Imatra | Largest European Rapids in a Finnish Eden.

Imatra is a very  famous destination in Northern Europe boasting the largest European rapids in a Finnish Eden corresponding to the magnificent South Karelia Region and situated on the shore of the picturesque and enchanting Lake Saimaa at the main breach in the moraine Salpausselkä which allows waters to drain all the waters basins in the east through a single river, the scenic Vuoksi totally surrounded by typical Nordic virgin forests in an outstanding environment highlighted by fabulous wild Scandinavian landscapes.

Bordered by Joutseno at west, Ruokolahti at east and at north by the former Finnish town of Enso which before the Winter War was a municipality part Finland but currently corresponding to the Russian town of Svetogorsk situated at just 7, 5 kilometres of distance and reachable in approximately 20 minutes driving that land is crossed by numerous appealing streams and torrents all them flanked by an evergreen fairytale woodland with a stunning nature absolute protagonist.


The strategic gegeographic position of Imatra situated halfway between the capital of the country Helsinki located 230, 0 kilometres away and the second city of Russia, the beautiful Saint Petersburg at approximately 210, 0 kilometres of distance  always elevated that centre of 30,000 inhabitants as a sort of historic bridge in Europe between West and East, a great cross road of very important routes and trade traffics but also a destination of high touristic interest since a long time ago.

Despite the official municipality was founded in a contemporary era concretely in 1948 just three years after the 2nd World war, the area boasts over 300 year of age because the local was already populated centuries ago by settlers who lived in two territorial sections cut by the Vuoksi river without a real centre and the result was of a composition of different agglomerations scattered all around a vast territory.

Imatra has a old history to narrate protagonist of a busy tourism greatly attributed to that spectacular attraction consisting in those natural marvellous rapids which have enticed with their spectacular presence many prominent people.

Visited several times by the high nomenclature linked to the Swedish and Russian Monarchies also for the presence of the Lake Saimaa, the largest and one of the most charming waters basins of the country representing a superb attraction very loved by many tourists for its fascinating image and offering an image reflecting all the beauty of that Nation in a nutshell.

Many notorious characters reached that centre in different periods among them the Tsars Alexander I and Nicholas I, the Empress Catherine II, the notorious French writer Alexandre Dumas, the German composer Richard Wagner, the famous Finnish architect Alvar Aalto and Gustav Mannerheim one of the distinctive and iconic heroes of that Nation. All them and many others fell in love with that enchanting highlight often returning there to spend pleasant times delighted by that impressive view delighting their enjoyable soujourns.  

Those famed figures undoubtedly played an important role givng the town prestige and a relevant fame somerthing exremely important to create a sort of magic aura encircling a destination in terms of historic tourism which always represents a of magnet attracting different visitors who want to see once in a life iconic places frequented by famous people and all that is still alive than ever in Imatra.  

Closely related to all that the Finnish centre boasts very comfortable accommodations and emblematic Hotels, many are the opportunities to enjoy several excursions visiting historic places all around a region boasting a superb historic patrimony and also the gastronomy of Karelia is among the best of the country offering a vast culinary panorama more than considerable. 

Many others are the reasons to visit a place like that centre in Southern Finland apart those natural marvelsthe Lake Saimaa offers the chance to enjoy an unforgettable cruise and as and the several rivers and stream scattered all around its basin is a heaven for rowing, kayak and fishing lovers and all the local environment is an Eden for photographers, trekkers and horse riding.
 
Cycle tourism is another great outdoor activity as cycling on road and mountain bike with a large fan of itineraries crossing fairytale places to remember forever while winter season is absolutely magnificent for all those who love Ski Cross Country and Ski Adventure with hundreds of kilometres of trails simply stunning.

Peace and tranquillity are other great highlights that site,a perfect destination for all the visitors who are searching holidays characterised by a serene atmosphere and furthermore the locals are very kind and polite welcoming a tourist in the best way.

Imatra is a very acitve and lively centre hosting events, meetings and festivals, it is a centre where the National sport, Ice Hockey Hockey is very rooted with its local Club that formed important professional players and historically it has a relevant importance for an episode of extreme resonance happened in its boundaries during the times of the 2nd World War.

That Finnish territory since several centuries ago was already a considerable cross point of cultures with the Finns largely influenced by a long Swedish rule which played an important role in the development of that State when that Baltic country was part of its Kingdom.

