Savukoski

The oldest archaeological findings are dated to 300 BC. Christianity was introduced during the 17th century to the nomadic Sámi people living here. The first Finnish settlers arrived in the 1690s and the Sámi were gradually integrated or pushed away; the municipality is not part of the current "Sámi native region", which starts in northern Sodankylä. Little is written about the history of the region before the 20th century.

In the beginning of the 20th century the forest industry had become the most important business in Finland and there were thousands of square kilometres of untouched forest in Savukoski. Chief forester Hugo Richard Sandberg bought two modified steam locomotives from the United States, brought them to Tulppio village and started massive loggings. The locomotives greatly improved the log transportation but the loggings soon ceased by World War I and never continued. These locomotives are now preserved; one is still in Tulppio and the other one in Lapland Forestry Museum in Rovaniemi.

During the World War II the area suffered sabotage by Soviet partisan troops. Especially, the partisans committed massacres in Kuosku in September 1941 and September 1942, and in Seitajärvi in July 1944. Later, during the Lapland War, the retreating German troops burned virtually all the villages into ashes.

The nearest airport is in Rovaniemi (RVN IATA) and the nearest railway stations are in Rovaniemi and Kemijärvi.

There are a few daily coach connections from Rovaniemi and Kemijärvi to the main village, some leaving just before the train arrives. They usually go via Sodankylä or Salla, though a shortcut from Pelkosenniemi is possible. Mostly you've got to change buses once or twice, sometimes with substantial waiting time. A coach ticket from Rovaniemi costs €30–50/adult (3½–7 hr), from Kemijärvi €25–40 (2–4½ hr). Use Matkahuolto travel search for timetables – but you may have to try around to find the connections; Kemijärvi train station may give zero hits although the bus passes by.

Most of the "coaches" are minibuses, sometimes doubling as taxis – don't miss them because of looking for a coach. They are comfortable but have less space. There are usually only a few passengers in these, so things tend to work out smoothly.

From Kemijärvi, the coaches typically either start from or pass Kemijärvi ABC (a fuel station with restaurant, there are big grocery stores nearby), stopping on the "Asematie" stop 0.5 km to the south from the station, or start from the railway station. In weekdays there is also a call taxi by coach prices (see below): take the coach to Pelkosenniemi from the night train and transfer to the call taxi from there to Savukoski.

The "bus station" in the main village is a SEO fuel station with a Matkahuolto agent, outside the village. The buses (all?) pass through the village proper, where you probably want to get off, usually stopping briefly regardless.

If you want to get to some minor village, choose either the route via Salla, the one via Pelkosenniemi and Sodankylä, or the one directly from Pelkosenniemi, depending on where you want to go, or transfer in the main village.