From the book
|
|
I wanted to get deeper into Korelia, and that’s why I disregarded the comfort of state road and took the sideroads towards Lake Ladoga to the place close to Finland’s border. This corner of Olonets region is rich with iron ore deposits. A few foundries I wanted to see were located here… . . . Village Vidlitsa is located on Vidlitsa River. It is very scenic. There is a church on a small island behind stone wall, a school close to it, and large Korelian homes are settled on the riverbank. There is a municipal office there, doctor’s office, and few stores. Vidlitsa is a large settlement thrown into the depth of wilderness. . . . Village Vidlitsa differs from other villages of this distant part. It is located close to Putilov’s steelmaking plant (2 versts away) and has a mixed character. Part of it’s population are factory workers, another part are landowners. It is difficult for Korelians to part with land, so there are more landowners. They live better and wealthier. However, the plant proximity has its effect on villagers’ lives. In Vidlitsa stores one can find everything available in St.Petersburg, only much more expensive. On holidays, drunk Korels and factory’s workers wander around the village. Fistfights and mischief behaviours, not seen in other Korelian villages and even in towns, occur there. …Vidlitsa steelmaking plant is located right on the shore of Lake Ladoga. A long dam stretches into lake, where steamboats are docked. Timber rafts float in large pools on each side of the dam. There are piles of mining refuse, ore, layers of cast iron pigs, charcoal ovens, plant’s structures, and main building with raised chimney in the middle. . . . Ore is brought to the factory mainly from Finland as there are not many deposits nearby. Firewood easily comes by water rafting via rivers Vidlitsa, Tuloksa and Olonka. Translated by Margarita Matthew, 2024 |
