XVI . — Description of the Rapids of Imatra y on the Voxa River , in 
Carelia) with an Outline of the probable History of their Formation ; 
and a Notice of the Bursting of the Lake Souvando into the 
Ladoga , in the year 1818. 
By The Hon. W. T. H. F. STRANGWAYS. 
MEMBER OF THE GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 
[Read February 19 , 1819,] 
The falls, or more properly the rapids, of Imatra, situated in 
Carelia, on the north-west of Petersburgh, are formed by the 
sudden contraction of the channel of the river Voxa, about six 
versts below its outlet from the lake Saima, and three from the 
post station of Sitola, where the road from Viborg joins that from 
Wilmanstrand to Kexholm.* 
The Voxa, which is of a considerable size above and below the 
rapids, is, for the space of half a verst, f confined within a rocky 
bed of about, sixty feet in breadth. The western bank is a high 
rocky ridge covered with wood ; the eastern a bare rocky wall, in 
some places considerably overhanging the river. This east bank is 
the perpendicular section of a platform, or table land, which extends 
to the foot of the hills on that side of the valley : these hills extend 
north and south parallel to those of the western bank, and are of 
equal height. 
* Plate xvii. + One hundred and four Russian versts make a degree. 
