Kuhakoski

A waterfall at Kuhakoski

Kuhakoski(Finnish pronunciation:[ˈkuhɑˌkoski];literally meaning "zanderrapids ") is arapidsnear the village ofPerttulainNurmijärvi,Finland.It is located in the immediate vicinity of theNumlahti Manorand theRegional Road 132,34 kilometres (21 mi) north ofHelsinki.At the same time, Kuhakoski is the largestwaterfallin the entireUusimaa region,as it has a height of 16 meters.It is part of theVantaa Riverwatershed,which descends stepwise toLake Valkjärviwith a length of 150 meters.

The rapids themselves start from a river excavated into the rock, to which the water of theLuhtajoki Riverflows soon after crossing theLoppi Roadand then the old stone arch bridge.After the rocky outcrop, the water falls down in three large stumps, then bubbling through the woods into arural landscapefilled with fields. The field before the Loppi Road undercut by the rapids is the former drained Lake Kuhajärvi.

Kuhakoski's waterfalls has played an important part in the history of Nurmijärvi, as the rapids were once the most importantmillrapids in the area.Since the beginning of the 16th century, four separate mills (the mills of the villages of Perttula, Uotila, Valkjärvi andNumlahti) and later alsosawmillinghave been operated in the rapids.In 1910, a smallpower plantwas built in Kuhakoski by the Perttula and Uotila houses. The operation of the power plant continued until 1952. Even today, the foundations and ruins of the mills can be seen in the waterfall, reminiscent of the industrial history of the rapids.Other identifiable landmarks include the semi-two-storey brick building above the Valkjärventie road above the rapids, which was a former machine andcar repairshop in Perttula from 1937 to 1972.

In the northern part of the rapids, and especially in its eastern part, there isdry meadow,and on the rock along the rapids,bluebellsandmaiden pinksgrow, among other things.