Saimaa Geopark natural and cultural site Markka memorial was built in 2001 as a memorial to Finland’s own currency markka and it is also respecting Finnish work. It was built by artist Mika Minkkinen and designed by village’s chairman Osmo Sinkkonen.

The erratic boulder, composed of Finnish national rock granite, was found from field Sinkkonen, Kesohiekka, where the glacier had brought it during the Ice Age. Pieces from an old tugboat have been included in the monument, symbolizing the four traditional elements of the local people’s life: work, wood, water and water traffic.

The Markka memorial and the geology of the Lohilahti area are described in the Saimaa Geopark sign.

Image: Kaisa-Maria Remes