Kivach Waterfall

Kivach Falls lies on the Suna River in Kondopoga District, ~60 km from Petrozavodsk. Four steps total ~10.7 m; the main drop is the third, about 7 m high. Since 1931 the falls and surrounding forest are the Kivach State Nature Reserve. Primary taiga, rare plants and typical Karelian granite-and-rapid scenery remain here. Wooden walkways and viewpoints serve the falls; a small nature museum and arboretum of Karelian tree species stand nearby. A managed reserve site with clear visit rules, not a remote alpine cascade. Kivach is often a day trip from Petrozavodsk, but the reserve is larger than the falls alone — forest trails and other Suna rapids within the protected zone are worth time.