Pelkosenniemi

The municipality is named after Paavali Pelkonen, a Finnish settler from Ostrobothnia who arrived here in 1664. As the Crown of Sweden hadn't taken these lands into its ownership (yet), Pelkonen's act was actually illegal. The Samis sued him several times for hunting beavers and fishing, and finally in 1671 the court ordered Pelkonen's settlements to be destroyed. However, Pelkonen appealed to the Governor of Osthrobothnia and eventually got permission to stay on the grounds. He died in 1715 and was buried to Kemijärvi cemetery.

During World War 2, the Battle of Pelkosenniemi was between Finnish and Soviet Armies in December 1939. The Finns won the battle. After the Soviets retrieved, they were unable to ever strike again.

Since the 1950s, the 🌍 Vuotos area was planned to create a new reservoir to produce hydroelectric power. This Vuotos Reservoir (Finnish: Vuotoksen allas) was one of the main topics in Finnish environment and energy politics for decades until 2018 when a political decision not to create the reservoir ceased the debate... at least for now. The public opinion in Finland was, and still is, mostly against the reservoir.

Being home for just 950 permanent residents Pelkosenniemi is the least populated municipality in Finnish Lapland and the population trend is still declining. The local economy is heavily based on tourism. The 🌍 Pyhä holiday resort is the main employer but most workers at the resort come from elsewhere and stay here just for the season. Most leisure services have centred to the Pyhä resort.

The most famous person born in Pelkosenniemi is rock musician Antti Hulkko, better known as Andy McCoy.

If you arrive by car, the main village is by the road E63. To get to Pyhä resort turn from E63 to road 962 at Vuostimo or from E75 at Torvinen.

There are a few daily coach connections to the parish village from Rovaniemi via Sodankylä or Kemijärvi. A bus ticket from Rovaniemi costs approx €30/adult and the trip takes about 2.5 hours.

From Kemijärvi there are more daily connections. A bus ticket costs €12/adult and the trip takes about an hour. Most departures visit Pyhätunturi resort on their way.

Check Matkahuolto for details. Use "Pyhätunturi" as your destination if you are heading to the Pyhä resort.

The nearest train stations are in Kemijärvi and Rovaniemi.

VR has a direct coach connection from the railway stations to the Pyhä resort. When using the VR travel search use "Pyhä" as your destination. A one-way ticket from Helsinki costs around €100/adult including the following coach trip.

If you are going elsewhere you probably have to buy the coach ticket from Rovaniemi or Kemijärvi separately, see By bus above.

The nearest airport is in Rovaniemi. Most coaches from there go via the airport.

The SkiBus runs daily between Pyhä resort and Rovaniemi airport via Luosto. The SkiBus waits delayed flight for one hour. If your flight is delayed more than an hour contact Kutilan Liikenne Oy and inform about the situation. The SkiBus costs €31/adult, €21/young person, €15/child or student.

• Smartphone apps: Valopilkku, 02 Taksi

• 🌍 Pelkosenniemi church, Kirkkotie 10 (in the centre), ☏ +358 40-184-9300. The wooden church built in 1929 was saved in the Lapland War. The church and the surrounding buildings are on the list of nationally significant built cultural environments. Open during the services, otherwise by request. Free. 
• 🌍 Pelkosenniemi local history museum, Kirkkotie 10 (in the centre). Open occasionally during summer. 
• 🌍 Andy McCoy statue, Sodankyläntie 5 (in the centre). A wooden(!) statue honouring Andy McCoy (1962–). A Pelkosenniemi-born Finnish rock musician. Free. 
• 🌍 Kilpiaapa mire, Koulutie. One of the largest aapa-type mires in Finland right by the main village. This huge mire complex is an important nesting site for many birds, including some true rarities. Nature trail 2.7 km on duckboards. Campfire site and bird observing tower. If you are lucky, seeing elks or even bears on the mire is possible. Option for guided tours. Free. 
• 🌍 Battle of Pelkosenniemi memorial, Sodankyläntie 369 (3 km north from the centre). The Battle of Pelkosenniemi was fought at the confluence of rivers Kitinen and Kemijoki in December 16–19 1939, during the Winter War. It was a great victory for the Finnish Army, and after the battle the Soviet Army retreated, leaving much of its heavy equipment and vehicles behind. After the following Finnish counter-attack Soviet troops were unable to cross the new defence line near the current Finland-Russia border. Losses were heavy; the Finns had 117 deceased and 105 disappeared. The memorial was dedicated in 1964. Free. 
• 🌍 Memorial of Soviet Soldiers, Savukoskentie (6 km north from the centre). A memorial honouring those over 1000 Soviet soldiers being killed during the Battle of Pelkosenniemi. The memorial was dedicated in 2002. Free. 

• 🌍 Pyhä-Luosto visitor centre Naava, Luontotie 1 (at Pyhätunturi, 24 km from the centre), ☏ +358 20-639-7302, pyhaluosto@metsa.fi. year round daily 09:00/10:00–17:00. Pelkosenniemi tourist information. Exhibition about Pyhä-Luosto fell area, its geology, nature, and history of the forest Sami. Restaurant. Maps and other information about nature destinations in the East-Lapland. Keys for the rental huts. Free. 
• 🌍 Isokuru ravine, Holy Baptism Spring and waterfall (at Pyhätunturi). The Isokuru-Pyhäkuru ravine complex is one of the most picturesque places in Finland and has many fascinating geological features. The Sami were baptised to Christianity at Pyhänkasteenlähde, "Holy Baptism Spring", from 1620 to 1680. There is a tall but narrow waterfall next to the pond. The site is a sieidi, a sacred place for the Sami. Free. 
• 🌍 Lampivaara amethyst mine, Luostontie 4 (17 km from Pyhätunturi), ☏ +358 16 624-334, kaivos@ametistikaivos.fi. June–September: daily 11:00–16:00/17:00, October: Tu–Sa 11:00–15:00. The quarry is closed in winter and spring. The quarry is worked with little machinery, not to exhaust it too soon. The entrance fee includes a guided tour to the quarry and every visitor may dig his/her own amethyst and keep it – one of them if you pick several. The café is open year round. NOTICE: The parking lot is 3 km from the mine and there are lots of stairs so the visit is not suitable for the disabled. The Amethyst Shop is at the Luosto resort. adult €19, child €10; with return transportation from Luosto €33/€15. 

• 🌍 Suvanto village, Suvannontie. One of those few villages in Lapland that were completely saved from scorched earth policy of retrieving German soldiers during the Lapland War. Amazingly here is no post-war architecture either, which actually makes the village completely unique. The buildings are from late 19th or latest early 20th century, and the view to the village is today quite the same as it was a hundred years ago. There are about 30 year-round residents but many more come here for summer. Services include a café, an art gallery and a few cottage accommodations for visitors. The village is on the list of nationally significant scenic views. Free. 
• 🌍 Kairala village, Sodankyläntie. A traditional agricultural village by the river Kitinen. The settlement on the west bank was completely saved from destruction in the Lapland War while the east bank was burned to ashes by the German troops. Most buildings built in the late 19th and early 20th century. On the list of nationally significant built cultural environments. Free. 
• 🌍 Luiro village, Luirontie. A third village that was saved from devastation by German troops during the Lapland War. This was because the village has been built onto a narrow landstrip in the middle of vast mires and at the time it was roadless. By a river of same name. Bird watching tower a few kilometres north from the village by the Kairanaapa mire. Free.