Kuusamo

Kuusamo is located in the Koillismaa highlands. It is a watershed, as rivers in the northern part flow north-east to the Arctic Ocean and those in the southern part flow westward to the Baltic Sea. The views consist of steep forested hills (Finnish: vaara) and large, pristine lakes. Bogs and mires are common especially in southern Kuusamo. The river Oulankajoki belongs to the official list of national landscapes of Finland.

Even though Ruka often is referred to as a fell, there are no true fells in the Kuusamo area, as none of the hills reach the tree limit. The area has almost continental climate. Mean temperatures vary between −15 °C (5 °F) in January and +15 °C (59 °F) in July. The coldest temperature, −48 °C (−54 °F), was measured in January 1985. Annual snowfall is among the highest in Finland and ground is covered by snow up to 200 days a year!

According to archaeological evidence, the Kuusamo area has been inhabited at least for 4,000 years. Finnish-speaking settlers arrived here during the 1670s, mostly from the south by following the labyrinth of lakes from the Finnish Lakeland. Therefore the local spoken dialect belongs to the Finnish Eastern dialect group, in contrast to Lapland, where people speak western dialects. As the lands weren't part of the Kingdom of Sweden, the Sami tried to sue the settlers for illegal hunting and fishing, but as the number of Finnish settlers had grown to over 200 people by 1687, there was little what the court could do. The last Sami left the area before the 1760s. Kuusamo was separated into an independent parish in 1675, and got its own church in 1680.

The population grew quickly, but subarctic agriculture is dodgy. During bad years in 1800–1802 up to 40 per cent of Kuusamo population died in famine. In the peace treaty between Finland and the Soviet Union of 1940, Finland lost 1,700 km² of land from eastern Kuusamo. In September 1944 the area suffered heavily from the scorched-earth policy of retreating Nazi German troops. In the next year, Soviet troops briefly occupied Kuusamo, demolishing the little infrastructure left. This is why you'll find very few old buildings in the area.

Today Kuusamo lives mostly from tourism. The number of summer cottages is the 5th largest in Finland. Finns coming from cities to spend their holidays at their private cottages are a significant source of income. So far there isn't any mining industry, but international mining companies are interested in the area. There is especially uranium ore and copper. The municipality has slightly over 15,000 inhabitants out of which 8,400 live in the town. The population trend is declining.

• Kuusamo Info, Torangintaival 2, ☏ +358 40 860 8365, info@kuusamo.fi. 09:00–17:00 (closed Sa Su in winters). The official tourist info of Kuusamo. 

Having your own car is the most practical way of getting around in Kuusamo. Aside from a few intercity buses and school buses a day, public transport is non-existent. You can also get around by taxi, but given the distances, it is pretty expensive.

Local bus traffic consists of two lines serviced a few times per weekday during the school year, but not in weekends or summer. Information about local and regional buses can be had from the municipal office. Matkahuolto route planner includes the local and regional routes.

You can also use coach lines for travelling in Kuusamo: coaches towards Oulu for the south-west, towards Kajaani and towards the Kuusamo border crossing ("raja-asema") for the south, towards Rovaniemi, Salla and Kemijärvi for the north. Timetables from Matkahuolto.

There is also a dial-a-ride service available, which services mainly as a connection between Kuusamo and Ruka, but which can be used also for rides within Kuusamo. It can be ordered using Matkahuolto Trip Planner and Tickets mobile app. The passenger can pick up the ride up to five days and can check availability at any time, and secure the ride as well as the seat only by ordering transportation. The app always shows the final binding price before confirming the order.

Driving around during weekend is popular among the youth. Snowmobiling is very popular in Kuusamo and there are hundreds of kilometres of snowmobiling routes. The Ruka village and Kuusamo centre are compact enough for betting around on foot.

Although Kuusamo is slightly south of the Arctic Circle, there is two weeks of midnight sun. Choose from were to watch, to avoid having the sun go hiding behind a hill at some point (and don't look at the sun!).

At the winter solstice daylight lasts about three hours, and the auroras can be seen all winter, although they aren't as common a sight as a few hundred more kilometres to the north.

• 🌍 Tourist centre Karhuntassu, Torangintaival 2, ☏ +358 40-860-8365 (general tourist info), +358 20-639-6804 (Metsähallitus), info@kuusamo.fi. Tourist information, the Hannu Hautala Nature Photography Centre, cafeteria and a Metsähallitus’ customer service point giving information and hiking advice regarding the "nearby" destinations and selling fishing and hunting permits. (updated Jun 2017)
• 🌍 Kaamosgalleria, Kaarlo Hännisentie 2, ☏ +358 40-860-8800, kulttuuri@kuusamo.fi. M-Th 11:00–18:00, F 11:00-16:00, Sa Su closed. Changing art exhibitions. 
• 🌍 Local history museum (Kotiseutumuseo), Kitronintie 6, ☏ +358 40-860-8717. Old farmhouses. (updated Jun 2017)
• 🌍 Oulanka National Park Visitor Centre (Oulangan Luontokeskus), Liikasenvaarantie 132 (some 40 km north from Kuusamo centre), ☏ +358 20-564-6850, oulanka@metsa.fi. Daily 10:00–18:00 in peak season, Tu–Sa 10:00–16:00 off season. Information on hiking, camping and on the national park in general. Also an exhibition, films, fishing permits. Mostly accessible by wheelchair, pets welcome. Several hiking trails, including an easy 1-km trail, start here. Free; guided group tours €50/hr. 

