Honkala Island is a small island located within the city limits of Helsinki, Finland. The island is an important part of the city’s history, as it was the site of a major protest against the Soviet Union in the early 1980s.
The protests on Honkala Island were a response to the Soviet Union’s plan to construct a nuclear power plant on the island. The protests were successful, and the nuclear power plant was never built. Today, Honkala Island is an ecological reserve and a popular tourist destination.
Honkala Island History
In 1979, the Soviet Union announced plans to build a nuclear power plant on Honkala Island near Helsinki. The ensuing public debate that ensued caused much hatred for Finland and its policies towards the Soviet Union among young people from all over the Soviet block countries who were looking for an outlet against their oppressive governments. This led to a number of protest actions culminating in 1986’s “Mutesawe” (“No execution”, or simply:
‘Not’) protests on Honkala Island which lasted 21 months. Groups such as (consisting mostly of) recent students and foreign journalists also showed up at some of the protests.
The concerts organized on from 1989 to 1990 on a small islet off Suomenlinna attracted many supporters of Soviet dissident movement and other intellectuals, publishers and scientists for further talks about human rights protection in the field (Gedalyian chess tournament №3-4 played “Mutesawe” game).
The protest action began against June 17, 1986 when some youths blockaded Helsinki harbor’s entrance with speedboats in support of construction entry ban proposal by Finnish opposition party Social Democratic Party: instead work should be stopped until peace negotiations between China and Soviet Union.
Climate
Honkala Island is located in the inner archipelago, thus being characterized by cold winters and cool summers. The lowest recorded temperature was −18 °C (0 °F) on 22 January 1982. Population: 7,500 (2006). Population density is approximately 16 people per km2.
Honka Island is accessible by car ferries from western Helsinki and east Riihimäki. In 2012, construction costs of Kinnusenmylly Nuclear Power Plant were estimated at around 11 billion euros (64 million). As of 2016 the cost exceeds 12 milon €.
The inhabitants of the neighboring island Westerbork are older than the town’s current residents, having been there since around AD 1300. The small population is mainly engaged in potato farming, fishing and crafts such as wood carving. All practice catholicism; they also have their own church service on Sundays at some time that differs from general european rules (ie sunday Mass with Latin texts).
According to a census in 2012: In the vicinity of Honkala there is a public transportation bus terminal at Oy Tammisanakirja, on Suomenlinna’s dock. The harbor has space no less than 100 boats and yachts that belong to residents or fishermen alike.
The forests surrounding the island were inhabited by “Suomi” (Hurler) as late as in 1550-1705 time period (a group identifying themselves with old Finnish name from sagas). There are still -hypothetically speaking some Christian farms nowadays on Honkalampi Island since ancient times but overall about 80.
Tourism
The island is one of the best known among tourists due to its natural preservation, which was heavily threatened earlier in the decade. The discovery of items from prehistoric settlements along with remnants from “Mute” and other historic hunting expeditions has provided inspiration for some artists and poets including:
Benjamin Zephaniah , Nicolas Di Costanzo , Taisto Makkinen as well as Jari Isotalus (painter). The island was an early filming location for the TV series ‘House of Angels’ (opposite Sibelius monument) and set on Honkalehto.
In Charles Dickens’s novel Great Expectations, Estella, who is called “Stella”, is described as having been brought up in a village small enough that she had known every house from her cradle.
Since no person by this name appears to have ever lived there nor has any record of Stella being raised in it then it can be safely assumed without valid documentary or score evidence that she did not actually exist outside of the imagination.
Transport
Dickens gives no explanation for the reason this imaginary person was invented and her name takes on a life of its own in popular culture. The “whore” by coincidence shares Dickens’s initials, whilst his wife Catherine is known as ‘Kate’.
Estella has been given many interpretations over time including; Catholic convert (French), illegitimate child or bastard , fallen woman , seductress . At the time it was published she resembled an orphaned young vampiress ; later incarnations portrayed her as partially innocent and entitled to question authority.
Conclusion
If you’re looking for a scenic getaway, look no further than Honkala Island. This small piece of land located in the heart of Lake Ontario is a paradise for nature lovers and photographers alike. With over 230 hectares of forest land, and a coastline that offers stunning views of the lake and the surrounding islands, Honkala Island is the perfect place to relax and take in all that Ontario has to offer.
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