowners' Association survey showed a fall in summer cottage telecommuting since 2022 This new poll indicates that working remotely from holiday cottages has remained at more or less the same level as during the years of the pandemic 27 percent of working cottage owners who responded to this survey say they telecommute from their holiday home An even higher proportion say that if possible they would like to do more remote work from their cottages in the future There has been little increase in the overall number of summer cottages in recent tears with the total now being around half a million Users with an Yle ID can leave comments on our news stories. You can create your Yle ID via this link. Our guidelines on commenting and moderation are explained here. no one loves a scientific mystery like the internet—even if that "mystery" was solved years ago using all of the rigors of science Here are 10 so-called mysteries that the global online community can't bear to part with the stone stands quite firmly and human strength is not enough to move it." Science Says: It's not true, actually. Geologists put forward a much more likely cause for this balancing rock and the countless others that exist worldwide: Melting glaciers deposited them where they currently squat The "Mystery": Are they footprints of the gods? Barren patches caused by a dragon's fiery breath? Marks left behind by UFOs? All of these ideas were perpetuated by the internet after tour guides in the region passed them on to tourists, according to The New York Times The scientific community was pretty sure the dirt circles found in the Namib Desert were none of those things even though they were hard-pressed to come up with a more logical explanation—until recently The "Mystery": These grooved spheres have been the subject of many strange theories, most revolving around the existence of intelligent aliens who made the pod-like trinkets—which apparently can rotate on their axes—using intelligent alien technology and otherworldly metals some 3 billion years ago. Virtuescience.com has proposed a whole host of theories about the spheres' uses Science Says: Geologists have a more tempered explanation for how the spheres came to be: They're concretions—little balls of rock that have grown around a core object—of the minerals hematite or pyrite that have hardened over time in nests of volcanic ash or sediment The myth of alien metalworking skills was debunked back in 1996 but it still resurfaces every once in a while googling "Webdriver Torso" will yield an easter egg Science Says: In 2014, scientists studied the situation and discovered that the stones move when the lake bed they rest on becomes covered with rainwater that freezes overnight into a sheet of ice; when the ice melts it pushes the rocks here and there—assisted by Death Valley's powerful winds Science Says: The truth—which has been known since at least the 1940s—is that the figures were created 1500 to 2000 years ago by the Nazca people who removed rocks and/or a portion of topsoil to create an image in negative scientists believed the figures were astronomical symbols but later research indicated the drawings were used ritualistically in ceremonies involving the quest for scarce water Science Says: This has been settled for decades—there is no mystery. In 1975, librarian turned investigative author Larry Kusche unearthed the actual facts: Some "missing" vessels were simply made up; some sank far from the Triangle; and others along the route—which is still heavily trafficked today—fell prey to the region's frequent bad storms Science Says: The truth is simple which may explain why the alien theory never seems to die: The circles are made under cover of darkness by people sometimes with the permission of the farmers whose land they're created on and other low-tech gear to push patterns into grain Science Says: Testing of Ata's genome destroyed these theories, proving that Ata was 100 percent human and died Many of these mutations related to bone development explaining her missing ribs and thick bones Exposure to nitrate-contaminated drinking water may have been a factor in her deformations as well Standard contamination of a mummy that was exposed to the open air © 2025 Minute Media - All Rights Reserved Debunked","relatedPosts",[],[],[],4,0,"",{"next":"i6"},["7v"],"semantic",{"articles":"i1","articlesQueryURLs":"i2","bySearchQuery":"7n","excludeProperties":"81","excludedIDs":"i3","isFullPost":"hu","limit":"i4","offset":"i5","onlyQueryURLs":"hu","organization":"i6","pagination":"i7","properties":"i8","sourceType":"i9"},{"type":"i0","value":"ia"},{"postsList":"ib"},"Lela