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Introducing Kuusamo
Kuusamo is a spread-out frontier town about 200km northeast of Oulu and similar in feel to the towns of Lapland, with reindeer roaming the roads in this area. There is little to see in the town itself, but it's perfectly situated as a base for planning and launching treks or canoeing trips into the surrounding area and it's close to one of Finland's most popular ski resorts. There are good services, including shops with trekking supplies, and many agencies running all manner of activities and tours.
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A Lutheran parish for over 300 years, Kuusamo was incorporated as a municipality in 1868. By 1900, its population had grown to 10, 000, and it had close relations with nearby Russia. During WWII, the village was a command centre for German troops, who also supervised the construction of the 'Death Railway' that operated for 242 days. When the Soviet army marched into Kuusamo on 15 September 1944, the Germans burned the town and blew up the railway. The Soviets retreated, after occupying Kuusamo for about two months, and the inhabitants of Kuusamo returned to their shattered town.
Last updated: Feb 17, 2009
