Priozersk (Приозерск) is a town on the Karelian Isthmus, in the Leningrad Oblast of Russia, centered on an island at the southwestern shore of Lake Ladoga, at the estuary of the northern armlet of River Vuoksi (Вуокса (Vuoksa) in Russian). The site has historically been the center for the Karelians of the Karelian Isthmus; and from time to time been the northwestern outpost of the realm of the Russians or the eastern outpost of the realm of the Swedes.
The ruined ramparts and towers of the old Korela Fortress are situated on the bank of the Vuoksi, still visible when traveling to the town from Saint Petersburg, and a popular excursion resort.
Priozersk was known as Korela and Käkisalmi in Karelian/Finnish, Keksholm/Kexholm in Swedish, and Кексгольм (Keksgolm) in Russian. The Swedes captured Korela twice: in 1580 for 17 years and in 1611 for 100 years (the Kexholm County). It belonged to Russia in 1721–1812, and was as part of Old Finland incorporated into the Grand Duchy of Finland in 1812. Finland lost Käkisalmi to the Soviet Union in the Moscow Peace Treaty after the Winter War. During the Continuation War Finland occupied Käkisalmi and other ceded territories, the population returned to rebuild the town, but were again evacuated in the summer of 1944.
In 1948, Käkisalmi was renamed to Priozersk and settled with Russians from the Soviet Union, who became and remain the majority of the local population.
