Toksovo

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Toksovo (Russian: Токсово; Finnish: Toksova) is an urban-type settlement in Vsevolozhsky District of Leningrad Oblast, Russia, located twenty kilometers to the north of St. Petersburg on Karelian Isthmus. It is served by two neighbouring stations of the Saint Petersburg-Kuznechnoye railroad: Toksovo (constructed in 1917) and Kavgolovo (1929). Kavgolovo hosts a popular ski resort.

[edit] History

It was first mentioned in chronicles in 1500. Izhorians had a village there at least 100–150 years earlier. In 1583, after the Russo-Swedish War it became Swedish. In 1708, in the Great Northern War, the townlet was conquered by Russia. In the 19th century the region became a ski resort and a dacha place, known as Finnish Switzerland.

After the October Revolution, North Ingria, including Tokosova, seceded from Bolshevist Russia, but was incorporated back with the Peace Treaty of Tartu in the end of 1920.

In 1928–1939, it was the administrative center of Kuivaisi National District inhabited by Ingrian Finns with Finnish being the official language. In 1937, a large ski ramp was build in Toksovo. In 1937–1939 during Great Purge Rzhevsky artillery range, a large area to the southeast of Toksovo, was the main NKVD place of execution near Leningrad. In 1942, during the Siege of Leningrad all Finns and Izhorians were deported from the townlet and the region. During Siege of Leningrad an important radar station was operated near the townlet. In 1953, after the Joseph Stalin's death, Finns and Izhorians were allowed to return. In 1974, Wisent farm started in the townlet. In 1995, the first Orthodox church was built in Toksovo. In 2000, Toksovan Sanomat, a Finnish Language newspaper, began its printing. In 2002, at the place of Koirangakangas near Toksovo the Memorial society found a secret grave with remains of 30,000 people executed by the NKVD, among them are most probably philosopher Pavel Florensky and other prominent people. In 2003, a stage of World Ski Cup was held in the townlet. Currently the townlet is a ski and tourist resort and a dacha place. Famous for its forests and lakes.