Nargi is an author and veteran journalist living in a leafy corner of Brooklyn with a depressed rabbit and a lot of houseplants Mental Floss may receive a commission for purchases made through these links.",{"type":"9f","value":"j3"},"AR_1",{"type":"9f","value":"j5"},"This article contains affiliate links to products selected by our editors as well as products provided to Mental Floss for review purposes d) {\n h = h[d] = h[d] || {\n q: [],\n onReady: function(c){ h.q.push(c) },\n };\n d = o.createElement(u);\n d.async = 1;\n d.src = n;\n n = o.getElementsByTagName(u)[0];\n n.parentNode.insertBefore(d \"https://www.datadoghq-browser-agent.com/us1/v5/datadog-rum.js\" Initialize Datadog RUM and then measure TTFB/FCP\n window.DD_RUM.onReady(function() {\n // 3a Initialize RUM\n window.DD_RUM.init({\n applicationId: 'f3f16add-4ebf-4aad-9bb4-adb13da4d17e',\n clientToken: 'pub53fad8ec1eea29e2f92980d95072da2f',\n site: \"datadoghq.com\",\n service: \"voltax-sites-www.mentalfloss.com\",\n env: \"prod\",\n sessionSampleRate: 100,\n sessionReplaySampleRate: 0,\n trackUserInteractions: true,\n trackResources: true,\n trackLongTasks: true,\n defaultPrivacyLevel: \"mask-user-input\",\n });\n\n // 3b Measure TTFB & FCP once the page fully loads\n window.addEventListener('load' {\n ttfb: ttfb,\n fcp: fcp,\n });\n\n // Optional: log them to console for debugging\n console.log('[Datadog RUM] TTFB:' Science Says: It's not true, actually. Geologists put forward a much more likely cause for this balancing rock and the countless others that exist worldwide: Melting glaciers deposited them where they currently squat The "Mystery": Are they footprints of the gods? Barren patches caused by a dragon's fiery breath? Marks left behind by UFOs? All of these ideas were perpetuated by the internet after tour guides in the region passed them on to tourists, according to The New York Times The "Mystery": These grooved spheres have been the subject of many strange theories, most revolving around the existence of intelligent aliens who made the pod-like trinkets—which apparently can rotate on their axes—using intelligent alien technology and otherworldly metals some 3 billion years ago. Virtuescience.com has proposed a whole host of theories about the spheres' uses Science Says: Geologists have a more tempered explanation for how the spheres came to be: They're concretions—little balls of rock that have grown around a core object—of the minerals hematite \nThe "Mystery": The Webdriver Torso YouTube account has been freaking out the internet with its videos for several years Commentors posited that the videos—which were usually 11 seconds long and featured colored rectangles moving around on a white screen—were spy code or recruitment searches for expert hackers videos were uploaded as often as every two minutes Science Says: In 2014, scientists studied the situation and discovered that the stones move when the lake bed they rest on becomes covered with rainwater that freezes overnight into a sheet of ice; when the ice melts Science Says: The truth—which has been known since at least the 1940s—is that the figures were created 1500 to 2000 years ago by the Nazca people Science Says: This has been settled for decades—there is no mystery. In 1975, librarian turned investigative author Larry Kusche unearthed the actual facts: Some "missing" vessels were simply made up; some sank far from the Triangle; and others along the route—which is still heavily trafficked today—fell prey to the region's frequent bad storms \nThe "Mystery": A lot of otherworldly meaning has been ascribed to these designs squished into fields of wheat, rapeseed, and barley. Once again, aliens—mathematical-genius aliens this time—are said to be responsible for them, hiding complicated messages in the circles' sometimes intricate imagery. Others suggest they're spiritual centers that beam energy a farmer who found an intricate crop spiral in his field says but I'm not sure that it was made by people." Science Says: The truth is simple Science Says: Testing of Ata's genome destroyed these theories, proving that Ata was 100 percent human and died Information on the ecological status of most lakes can be found on the color map below The map is updated every six years at the Southeast Finland ELY center as part of water management Karelia's Pyhäjärvi is