NATURE

• the total range of the area 5805 square kilometres, of which 799 square kilometres is water
• a highland area where the waters flow to five different directions
• the highest hills rise ca. 200 metres above the surrounding area and ca. 500 metres above the sea level
• 60% of the total area of Kuusamo is forest
• the number of the larger lakes is 166, the total length of the shoreline 2700 km
• the mean temperature of the year 0 centigrade

HISTORY

• in the Middle Ages two Lapp villages in the area
• an old trade route through Kuusamo from the Gulf of Bothnia to the White Sea in the east
• in 1686 Kuusamo became the centre of the Kemi-Lapland parish
• the township of Kuusamo was established in 1868

POPULATION

• 1.1.2006: 17.114 inhabitants
• the population density 3.7 inhabitants per square kilometre
• ca. 11.200 inhabitants live in the centre of Kuusamo

ECONOMY

• the Municipal tax rate 18,75 %
• the budget loan in 2005, 958 euros / inhabitant

THE MOST IMPORTANT EMPLOYERS in 2006

• Kuusamo municipality
• State offices and institutions
• Koillismaan Osuuskauppa; a cooperative
• Pölkky Oy; sawmill
• Holiday Club Kuusamon Tropiikki; spa hotel
• Kuusamo Cooperative Dairy
• Rukakeskus Oy; leisure services
• Kantola & Koramo; transporting
• Koillissanomat Oy; local newspaper
• Rantasipi Rukahovi; hotel & restaurants

FARMING 2005

• ca. 239 productive farms
• the average area under cultivation 23 hectares per farm
• 1.775 cows
• 106 milk cattle farms
• 34 beef cattle farms
• 4 pig raising farms
• 3 fur farmers
• 10 fish farmers
• ca. 10.000 reindeer

TOURISM

• about one million tourists a year visit Kuusamo
• tourism revenues 100 milion euros a year
• over 700 jobs
• 36.000 beds
• 11.742 restaurant seats
• 6.000 holiday residences
• total length of the cross-country skiing tracks in Kuusamo 250 km, of which 40 km lighted tracks
• the winter sport resort of Ruka with 28 slopes for downhill skiing and 17 ski lifts
• H-142 and K-64m ski jumping hills

HEALTH CARE AND SOCIAL SERVICES

• 14 physicians posts, 8 dentists posts
• 154 hospital beds
• public day-care for ca. 550 children arranged by the municipality
• public care can be provided for ca. 230 old people

EDUCATION

• 16 comprehensive schools
• special school for disabled children
• 3 upper stage comprehensive schools (= junior high school)
• senior high school
• vocational school
• vocational further education course centre
• music school
• visual arts school
• open university
• community college
• summer university