Location: Ruukinranta In Espoo (FINLAND)
N60°12.61'
E024°49.00'
|
- Through out the winter, I traveled along the Kehä I freeway and kept on looking the landscape, as I knew that part of the Viapori was located here, at least in the past. I assumed that nothing would remain here, as when looking at the old maps of Viapori, the trench line went in the exact position, where the freeway now runs. The freeway actually makes even a turn, where the trench line according to the maps made a turn. So my hopes were not that high, although through out the winter, I kept on starting these two huge rocks, that seemed to be positioned dangerously near the ledge, ready to drop into the freeway. Many months I thought that it's strange, that those rocks were left like that, near the road. But when the snow started melting, it revealed something else... - What had seemed like two huge rocks during the winter time, revealed to be two bunkers near the ledge. The snow had covered these so well, that it fooled me completely. - These are the first "mushroom" type of bunkers (Type D) that I've encountered in Viapori, although I know that some more can be found from Leppävaara area, few kilometers to north from this place. Of course I was very excited about this place, although I was sure that these two bunkers are the only thing I would find from this area. However, the area does hold some trenches and other defensive structures and the construction of the freeways years ago, has not destroyed too much of this place. - When looking at the Viapori map, this place along with the Leppävaara area, was most likely meant to anchor the defense in the western part of Viapori. According to the maps, there should be trenches going few hundred meters in front of this defensive position, but most likely much of it has been destroyed by the roads and buildings. I'm still going to check sometimes, if I could find at least something still remaining near the roads. So with the main defensive line going in front, this place was the backbone of the defense system. Meant to stop the enemy, if it would have gotten through the first line. - The area is in a decent condition, although like stated in previous explorations, the nearby houses mean that much of the trenches and pit's are full of dead leaves and branches...thrown there by the people living near of this place. One of the pit's was actually a very sad sight. Full of water and oil, it was also almost completely covered with all sort of junk from a nearby house. Also to some parts of the trenches, some construction material had been thrown in and there was no way of walking in there. - I do sometimes wonder, that would there be a city office, who would be interested about all of these "discoveries"? Although, it's a money issue like always. I could report these to the city officials...and they wouldn't do a thing....like always.
|
|
|
|
|
|
- The trees have grown a bit since someone actually aimed through the shooting hole. Now, it's just me aiming my camera towards the Kehä I freeway... |
|
|
|
|
|
|
- Kehä I freeway seen through the observation hole. Ninety years has passed, since there were people waiting in these bunkers for the enemy to appear from the west. |