a barren and clear-water large lake stretching from Parikkala's Uukuniemi to North Karelia and to the Russian side which is both a provincially and nationally valuable Natura 2000 site Several ancient monuments have been found in the fine landscape areas of Uukuniemi's Papinniemi Pyhäjärvi has been lowered by a total of 1,5 meters in the 1800th century The main scattered polluters of Pyhäjärvi are forestry and agriculture North Karelia's ELY center is the authority responsible for Pyhäjärvi's water management The Karjalan Pyhäjärvi ry promotes the protection of the lake A foundation is planned for the area of ​​Pyhäjärvi Puruvesi and eastern Pihlajavesi in 2024 to promote water management Lake Pyhäjärvi 2023 water management and Natura 2000 area management and use plan 2023 Pyhäjärvi Association of Karelia Pieni Rautjärvi or Pien-Rautjärvi located in Parikkala is an important bird lake; especially the Pohjanranta and its surroundings is a migratory rest area for birds The lake is narrow and shallow; its water level has been lowered several times in the 1800th century and the beginning of the 1900th century in order to make fertile bank fields available A management and use plan has been drawn up for the lake's Natura 2000 natural sites The lake has a couple of birdwatching towers and also has fishing and recreational value.  the Fish for Benefit project of the Imatra region's environmental initiative was implemented in the years 2018–2020 where mowing and management fishing were carried out in cooperation with Saare cooperatives agricultural water protection plans were drawn up which were implemented in the follow-up project of the Pien-Rautjärvi lake lowering company and cooperatives in the years 2021–2023: basins that benefit both birdlife and water quality were dug near the shore The national Helmi living environment program also participated in the work The water quality of the lake has visually been significantly better than before and only small amounts of algal blooms have been observed The work for the lake will continue in 2024 management fishing in the Fish for Benefit project in 2018 the water level of Simpeleirve has been lowered by almost 6 meters This is how once fertile coastal fields were obtained to make living conditions easier agriculture later also became a burden on Simpeleirve scattered settlements and Parikkala municipal wastewater treatment plant which was originally built for the needs of a large dairy Now the Särkisalmi treatment plant uses membrane technology and its emissions are lower Simpeleiervi used to be a good whitefish lake but nowadays you can catch pike in the lake The change in the fish population indicates the development of the lake in a more lush direction due to the lowering of the lake's water level The condition of the simple vein has deteriorated in the 2000st century Efforts have been made to rehabilitate the lake with projects and the Simple Lake project led by the municipality of Parikkala is currently underway in which suitable wetland sites for the catchment area are being searched which has receded from Lake Simpelejärvi due to the subsidence of the lake is in an ecological state that cannot be avoided the Saimaa Water Protection Association is running the LAKU project starting in 2021 The project also rehabilitates the nearby Akonpohjan Bay The LAKU continuation project is planned for 2024 Simpleilarve renovation project 2022–2024 Saimaa's Water Protection Association/Simpeliervi Saimaa water protection association/LAKU project Photo: Kurhonselkä of Simpeleilarven facing Joukionsalmi in 2009 Erämainen Torsa is located on the border of Rautjärvi and Ruokolahti in Pohja-Lankila Although its northern end is subject to a slight load from peat production it has been titled as one of the best lakes in Southeast Finland The lake's tributary Torsanjoki-Silamusjoki has been renovated to revive the trout population It is also hoped that tile salmon will rise from Hiitolanjoki all the way to Torsa Nurmijärvi is a clear-water and barren lake that is sensitive to changes in the catchment area The Nurmijärvi Protection Association was founded in 2017 and has done determined work for the sake of the lake received the Kärki-Leader ry award as the best project in 2023 The conservation association built hay bale filters in the main canals leading into the lake a pipe dam and settling basin were built in the ditch that descends to Vertanenlahti In order for the lake to remain in excellent condition