Aura River, Turku, Finland

© Jarmo Piironen/Alam

Aura River, Turku, Finland

The Turku Cathedral rises above the frosted forests near the mouth of the Aura River, which runs through the middle of Turku, Finland. Originally built out of wood in the late 13th century, the cathedral was expanded in the 14th and 15th centuries, mainly using stone as construction material. This would prove wise, as the Great Fire of Turku consumed much of the city in 1827 and badly damaged the cathedral. It was rebuilt over the next few years.