Those two Scandinavian countries shared many centuries of common history started in 1154 with main protagonist the King of Sweden Erik IX who introduced in that land the Christian Religion living for 700 years together and due to that Finland became a bilingual country absorbing the language of the nearby Nation as official next to the native.

That territory was always considered a target of conquest when the Swedes started to defend that domain by many Russian invasions with several clashes started in the 14th centuries.In those times that area  was a more than desired base for its strategic position representing a sort of hallway to the Baltic sea and especially towards Kotka, a town facing Estonia from one side and Russia from another and also for that Imatra and that area Karelia were always a focal point of disputes and wars.

Those territories were often protagonists of conquests and lost, meetings, truces and divisions and historically part of Karelia with Imatra remained with Finland while another fell under Russian rule forever.

The Tsars Empire  left its historic marks during the Imperial times when the current Nation with Capital Helsinki became a Grand Duchy part of Russia with its incorporation in the reign of Tsar Alexander I in 1808.

The chronological local history is marked by different kinds of events such as claims,riots, revolts, battles, wars and the energy industry. The first Finnish settlers who inhabited that land lived in scattered hamlets mainly devoted to agriculture and fishing and in 1894 was invented in that place a revolutionary device to remove the entrails herring.

The domination of the Imperial Russia endured until 1917 when Finland declared its independence despite there were new attempts of reconquest of that former ruler  in the 2nd World War with including a partial occupation by German troops in the same period.

The current Municipality obtained the official title of town in 1971 and its main resource was since that period the production of paper developed much more in the 90's with the famous company Stora Enso, a Finnish-Swedish Company with the largest employer in its boundaries with over 3,000 workers and exporting its products in many European countries and North America.

The local architecture is mainly modern and the district Imatrankoski, located at Fortum's hydro and Imatra Rapids  are definitely the major tourist attractions, the latter formed  over 5000 years ago consisting in a  formation by the land during the Ice age which included movements of waters from ridges and the lake Saimaa. 

That impressive masterpiece of nature is highly spectacular in its upper side but along  its course shows magnificent views also in its lower part corresponding to its narrower section. That wonder called over three centuries ago personalities and famous people who were simply attracted by that stupendous image, a Finnish Eden framed by incomparable green intact forests and a very peaceful atmosphere immediately transmitting delightful feelings as to be in paradise.

Imatrankoski Rapids although today are closed by a dam which does let the water a few minutes a day in summer season it is one of the most famous and scenic natural sites of the country classified  as National Patrimony Landscape with a further award as the largest in Europe elevating that site as a local and national pride.

For purposes linked to incoming tourism, the waters were made to flow again in the original river bed and now they only open from 24th June to 25th August at 06.00 pm daily and in other dates as Christmas and New Year Eve and 26th May.

Thanks to the energy provided by that stunning descent of waters the town experienced a considerable development in 1929 when the river with that dam was diverted to produce hydroelectric power. To develop all that was established Tainionkosken Voimalaitos a network which included apart the rapids also Tainio and Vuoksi upstreams.

The golden ages regarding that activity last from the end of the Continuation War until the 80's with the installation of several pulp mills. It was since then very hard to return to the golden ages due to the crisis which followed the collapse of the nearest Soviet Union which despite the times of the Cold War had established a commercial partnership with Finland linked to that resource because the new Independent Republics leaving the former USSR found other solutions and naturally that business suffered a decay.

Apart that fabulous highlight, the town also has other attractions and you can start a visit from Imatrankosken Kirkko the Church of the district where is situated that superb attraction.

That Evangelical Lutheran Religious Temple is a pretty modern building and it was developed on a large irregular rectangular plan with an ample facade painted in a light sandstone tonality with a small rectangular doorway placed on the left side flanked by rectangular windows and in its upper section you will notice the presence of a high thin Cross.

Completed in 1954 and consecrated in the same year, that Sacred construction was originally designed by the architect Alex Lindqvist while the interior, altar, pulpit and benches are works by George Väski who also designed the second Lutheran Church of the municipality: Tainionkoski Kirkko.

You can continue taking a look to Mansikkala's municipal centre, it is a modern complex providing the citizens different kinds of activities, hosting a public library, a gymnasium, sports halls, offices of local Institutions and it is the seat of the City Hall, in brief the social heart of the entire community frequenting that place hosting all those facilities and services.