special attention must be paid to diffuse pollution especially to the protection of water from forestry measures Information about the current state of the lake has been compiled on the website of the Nurmijärvi conservation association Nurmijärvensuojelu.fi Picture: Nurmijärvi has a lot of big boulders in the shallow Vertanenlahti: Kirkkivi and Höllökivet Purnujärvi is shallow and eutrophic from agriculture The Helisevänjoki river runs through Länsipää which carries silt with it and occasionally causes water quality to deteriorate The lake has had a management fishing and water protection education project in 2020–2021 Photo: Familiarization trip to Purnujärvi in ​​2018 Kärinki-järvi is a clear-water and barren lake in the vicinity of Ruokolahti's central harbor The waters from Käring continue to flow to Haapavede in Pappalanlahti along Myllyjoki via Myllylammi There is a regulation dam built for the old mill in the river Photo: The clear-water Myllyjoki flows from Käring into Pappilanlahti The water area in front of Saimaa's Ruokolahti is called Haapavesi It continues westward as Ihalansalmi and further as Kurenvirta to Raaniemensela and Kauvonselä from where there is a connection to Suur-Saimaa via Vuosalmi In the middle of the water area in front of Ruokolahti is the large Äitsaari and a causeway was built between the islands in the early 1990s siltation of the bottom and an increase in aquatic vegetation were observed The bridge opening of the embankments was therefore enlarged in 2018 Haapavesi-Kauvonselkä is eutrophic: it is burdened by both agriculture and forestry there are many scattered settlements in the water area whose waste water can eutrophicate the water area The Sininen Haapavesi water protection project was implemented in 2012–2014 It promoted water conservation in forestry and agriculture and rehabilitated waterways with mowing and management fishing Saimaa water protection association/ Water quality reports of Soinilansalmi and Ruokolahti's surrounding Äitsaari Photo: Tetriniemi fishing competition 2014 in the Sininen Haapavesi project Immalanjärvi in ​​Imatra has received a lot of attention It is a pearl of pure water in Salpauselkä's armpit research and water protection measures have been carried out Next to the northern part of the lake is Vesioronkanka's extensive 1st-class groundwater area which secures the lake's supply of clean water forestry and agriculture also burden Lake Immalanjärvi Saimaa water protection association/Immalanjärvi project Saimaa water protection association/ Immalanjärvi water quality reports is observed in the so-called as a joint monitoring which means that the large industrial plants discharging waste water into the Saimaa River are obliged in their environmental permits to monitor the environmental effects in the water body The biggest changes in South Saimaa's water quality took place in the early 1990s when the biological wastewater treatment plants of wood processing plants were put into use According to the water quality index developed by the Saimaa Water Protection Association Saimaa's water quality from Tiruniemi to Vatavalkamma remained constant until the early 2000s the deterioration of the water quality in the area is indicated by the increase in chlorophyll concentrations its level of luxuriance has slightly increased.  Note The Saimaa water protection association's water quality index is different from the ecological classification of water bodies The attached maps of the Water Protection Association's reports describe water quality using these indices Lower Saimaa collects water as far as Iisalme the water flows down to Vuoki and further to Laatokka The stream has been heavily transformed into a water bed In the action program for the water management of Southeast Finland for the years 2022–2027 it is mentioned that the goal is to implement all the technical and economic measures that can be used to get a naturally increasing population of migratory fish in Vuosi Imatran Kaupunkipuro was built in Imatrankoski in 2014 to promote the reproduction of trout According to the water quality classification developed by the Saimaa Water Protection Association Vuoksi's water quality has been between good and satisfactory in the 2000st century the water quality seems to have slightly improved Saimaa water protection association/ South Saimaa water quality reports Saimaa water protection association/ Vuoksi water quality reports Photo: Vuoksi fogs up in the bitterly cold winter