Kemijärvi

Sister cities

• Sobetsu
• Kandalaksha
• Vardø Municipality
• Vadsø

History

The first permanent settler inhabitant of Kemijärvi was Paavali Ollinpoika Halonen, who moved from the region of Oulu, from Niskakylä, Utajärvi to Kemijärvi about 1580. His wife was Anna Laurintytär Halonen, and they had children. Paavali's place of residence is known today as Halosenranta. Previously the area was inhabited exclusively by the Sami people. During the Winter War Kemijärvi was bombed to such an extent that over half of the buildings were destroyed. On 20 December 1939, a battle took place on the nearby hill of Mäntyvaara, between the Finnish Salla battalion and 596th battalion of the Soviet Union. The battle lasted 4 hours, ending in Finnish victory, with the Salla battalion losing 17 soldiers. After the battle, Finns found a large amount of weapons left behind by the fleeing Soviets. The pilot, First Lieutenant M. Kähkönen, died upon impact.

Most-observed species

• Field Gentian

  Gentianella campestris (L.) Börner · Magnoliopsida
  337
• Willow Warbler

  Phylloscopus trochilus (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  235
• Great Tit

  Parus major Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  231
• Eurasian Tree Sparrow

  Passer montanus (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  204
• Brambling

  Fringilla montifringilla Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  182
• Common Chaffinch

  Fringilla coelebs Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  166
• House Sparrow

  Passer domesticus (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  156
• Eurasian Blue Tit

  Cyanistes caeruleus (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  153