Another relevant attraction is certainly the charming Valtionhotelli Imatra Hotel, a beautiful accommodation erected in 1903 in a refined and stylish Art Nouveau style highlighted by splendid and defined architectural lines reminiscent a castle, a superb work designed by the architect Nyström.

That masterpiece devoted to Hospitality is located at a very short distance from the rapids  permitting an easy and quick access to the tourists who flocked to admire that spectacular highlight and also for that is very appreciated boasting a unique strategic position.

Its former name was Gran Hotel Cascade to pay homage to that local beauty and it gained a great prestige and fame because it hosted prominent personalities and wealthy tourists many of them coming from the Russian imperial Capital St. Petersburg and later frequented by several visitors coming from a good number of western European countries.

Including it has a very interesting history to narrate full of relevant events with many changes in different periods. In 1917, just 14 years after its inception in the year highlighted by the Independence of the country it was used as a military hospital while during the 2nd World War it was the headquarter for the Isthmus during the Continuation War as well as the main base of the administration department of the Ministry of defence.

After that event it was renovated by the architect Aarne Ervin following plans of restoration and renovation and step by step with laborious works the building was largely ended re-taking its original aspect in 1983 in further operation of refurbishment led by another architect called Ilmo Valjakka.

Located in a magnificent wide green space in proximity of a fairytale forest, very impressive is the light facade with ample arched and rectangular windows placed in a very elegant and refined layout and a magnificent highlight is a wonderful rounded tower established on one side surmounted by a picturesque and scenic dark gray roof immediately visible along the walkway leading to that stunning and beautiful building.

On May 2009 Valtiontelli Hotel opened a modern Spa centre and even today it retains the destination as an accommodation of refined charm with its scenic and captivating silhouette and a very captivating atmosphere inside with fine halls, splendid decorations in the common areas splendid details which immediately delights every visitor.

Located in a district called Vuoksenniska you can visit  Kolmen Ristin Kirkko the Church of the three Crosses, a major work of the famous architect Alvar Aalto. It is one of the masterpieces by that famed eclectic character from Kuortane who apart that profession was also painter, sculptor and designer, one the iconic figures of the history of Finland and also highly regarded abroad with many awards achieved worldwide.

Also for that the Church is part of the historic patrimony of the modern architecture of the Municipality and the Nation because it represents something unique in its kind.

That Sacred temple was built between 1957 and 1958 using brick white mortar and officially inaugurated on 28th September 1958. The nave consists of three partitions in separated spaces each with its own entrance, acoustic and lighting have been improved on the plan asymmetry and that work is a masterpiece created by the talented imagination of one of the most ingenious architects all time.

Despite its contemporary and modern image, the white tonality of the structure covered by a gray roof with the adjacent tower of the same colour are a composition does not ruin the harmony and balance or the natural environment or breaking spaces and neither disturbing the view.

The Church developed on a wide rectangular plan is a great inspiration by Aalto who studied position, volume, perspectives and metre by metre ther environment for the establishment of that building. 

The structure is not of gigantic dimensions and that is another aspect which could severely altered the harmonious coexistence between nature and the architectural complex in the case of an elevation of a a bigger construction with a final result would be generated a different reality but that eminent clever mind made something simply great.

The facade is very austere and there are not bizarre decorative details or some peculiar architectural element in the layout, it is totally immaculate and that is an outstanding detail perfectly thought because the human eye can be concentrated to all what there is around too. 

The main concept of that Finnish genius was to develop something in participation with nature, both had to be protagonists at the same time in two different aspects, the intact environment as main frame and the Church as a sort of painting inside its outlines. Aalto also had that kind of ideas including in other works in many and important metropolitan settings and if you are planning to visit Helsinki you will have the chance to admire some relevant masterpieces of that brilliant artist. (I wrote a post the Finnish Capital in the case you are interested)

That Religious site in its interior has not altarpiece but in its place were placed three white wooden cross and for that its name. The windows were designed in a way in which during worship the shadows fall on the wall and an interesting feature is that just two of the 103 windows established all around that construction are identical and that is in its kind another masterpiece which did not break also with that varied composition the entire scene.