of 2016 Water map Open image viewerConstruction is ongoing on the new Rautjärvi church Image: Kare Lehtonen / YleYle News25.12.2024 12:49•Updated 25.12.2024 12:49On Christmas Day two years ago a small Finnish town near the Russian border was shattered when a devastating fire destroyed its historic The blaze broke out during a Christmas service engulfing the church and ultimately reducing it to ashes a new church is being constructed closer to the nearby lake where it will offer a striking feature: an altar window in place of a traditional altarpiece The altar window will frame a picturesque view of Lake Rautjärvi and its surrounding birch trees whose colours and foliage change with the seasons "This large altar window allows us to admire God's creation," said Leena Haakana from the changing leaves to the serene lake." Open image viewerThe altar window under construction at the new church Image: Kare Lehtonen / YleSmaller church for smaller congregationAlthough the Ruokolahti parish already has two churches — Ruokolahti Church and Simpele Church — the decision was made to rebuild in Rautjärvi compared to the 1,200-capacity church it replaces we felt it was right to use the insurance money for its intended purpose," explained Haakana referring to the 4 million euro payout received after the fire it will serve the local population of around 1,000 people as a place for worship "We need a space for these ceremonies in the Rautjärvi area," Haakana added Open image viewerThe ruins of the old Rautjärvi church. Image: Kare Lehtonen / YleMemories of a tragic ChristmasThe cause of the fire remains a mystery. The man suspected of starting it was found dead in his garden on the same day as the blaze. All that remains of the old church are the main steps, parts of the stone foundation and some sections of a stone wall. The church that burned down two years ago was constructed in 1881. However, there were previous churches on the same site since the late 17th century, with two structures burning down in 1741 and 1872. A rat is usually a brown rodent. Rats prefer living places close to the ground, where you can easily dig underground passages. The rat thrives in population centers and has generally conquered farms, green areas, landfills, sewer networks and waste sheds. Rats can also come indoors. Rats avoid open areas and usually move after dark. The rat leaves the nest only when looking for food. Garbage sheds must be kept clean. Waste containers must be intact (dry and bio waste) and the lids must close properly. The condition of the waste containers (including the bottoms of the containers) should be checked on the property and the containers should be replaced if they are broken. If there are yard buildings on the property, e.g. playhouses or sheds, it is also worth checking their structures. Various piles in yard areas also provide protection for rats. You can repel rats yourself by setting traps. Poisons intended for rats are not sold to private individuals. Only professionals can buy and use poisons for pest control. Depends where it isAn Yle study reveals dramatic differences in the average time needed to sell a house or flat in various parts of Finland While one in a desirable neighbourhood of Helsinki or Turku is likely to be snapped up within a week or two those in rural eastern and northern areas may take years to find a buyer Open image viewerA sales image showing residential buildings to be built in Helsinki's new Verkkosaari neighbourhood Image: Aarti Ollila / Ristola Arkkitehdit Oy2.7.2017 17:37•Updated 2.7.2017 17:37Analysis of data from the Oikotie real estate site reveals how long it takes to sell a home online in different areas of the country Last year ads for residences in the most desirable areas only averaged one to two weeks online while home in the regions with the lowest demand took as long as two and a half years to sell The zip codes with the slowest sales were mostly in eastern Finland specifically within the municipalities of Ruokolahti Lieksa and Vesanto as well as Ylöjärvi in Western Finland and Inari The half-dozen homes in Ruokolahti's Äitsaari district took an average of 1018 days to sell The quickest sales were in Helsinki's new Verkkosaari district This was followed by the small predominantly Swedish-speaking west-coast towns of Korsholm along with eastern parts of Turku (9-14 days) The study also shows that the largest number of online ads are placed between September and November Thursday and Friday are