There are many handicraft stores at the Ruka resort and in central Kuusamo.

• 🌍 Kuusamon Uistin, Professori Räsäsentie 1-2 (5 km towards Ruka), ☏ +358 8 860 3466, shop@kuusamonuistin.fi. M-F 09:00–17:00/18:00, Sa 10:00-15:00, Su closed. The famous spoon lure manufacturer Kuusamon Uistin has a shop on the factory premises. There is also a café. 
• 🌍 Torikeskus mall, Ouluntaival 1. Small downtown mall next to the market square. Grocery store, pharmacy, clothes etc. 
• 🌍 Supermarket Prisma Kuusamo, Huoparintie 1, ☏ +358 10-763-3100. M-F 09:00–21:00, Sa 09:00–18:00, Su 12:00–18:00. Big S-group supermarket in Kuusamo city. Daily items, clothing, sport equipment, etc. 
• 🌍 K-Citymarket Kuusamo, Luomantie 1-3, ☏ +358 207204100. M-F 09:00–21:00, Sa 09:00–18:00, Su 12:00–18:00. Big K-group supermarket. Here you can buy almost anything. 
• 🌍 Lidl Kuusamo, Airotie 13. M-F 08:00–21:00, Sa 08:00–19:00, Su 11:00-19:00. Lidl. 
• 🌍 Alko Kuusamo Keskusta, Luomantie 1, ☏ +358 207204100. M-F 09:00–21:00, Sa 09:00–18:00, Su closed. Alcoholic beverages. 

There are many bars and pubs in Ruka and Kuusamo, Ruka is famous for its dance and karaoke bar zone.

• SportBar & Arena (Sporttibaari), Kylpyläntie 1, ☏ +358 8-852 1909. 15:00-22:00. This place is for sport fans. You can go bowling, play billiards, watch sports or just enjoy a drink. 

• 🌍 Holiday Club Kuusamon Tropiikki, Kylpyläntie 1 (5½ km from the town towards Ruka), ☏ +358 20-1234-906. A large spa hotel. Bar and restaurant, Angry Birds theme park, bowling and gym. 
• 🌍 Holiday Village Petäjälampi (Petäjänlammen lomakylä), Petäjälammentie 6, ☏ +358 8 852-1111. Accommodation in cottages, camping area and hotel rooms (Hotelli Kuusanka). Petäjälammentie is some 4.5 km north from Kuusamo centre. Cottages for example in the summer time €120 per day. 
• 🌍 Oivangin Lomakartano, Junganjoentie 3–4, ☏ +358 40-528-4787. Oivangin Lomakartano has three log villas. They are near lakes known for their clean waters and variety of fish. Junganjoentie is some 13 km north-west from Kuusamo centre. 
• 🌍 Ollila Holiday Cottage (Ollilan Lomamajat), Sossonniementie 216 (20 km south-east from Kuusamo centre), ☏ +358 40-486-8322. 8 well-equipped cottages around the lake Välijärvi. Every cottage has its own sauna, boat and swimming area. €50–80/night. 
• 🌍 Isokenkäisten Klubi, Heikinjärventie 3 (42 km north-east of Kuusamo centre), ☏ +358 400-972-260. Different kinds of accommodation in the peace of wilderness. Private restaurant, smoke sauna, meeting facilities and a typical Lappish hut. 

Locals don't like arrogant tourists, especially when they are intoxicated, so be polite to them and they are polite to you.

• 🌍 Bene Finlandia Ruka, Shopping centre Kumpare, ☏ +358 40 707 7123. Private health care company at Ruka has 24/7 emergency unit with on-the-spot X-ray ability. Also general medical service and basic laboratory tests. Check your insurance! 
• 🌍 Kuusamo health care centre (Kuusamon terveyskeskus), Raistakantie 1a, ☏ +358 40 860 8611. The Kuusamo public health care centre takes care with patients with acute illnesses or accidents. General emergency is open 24/7. 

• 🌍 Oulanka National Park – Many trails, ranging from easy ones accessible by wheelchair and pram to the famous Karhunkierros. Also canoeing routes. Borders Paanajärvi National Park in Russia (border passing for wildlife only).
• 🌍 Ruka – One of the biggest ski centres in Finland.
• Finnish Lapland