This industrial Estonian town, built in 1938 around oil shale mining, has Europe's largest shale processing plant and maintains its mining heritage while supporting a large student community.
Kohtla-Järve stretches across five districts in northeastern Estonia. You'll find industrial sites where you can watch oil shale processing in action, a central park with boat rentals and fountains, and an ice skating rink that's open to the public year-round. The city's promenade connects these spots, making it easy to explore on foot.
Getting Around the Districts
The five districts of Kohtla-Järve cover northern Ida-Viru County. Järve and Oru districts lie 20 kilometers apart, connected by local buses running every 30 minutes. You'll find the city administration, cultural center, and main shops in the Järve district. Ahtme contains the industrial zones, while Kukruse is mainly residential.
City Park Activities
The central pond in Järve district park has rowing boat rentals from May to September. Water fountains line the main walkway leading to the cultural center, operating daily from 10:00 to 22:00 between April and October. The park includes two volleyball courts, a basketball court, and three children's playgrounds with swings and climbing frames. Walk the 1-kilometer promenade to reach the city center, passing by local cafes and shops.
Oil Shale Industry
Visit the observation deck at Kohtla-Järve Power Plant to watch the oil shale processing. Information boards in Estonian, English, and Russian explain how the plant converts oil shale into 39 MW of electricity and 534 MW of heat. The Viru Keemia Grupp headquarters at Järveküla tee 14 manages the regional oil shale operations and runs guided tours by appointment.
Ice Skating and Sports
The ice skating hall at Spordi 2 welcomes public skaters every Saturday and Sunday, 11:00-12:00 and 18:30-19:30. Rent skates at the front desk or bring your own. The 1,800-square-meter rink hosts local hockey games on weekday evenings and figure skating competitions in winter. A cafe on the second floor overlooks the ice.