  

Tainionkoski Kirkko is the local Parish Church, it was completed in 1932 and consecrated on 8th July 1933.The architectural style is mostly of the 1920's Finnish Classicism, a movement which created in the country a new prominent school respecting the loyal canons of the most traditional Nordic architecture with marked executions of lines giving priority to functionality and geometry than the placement of decorations and different kinds of elements inserted in the layout.

The building has an ample red gable roof surmounted by a belfry covering a structure with a sober facade with simple but functional rectangular windows placed with criteria and with a careful attention to the symmetry.

A special attraction is in its interior, it is the pulpit which is unlike the ordinary Church hall viewed from the right side of the altar designed by the architect George Väski while another relevant highlight is a splendid organ made in 1938. Until 1940 in the altarpiece there was a crucifix replaced in its original position in 1997 by Kristiina Uusitalo oil painting and that work is now in the Church hall on a wall.

Another place worth a visit is Kruununpuisto Imatra. It is Finland's oldest nature reserve, a magnificent huge verdant parkland with beautiful uncontaminated forests and small charming villages in its boundaries, a sort of Finnish Eden boasting scenic fairytale landscapes totally reflecting the beauty of Scandinavia. 

That Nature Park was founded by Tsar Nicholas I of Russia in 1842 in an area pretty loved by the aristocratic class but much before of that event was already protagonist in 1772 when the Empress Catherine the Great visited Imatra with long walks in that stunning green lung.

That wonderful huge verdant land is subdivided in four sections called Koski, Pato, Muinaisuoman and National Park and you can see inside it a scenic river and other attractions consisting in a good number of different sculptures scattered all around its immense extension.

That immense paradise is beloved by many people who can practise different kinds of outdoor activities such as cycling, mountain bike, jogging, footing, trekking and in winter season it is a great place for all Ski Cross Country lovers. 

Another highlight is definitely the presence of a multitude of routes along paths immersed in a marvellous natural woody heaven offering the chance to enjoy an alternative tourism reaching other places but it is also beloved by many families with children to enjo pic-nics and pleasant relaxing walks in a wonderful scenery.

In that vast area there are excellent chances for all the bird watching lovers to see different species of volatiles such as terns, owls, Wood Sandpiper, Siberian Jay,White Tailed-Eagles,Buzzard and ducks among others.

Lake Saimaa is another great marvel you can not miss, it is the largest Finnish lake and the fourth in Europe with its 4400,0 square kilometres formed by glacial melting at the end of the Ice Age. Many people use that beautiful waters basin for several activities such as rowing, kayak, fishing and sailing until Vyborg Bay in the Gulf of Finland across the Saimaa Canal. 

That marvellous lake offers unique panoramic views bordered by endless virgin forests, the image of that wonder is absolutely enchanting and it is connected to other small lakes and also that is certainly a superb attraction for every visitor to move from a basin to another.

A special attraction of its immense beauty is the impressive presence of over 14,000 islets and islands, a stunning mosaic of waters and emerging lands as a magic puzzle making that corner of Finland an authentic Eden and much more very appreciated and admired for its great preserved environment. In addition it is a waters basin absolutely perfect for couples who want to visit that place extremely romantic and inspiring with unforgettable sunsets in a festival of colours and contrasts of tonalities when the sun rays fall on its blue waters and the green of the Nordic vegetation encircling it.

Imatra Kylpylä & Spa is another attraction in its kind, it is a complex offering large swimming pools, saunas, whirlpools from time to time with an artificial thunderstorm and it is a brilliant resource for recreation and holidays close to that magnificent waters basin with the chance to keep tonic your body.

It is a place pretty loved by locals and tourists because it is well combined with the proximity of Lake Saimaa offering the opportunity to practise different activities as water sports at a very short distance and immediately after enjoying a relaxing Finnish Sauna.

The name Imatra is also famous for a relevant interesting historic episode which took place in its boundaries during the 2nd World War. That centre of Karelia gained popularity because the former Finnish General, Marshal and Politician Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim met in secret in that place Adolf Hitler in occasion of his 75th birthday on 4th June 1942.

Historic documentations narrated that meeting was planned in an old railway platform and it said that the Finnish Statesman left the German leader and some of his Generals hours and hours waiting for him and also because he did not invite that delegation coming from Berlin in Helsinki.

