Salla
Salla is a sparsely populated municipality in eastern Lapland, northern Finland, bordering Russia to the east, with approximately 3,300 residents dispersed across 5,873 square kilometers of largely forested taiga wilderness.[1][2] Formerly known as Kuolajärvi until its renaming in 1936, the area historically belonged to a Sami siida and later supported forest Sámi livelihoods before Finnish settlement intensified.[3][4] During World War II, Salla suffered extensive territorial cessions to the Soviet Union—nearly 49% of its pre-war expanse—following the Winter War and Continuation War armistices, which reshaped its geography and demographics.[5] The municipality features Salla National Park, encompassing old-growth forests and eskers that draw ecotourists, while its economy centers on nature-based tourism, forestry, and reindeer herding, bolstered by proximity to Arctic Circle attractions and preserved WWII sites like segments of the Salpalinja defensive line built to deter Soviet incursions.[6][1]Geography
Location and Borders
Salla is a municipality in the Lapland region of northern Finland, positioned in the eastern part of the region at coordinates 66°50′N 28°40′E.[7] Its territory lies primarily north of the Arctic Circle, encompassing forested taiga landscapes characteristic of the area's remote wilderness.[8] The municipality shares its eastern border with Russia, where the Salla international border crossing facilitates connectivity between Finland and Russia, serving as a key logistical link to the Arctic Ocean region.[9] This border, part of the 1,340 km Finland-Russia frontier, runs through dense forests and has been subject to closures amid geopolitical tensions, such as Finland's 2023 decision to limit crossings to counter migrant flows.[10] Internally, Salla adjoins the Finnish municipalities of Kemijärvi to the west, Savukoski to the southwest, Pelkosenniemi to the south, Kuusamo to the southeast, and Posio to the north, forming a network of sparsely populated northern administrative units.[7] These borders delineate an area of approximately 5,872 square kilometers, much of which remains undeveloped due to the rugged terrain and low population density.[8]Terrain and Natural Features
Salla's terrain consists primarily of gently rolling hills and low fells shaped by glacial activity, with elevations typically ranging from around 200 meters to a maximum of 478 meters at Sallatunturi Fell.[11] Boulder fields along hill slopes at 230 to 240 meters mark ancient shorelines from post-glacial rebound, while eskers and ridges, such as Kaunisharju, form prominent linear features amid the forested uplands.[12] Ravines like Pahakuru and Pahaojankuru add rugged relief, with steep slopes descending into valleys and mires.[13] The natural landscape is dominated by vast taiga forests of old-growth pine, spruce, and birch, covering much of the municipality and extending into Salla National Park, established in 2022 with over 10,000 hectares.[14] These forests harbor lichen-covered trees and rare species adapted to the boreal environment, interspersed with northern aapa mires—wet fens and string bogs that constitute significant wetland areas supporting diverse flora and fauna.[12] Glacier-sculpted hills and the park's eastern wilderness blend seamlessly into Russian border regions, creating expansive, unbroken vistas of coniferous woodland and open mire complexes.[15] Water features include numerous small lakes and ponds dotting the terrain, alongside larger bodies such as Lake Onkamojärvi, fed by streams and rivers like Salmijoki that carve through the valleys.[13] These elements contribute to a hydrology influenced by the subarctic setting, with mires acting as natural reservoirs and filters in the watershed. The overall topography supports reindeer grazing and outdoor activities, though fragile soils in ravines and bogs necessitate trail adherence to prevent erosion.[12]Climate
Salla exhibits a subarctic climate classified under Köppen Dfc, marked by extended, severely cold winters and concise, relatively mild summers, shaped by its high latitude (approximately 67°N) and inland continental influences that amplify temperature extremes over maritime moderation.[16][17] Annual precipitation averages 701 mm, distributed relatively evenly but predominantly as snow from late September to late May, fostering persistent snow cover that averages several meters in depth during peak winter. July records the highest rainfall at about 94 mm over 16 days, while February sees the lowest liquid equivalent at 38 mm, though with frequent snowfall. Winter temperatures are frigid, with January averages of -7°C for daily highs and -15°C for lows; the period from December to February often features overcast skies and wind chills exacerbating perceived cold. Summers remain cool, peaking in July with highs near 20°C and lows around 11°C, though cloud cover exceeds 60% of the time, limiting solar heating and extending twilight hours due to the midnight sun phenomenon. The annual mean maximum temperature hovers at 5°C, underscoring the brevity of the frost-free period, typically confined to June through August.[18]| Month | Avg. High (°C) | Avg. Low (°C) | Precipitation (mm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| [January | -7](/page/January_7) | -15 | ~40 |
| [July | 20](/page/July_20) | 11 | 94 |
| Annual | 5 (max mean) | - | 701 |