The Fortress of Suomenlinna, a Unesco World Heritage site, is constructed on a series of six islands in Helsinki harbor. It was built by the Swedes, who then controlled Finland, starting in the middle of the 18th Century. The construction went on for more than 30 years. The fortress was eventually occupied by Russia, and the construction continued, adding barracks and other facilities that brought the population of the islands up to almost 7000. Although the fortress is no longer used as such, 800 people still live on the islands, and seemingly make their living by catering food and souvenirs to tourists.
This photo is of the dry dock, which was built at the same time as the fortress, and was originally used to construct ships for the Swedish navy. Over the years, it was a ship yard for Russia during the 19th Century and early 20th Century, providing ships that were used in World War I. During World War II, Finnish submarines were built here. After World War II, it was in use constructing ships for the Soviet Union as part of Finland's war reparations. It's still in use today, providing a spot for storage and restoration of antique wooden ships.
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Tom, I love the foreboding clouds with the cannons…great tone. I’ve never been to Helsinki…gotta fix that!
What I can tell you about the Helsinki I know: it’s almost always cloudy.