Mannerheim was a charismatic character, a national hero and if you will visit Finland you will note that it is not just his name represented in the denomination of squares, streets, roads certifying the emblematic historic popularity of that figure but he is a sort of lively emblem, a loved and venerated icon including for the young for all what he represented for the Nation.

That distinctive Marshal was an officer with a brilliant military career, he spoke different languages apart his mother tongue he was very fluent in Russian, German, English and Swedish, a man with a very high cultural level, very fond of art, history and architecture.

In addition to all that he was a fervent patriot who extremely loved his country and always ready to give priority to his motherland and the Finns including in diplomatic operations and military strategies, the future of the Finnish citizens was always in pole position and not his glory and also for all that apart his successes and merits he was extremely beloved by all his compatriots. 

The day of his birthday that man reached Imatra but loyal to his principles and ethic he gave priority to his family and friends and never mind if a leader of an important country as Germany was waiting for hours in a deserted railway station at the border of a wild forest.

All that explains you which kind of personality and charisma had that Finnish symbol because it was not a priority for him to meet an International power protagonist in its kind of the destiny of an entire continent but before all that for Mannerheim there were other things.

Hitler admired a lot that cultured, stylish and elegant man including for his relevant military career, several times decorated with prestigious medals, honours and titles and according to historic documentations about that chat the Finnish officer asked him what concretely he wanted waiting for a reply.

Historically Finland signed a treaty of provisional alliance with Berlin and Hitler who was there to meet him to wish him a Happy birthday but much more focused to convince that man  to start immediately a military operation together attacking Russia and especially Saint Petersburg, the former Leningrad.

That great Finn in the past served the Russian Imperial Army when the Duchy of Finland was a Russian territory as former Officer of the Imperial Tsar Cavalry, he perfectly knew that city and the Russian army in which he covered relevant charges until the independence of Finland when he became Head of State.

Feared and respected by the Red Army, Mannerheim in the war against Russia inflicted heavy loss to a powerful army which during the invasion of that Scandinavian country was 50 times superior to the local, a sort of David versus the Giant Goliath and that Nordic hero was in many occasions the victorious David against a powerful giant.

The Finnish soldiers under his rule were very brave, well trained and equipped, they knew very well the Russian weaknesses and the brilliant successful results in many battles against the Soviets were a reason and a hope of Hitler to convince that man to answer with an immediate positive reply to his proposal as a relevant potential arm to be victorious in his planned campaign. 

The answer of Mannerheim was very direct and it was a round no. He did not want to attack a nearest big country not because he was intimitaded but he simply desired to defend his country keeping an integrity and an independence gained with many efforts 25 years before and he gave priority to the destiny of his compatriots and his beloved land. After that notorious meeting the German delegation returned home with that negative reply and including with different future relationships between those two countries.

The Marshal stopped the land of further German divisions on Finnish land and just two years later on August 1944 revoked that agreement of alliance expelling from Finland all the Wermacht troops ending every kind of contact with the Nazi Government. That decision was related to a sort "I can manage the situation of my country myself, without helps or exterior supports” and that is in brief is the story of what happened in a spring day in a remote point of Imatra in occasion of the birthday of that 75 years old national icon.

The town has a very active social and cultural life hosting some important events. Every summer in the municipality takes place a major Jazz event, the Imatra Big Band Festival attracting over 50,000 people, the second-largest in the country after the famous Pori Jazz celebrated in the coastal town of Pori. Rock to the River is another appointment well known all around the country consisting in a famous Rock Festival of prestige attracting many fans from different Finnish regions.

Imatra was in the past very famous also to host the Motorcycle Grand Prix of Finland which was run on its urban streets from 1964 to 1982, a competition counting for the World Championship known as the Continental Circus. Since its inception it was considered a very dangerous circuit and it was cancelled by the world race calendar in the 80's for that reason.

In winter the area is a great place Nordic Ski and in particular Ski-Country making that activity extremely loved by a multitude of people who can enjoy endless kilometres suitable to practise that beloved sport in Scandinavia and in the immediate outskirts of every districts in the municipal extra radius many are the trails for all the lovers of that sport.

Ice Hockey is the Finnish National Sport very popular with many young people playing it and the town has a notable tradition with its Club Imatran Ketterä founded in 1957 and playing in Karhumäen Jäähalli Arena, a little Temple with a capacity of approximately 1500, 0 spectators. 

