Buzz
Every year, thousands of brave adventurers venture to a Pirunkirkko cave in Finland hoping to have a chat with the spirits.
Excitement builds as tourists rush to Pirunkirkko cave to 'engage with malevolent spirits'
Pirunkirkko Cave or Devil’s Church is situated in the Koli National Park, renowned for its alleged connection to the spiritual realm. Inside Pirunkirkko cave, mysterious sounds like drumming, explosions, or applause are often heard.
According to local folklore, these sounds are believed to be the echoes of malevolent spirits. Hence, every year, this place attracts thousands of visitors in the hope of conversing with the spiritual world. Many tourists claim to believe in the existence of 'souls' within the cave.
In ancient Finnish folklore, caves were places where local philosophers connected with the spirit world. Among them was a man named Kinolainen, who frequently utilized the Devil's Church for conducting magical rituals.
Researcher Riitta Rainio from the University of Eastern Finland suggests that Kinolainen would take his patients to the 'church' to converse with demons. Malevolent spirits would identify the cause and cure of the illness. This healing ritual often involves loud screams, stomping, drumming, and applause.
The secrets of strange sounds have been uncovered by researchers at the University of Eastern Finland. Hang Pirunkirkko has a Z-shaped crevice with a length of 34 meters. The sounds people commonly hear are, in fact, a resonance phenomenon, where the sound is both amplified and prolonged at the natural frequency of 231 Hz. According to researchers, the sounds like clapping come from standing waves between the smooth parallel walls of the cave.
Researchers also observed and recorded a modern 'witch' using the cave to communicate with spirits, discovering the natural frequency-amplified sounds produced by this individual within the cave.
This resonance sound phenomenon often occurs in tall buildings but is rare in nature due to the lack of parallel solid surfaces. For this reason, scientists believe that locals and tourists perceive mysterious phenomena in the cave.
The secret has been revealed, yet every year, tourists flock to Koli National Park to visit this famous cave. Koli National Park spans across the cities of Joensuu, Lieksa, and Kontiolahti in North Karelia.
According to the park's website, visitors can access this location using public transportation such as trains and buses. From Joensuu train station, tourists can take a taxi to Koli or catch a bus to Ahmovaara, 9 km from the national park. There are three ways to reach the park from Ahmovaara: by walking for long-distance enthusiasts, cycling, or taking a taxi.
Pirunkirkko Cave is nestled along Rantatie Road, featuring a stairway from the parking lot (adjacent to the road) leading into the cave. Visitors can also branch off from the Herajarven kierros trail to reach Pirunkirkko.
Apart from exploring the cave, visitors can engage in long-distance hikes through the national park trail system, go camping, participate in the annual October marathon, or enjoy biking. Prior to the trip, it's advisable to check the national park's website for guidelines and the latest opening hours.
As recommended by Mytour
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Reference: Travel guide from Mytour
MytourDecember 12, 2023
