Imatra

An Art Nouveau or Jugend style castle, currently known as Imatran Valtionhotelli (Imatra State Hotel), was built near the rapids in 1903 as a hotel for tourists from the Russian Imperial capital Saint Petersburg. During the Continuation War, Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim met with Adolf Hitler in secrecy near the town for the former's 75th birthday. Imatra was founded in 1948 on the territory of three municipalities – Jääski, Ruokolahti and Joutseno. Finland ceded 9% of its territory to the Soviet Union after the Winter War. Jääski lost 85% of its territory and it was decided that a new municipality, Imatra, should be established on the remaining 15% of Jääski and some areas of Ruokolahti and Joutseno. This is why the Imatra coat of arms has three flashes – in honour of those previous municipalities that granted areas to it. It gained its municipal charter in 1971. ==Sport==

The men's pesäpallo club Imatran Pallo-Veikot competes in the Superpesis national league, playing at Ukonniemi Stadium. Ice hockey club Imatran Ketterä plays in second-tier Mestis. Imatra is the birthplace of National Hockey League players Jussi Markkanen and Petteri Nokelainen. In motorsport history, Imatra is best known for its road races (former TT-race) from 1963 to 1986. From 1962 to 1982 it was the home of the Finnish motorcycle Grand Prix. Racing on the Imatra road circuit ended after fatal accident during the 1986 European Championship event. Racing resumed in 2016 as an International Road Racing Championship event. There is an annual indoor rowing race at Imatra, which attracts competitors from across Finland. ==Culture==

The Black & White Theatre has produced more than 20 performances, the movie "Murderer" and organized from 2004 Black & White Theatre Festival in Imatra. == Transport ==

The national road 6, running from Koskenkylä in Loviisa to Kajaani via Kouvola, Lappeenranta, and Joensuu passes through Imatra. Also in Imatra is a crossing point over the Russian border, which is also the ending point of primary road 62 from Mikkeli. The Kouvola–Joensuu railway passes through Imatra, and the Imatra railway station serves both passenger and freight transport. From the rail yard of this station is a fork onto the railway towards Kamennogorsk via Vyborg. The planning of the initiation of regular international passenger traffic between Imatra and Saint Petersburg has stopped due to Russia's war against Ukraine. The closest airport to Imatra is the Lappeenranta Airport, which is used by Ryanair on several routes as well as irregular passenger flights to the Canary Islands and cargo flights to Russia. The Immola Airfield is also present, serving the Finnish Border Guard as well as hobbyist aviation activities. == Demographics ==

• Marlo Koponen, ice hockey player • Jarmo Koski, actor • Arvo Kyllönen, wrestler • Jussi Markkanen, ice hockey player • Petteri Nokelainen, ice hockey player • Lilli Paasikivi, artistic director • Jouni Pellinen, skier • Jarmo Sandelin, professional golfer • Anneli Taina, politician • Taiska, singer ==International relations==

Sister cities: • Ludvika, Sweden • Salzgitter, Germany • Zvolen, Slovakia • Tikhvin, Russia (frozen since 2022 due to Russia attacking Ukraine) • Szigetvár, Hungary • Narva-Jõesuu, Estonia • Jiaxing, China Sister cities: • Beihai, China Co-operation cities: • Nizhyn, Ukraine == Gallery ==

File:Imatran kaupungintalo 3.JPG|Imatra Town Hall File:Vuksi_River_,_Island_-_panoramio.jpg|Vuoksi River File:Imatrankosken_kuohuja.jpg|Imatrankoski hydroelectric power plant File:Imatrankoski_2017_15.jpg|Nature around Imatrankoski File:Imatrankosken_ratapiha.JPG|Imatrankoski rail yard File:South_Karelia,_Finland_-_panoramio_(9).jpg|Imatra in winter File:Imatran_kylpylä.jpg|Lake Saimaa and Imatra Spa Hotel File:Imatra - Pehr Adolf Kruskopf - Finland framställdt i teckningar - 64.jpg|Illustration of Imatra in Finland framstäldt i teckningar edited by Zacharias Topelius and published 1845-1852. == See also ==