Priozersk
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Priozersk (Russian: Приозе́рск, Finnish: Käkisalmi) is a town on the Karelian Isthmus, in Leningrad Oblast, Russia, centered on an island at the southwestern shore of Lake Ladoga, at the estuary of the northern armlet of River Vuoksi. The site has historically been the center for the Karelians of the Karelian Isthmus; and from time to time been the northwestern outpost of the realm of the Russians or the eastern outpost of the realm of the Swedes. Population: 20,506 (2002 Census).
From the Middle Ages, Priozersk was known as Korela to Russians and Käkisalmi to Karelians and Finns. The Swedes captured Korela twice: in 1580 for seventeen years and in 1611 for one hundred years. In the Swedish Empire, the fortress was called Keksholm/Kexholm and the whole district became known as the Kexholm County. Russia definitively secured the area during the Great Northern War; the town's Swedish name was retained, however, as Keksgolm (Кексгольм).
In 1812, when the Grand Duchy of Finland was formed, Alexander I of Russia incorporated Kexholm with the rest of Old Finland into this puppet state. After gaining independence, Finland eventually was forced to cede Käkisalmi to the Soviet Union in the Moscow Peace Treaty. During the Continuation War Finland occupied Käkisalmi and other ceded territories, the Finnish population returned to rebuild the town, but were again evacuated at the close of the WWII.
In 1948, Käkisalmi was renamed to Priozersk and settled with Russians from the Soviet Union, who remain the majority of the local population. The town is an excursion resort popular with St. Petersburgers. The ruined ramparts and towers of the old Korela Fortress are situated on the bank of the Vuoksi, still visible when traveling to the town from Saint Petersburg.
 In the fortress |
 Orthodox (Russian) church |
 Lutheran (Finnish) church |
[edit] External links
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Cities and towns in Leningrad Oblast |  |
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