Best of Lapland
Kuusamo’s nature and climate are truly spectacular. Almost 90% of Kuusamo is forest and numerous rivers flow through the region.
History of Kuusamo
Kuusamo is located in northeastern Finland, in a region shaped by vast forests, lakes and centuries of northern history. The area was home to Forest Sámi communities long before Finnish settlers arrived in the late 17th century. Traditional livelihoods included fishing, hunting and the fur trade, and the name Kuusamo may have Sámi origins connected to the region’s spruce forests.
Kuusamo was heavily affected by the Second World War. Finland lost parts of the region to the Soviet Union, and in 1944 retreating German forces burned most of Kuusamo’s main settlement. The returning residents rebuilt the town, creating the resilient community and popular year-round travel destination visitors experience today.
NATURE AND ACTIVITIES
Kuusamo’s unspoilt landscapes offer an exceptional setting for an authentic Arctic adventure. Nearly 90% of the region is covered by forest, while rolling fells, clear lakes and winding rivers shape its spectacular scenery. Long, cold winters bring some of Finland’s deepest and most reliable snow cover, with snow often remaining on the ground for around 200 days each year.
The region is also rich in wildlife, with reindeer, moose, brown bears and a wide variety of birds inhabiting its forests and wetlands. Snowmobile safaris and husky sled tours offer memorable ways to explore the peaceful wilderness, travelling through snow-covered forests, across frozen lakes and over rolling fells.