the most popular days for publishing ads Yle studied data from more than half a million ads placed on Oikotie describes it as Finland's biggest residential service The city of Imatra has received numerous contacts about Spanish Slugs this summer as well There are occurrences at least in Lakasenpelto The most effective ways to get rid of Spanish Slugs are to collect them and apply an iron phosphate preparation The collected snails are destroyed by dropping them into boiling water or vinegar Collected and destroyed snails should be disposed of in a closed container with dry waste so that they do not attract their fellow species to eat so there are no dead snails lying around the yards is trying to help the city's residents in the fight against snails by distributing an iron phosphate product for the use of residents' and village associations — It is good to spread the iron phosphate product not only on private properties but also in areas where snails are known to crawl into yards says an environmental engineer Carita Kattainen The preparation can be applied for by contacting Imatran Kiinteistö- ja Aluepalvelu Oy (KIPA) the name of the resident/village association the applicant's contact information and the area where the substance will be applied as well as the surface area information of the area must be stated in order to obtain enough of the substance amount The product is not distributed directly to individuals Instructions and a safety information sheet are distributed with the product The resident/village association representative must ensure that everyone to whom the product is distributed receives instructions for distributing the product and a safety data sheet.   erika.luhtanenimatra.fi (erika[dot]luhtanen[at]imatra[dot]fi) carita.comprehensiveimatra.fi (carita[dot]kattainen[at]imatra[dot]fi), p cerealimatra.fi (teemu[dot]viljakainen[at]imatra[dot]fi), p contacts for obtaining the product: foreman Jukka Kunnas jukka.kunnasimatrankipa.fi (jukka[dot]kunnas[at]imatrankipa[dot]fi) A lot of Spanish chip snails have been seen on the walking/biking path that goes around the area of ​​the former school in Virasoja A lot of street work in the nearby area and lands being moved....Are the residents in the nearby area from there they spread to yards/bicycle paths/the forest Residents of the Koivuniemi and Saarlammi areas of Imatra will receive water from Imatra in the future water has come to these residential areas from Ruokolahti Now the water is directed to them from the Imatra water supply network network master Kari Mäkelä Imatran Vedette says the change does not affect the customers' everyday life: water comes from the tap in the old model and billing works as before The change required the construction of a new water main The new line runs from the connecting pipe between Imatra and Ruokolahti at the bottom of Saimaa to Koivuniemi —The old water supply line started to need renovation other municipal technology is also being built in the Koivuniemi area two wastewater pumping stations were renovated in the area Water supply engineer Anu Nikulainen, anu.nikulainenimatra.fi (anu[dot]nikulainen[at]imatra[dot]fi) kari.makelaimatra.fi (kari[dot]makela[at]imatra[dot]fi) 020 617 4383 (reachable from Tuesday 2.4 April) Imatra Water See open positions Imatra WaterVirastokatu 255100 Imatra(town hall) telephone customer service on weekdays from 12:15 to 020:617 The event is organized by the Imatra and Ruokolahti Disability Council together with the Imatra Hearing Association the South Karelia Visually Impaired Association and the Visually Impaired Association Audio car in the courtyard of the Virta Cultural Center from 9 am to 16 pm (also on May 13.5th from 13.30:16 pm to XNUMX pm information about making an appointment later) Presenters on the second floor of the Cultural Center from 11 am to 15 pm Lecture 1 at 12–13 “When vision deteriorates” Rehabilitation Manager of the Finnish Association for the Visually Impaired Heini Liimatainen Lecture 2 at 13.30:14.30 PM–XNUMX:XNUMX PM “Tinnitus” Regional worker for the Southeastern Finland Hearing Association Maarit Honkasola Nursing students from Saimaa Vocational College will assist at the event Imatra Hearing Association vento pirjomgmail.com (ventopirjom[at]gmail[dot]com) South Karelia Association of the Visually Impaired susanna.kovasingmail.com (susanna[dot]kovasin[at]gmail[dot]com) Secretary of the Imatra and Ruokolahti Disability Council waveimatra.fi (heikki[dot]laine[at]imatra[dot]fi)