Kuivasaari

Old coastal artillery in Kuivasaari. Photo taken from roof of a 305 mm twin turret.

Kuivasaari (Torra Mjölö in Swedish) is a Finnish island in the Gulf of Finland, near Helsinki. The island gets its name, meaning 'dry island', from the fact that there is no fresh water on the island, and water is instead pumped from the nearby Isosaari island.

The whole island is a military installation and access for civilians is heavily restricted. A number of coastal artillery guns are installed there, including some exceptionally heavy 12-inch (305 mm) pieces. The island served as an important coastal artillery fort protecting the entrance to Helsinki harbour during the World Wars.

Kuivasaari is located some 5 kilometres (3 miles) out into the Gulf of Finland, due south of Helsinki city centre, and was for many years the outermost inhabited island in the Helsinki archipelago (now there is no permanent settlement based on the island). It lies parallel to the Harmaja lighthouse, and the main shipping route into and out of Helsinki passes between the two. In fair weather the city of Tallinn, in Estonia on the southern shore of the Gulf of Finland is visible from the observation tower.

External links

• Map
• Description of visit to Kuivasaari

Coordinates: 60°06′N 25°01′E / 60.100°N 25.017°E

• Photos of Kuivasaari at Northern Fortress