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City in northeastern Estonia
Photo: Medvedev, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Kohtla-Järve is in East Estonia. Kohtla-Järve is an agglomeration of industrial settlements in Eastern Estonia. Separate parts of this unusual and rather conditional city are separated from each other by tens of kilometers. Most of them are dull and uninteresting, but an attentive traveler will find several unique objects here: a slate mine, a slate museum and a curious selection of post-war Soviet architecture, as well as a sea of ruins and industrial color. The center of the agglomeration is a separate and very independent city of Jõhvi, in which the bus station, railway station and all the necessary infrastructure are concentrated.
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Kukruse mõis
Järve kindluselamu
An interesting exhibition about the origin of the oil shale, the history of its extraction and its modern use. All this fits in one large hall, many stands of which have remained since Soviet times and are cute handwritten inscriptions. The second hall is hung with paintings showing the work of miners and other workers in the oil shale industry. It might seem naive, but still nice. Do not miss to talk to the caretakers—they are happy to tell about the past and present of Kohtla-Järve.
The Valaste waterfall is most impressive in early spring; then, the winter snow is melting and volume of cascading water is greatest. During winter the waterfall freezes and forms fairy-tale like ice sculptures. In 1997, a platform for tourists was built opposite the waterfall. There is a car park, some explanatory signs and a trail using a double spiral staircase to get down the cliff.
Interactive exposition on the formation of oil shale, its locations, mining and use.
Its pub offers sushi.
Intracity transportation in Kohtla-Jarve is carried out by buses, fixed-route and passenger taxis. City bus lines are operated by Atko bussiliinid.
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Tallinn · International · TLL
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