Linked to that Imatra is also the birthplace of some famous hockey stars such as Jussi Markkanen and Petteri Nokelainen well known in the international scene and regarding some other prominent people born in the town worth a mention the former Finnish Speaker of the Parliament Riitta Uosukainen born Russian when Imatra was part of that Grand Duchy before the Finnish Independence.

The town also has fame in literature and it is even mentioned in the famous Kalevala an epic poem of Finland compiled from oral poetry in 1835.

That literary work says :"Three, the water-falls in number Three in number, inland oceans, Three in number, lofty mountains, ,Shooting to the vault of heaven. Hallapyora's near to Yaemen, Katrakoski in Karyala: Imatra, the falling water, Tumbles, roaring, into Vuoksi".

The gastronomy of Karelia is also to take in great consideration for its considerable culinary art with a strong tradition and identity, using local ingredients with plates loyally homemade and also that is something which delights every visitor.

Among the most popular dishes worth a mention the famous Stew of Karelia made with pork, beef and lamb meats adding carrots, onions, bay leaves, black peppercorns and salt served very hot and as in other areas of Finland among the typical meat plates worth a mention the famed Reindeer Stew.

 Well known is a speciality called, Sultsina a typicalof Karelian crepe filled with pudding rice and popular is the Karjalan Piirakka, a delicious pie filled with different ingredients such as rice, eggs, butter, parsley but also millet and potatoes.

The Vorschmack is a further renowned speciality consisting in minced herring, anchovies and onion seasoned with a good quantity of Cognac, served with pickles and sour cream. About other specialities with fish as protagonist you can try the Lohi, a kind of local salmon prepared in different styles such as marinated, smoked or baked served with potatoes and also very appreciated are the Silakka, delectable small Baltic herring with a very special taste.

The notorious Kalakukko is loaf or rye bread which despite it is original from another Region called Northern Savonia is also prepared in the local area consisting in that kind of bread filled with baked white fish but it has other variants using pork meat, bacon or also fresh salmon.

A great regional product is an excellent and soft butter used for different kinds of recipes but also spread on toasted bread with jam and among sweets and bakery products some of the most known specialities are the Korvapuusi made with cinnamon and the Piparkakku, excellent ginger biscuits.

Lappeenranta Airport is located at approximately 40, 0 kilometres from the town and could be a valid option to connect your flight from some Airports currently very active with low costs. There are no flights from Helsinki however it is connected to Riga, the Capital of Latvia by Air Baltic and Ryanair flying there from Düsseldorf-Weeze, Brussels-Charleroi and also Bergamo-Italy.

An alternative interesting option is landing on Helsinki Vaanta Airport and once there, you can use a good train service between the Finnish Capital and Joensuu (I wrote a little post about Christmas Market regarding that place) with stop at Imatra Railway Station. The duration of that trip is approximately three hours with the good opportunity of ten daily departures.Naturally a great Fly & Drive is highly suggested inserting that town as a stage in a fantastic tailor made tour of Karelia, a region which is a mine of stunning surprises.

If you are planning holidays to Finland and you have the intention to visit different places, that splendid land is superb to admire the largest European Rapids and it is a great choice to be totally delighted by a wild and uncontaminated nature, stunning landscapes in an unforgettable natural Finnish Eden.

If you love nature that place is undoubtedly for you discovering beautiful attractions all around, you will be surrounded by kilometres of splendid forests, streams, small lakes along exciting itineraries also enjoying an enchanting verdant countryside and the locals extremely hospitable suggesting you many places to visit more is a further present you will find there.

All that will be a great experience, that town on the shore of the picturesque and magnificent Lake Saimaa with its myriad of islets is a dreamland, a marvellous destination enjoying a stupendous corner of the most scenic Finland with Imatra as protagonist all to enjoy encircled by a multitude of striking attractions delighting and bewitching you.

Francesco Mari

Recommended Hotel in Imatra 

Hotel Rantastipi Valtionhotelli

Hotel Imatra Kyplya & Spa

Hotel Quality Vuoksenhovi 

Hotel Imatra

Useful links

 www.imatra.fi

www.rantasipi.fi/hotellit/imatran-valtionhotelli

www.imatrankylpyla.fi

www.hotelimatra.fi

 www.gosaimaa.com

 www.saimaacruises.fi