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Korkeasaari

Island in Helsinki, Finland

Korkeasaari

Korkeasaari island as seen from the ferry.
Korkeasaari Korkeasaari is located near Helsinki city center.
Geography
Location	Helsinki, Gulf of Finland
Coordinates	60°10′30″N 24°59′03″E / 60.175°N 24.9842°E / 60.175; 24.9842
Area	22 ha (54 acres)
Administration
Finland

Korkeasaari (Swedish: Högholmen) is an island in Helsinki. The literal meaning of Korkeasaari is "Tall Island/Islet". It is part of the Mustikkamaa–Korkeasaari district. Korkeasaari Zoo is located on the island and named after it.

The island of Korkeasaari is a 22-hectare (54-acre) rocky island. Two smaller islands are located next to it: Hylkysaari and Palosaari.

A sacrificial stone from the Bronze Age has been found on the island. It is the first one found in the Helsinki area.^[1]

Korkeasaari has been in recreational use for people living in Helsinki for a long time. Locals used it for fishing and for herding. After the Crimean War a steam boat started operating to the island, and the island became a popular place to spend time.

Korkeasaari was rented to Helsingin Anniskeluyhtiö in 1883, and the company started renovating the island. Roads were built and city gardener L. A. Jernström planned planting areas to the island. A restaurant designed by Theodor Höijer was built in 1884, and it is still located on the island and used as a restaurant.^[2] In 1889 Korkeasaari Zoo was established and located to the island.

In 1972, a bridge was built to connect Korkeasaari to the mainland via Mustikkamaa. Before that, a ferry was the only option to arrive to the island. A ferry still operates to Korkeasaari from the Market Square during the summer. In August 2016, planning of the Crown Bridges bridges started. They will connect Korkeasaari to Hakaniemi and Kruunuvuorenranta, and also bring a Helsinki tram network connection to the island.^[3]

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  Sacrificial stone in Korkeasaari
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  Restaurant designed by Theodor Höijer, photographed in the 1900s.
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  The same restaurant building, still in use.
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  Ferry to the Zoo in the 1920s.
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  Old Bear Castle still located in the zoo, but not in use.
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  Current Bear Castle in the Zoo.
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  Modern tropical building Africasia, built in 2003.
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  Old architecture can still be found at the zoo.
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  Bridge that connects Korkeasaari to Mustikkamaa.