Paltamo villages

PALTAMO VILLAGES

PALTAMO VILLAGES FROM EAST TO WEST:

HÄRMÄNMÄKI

the most eastern village in Paltamo

the name comes from a man called Peer Härmä who settled here in 1608

meaning “Härmä Hill”

KONTIOMÄKI

the well-known railway junction

the second biggest village in Paltamo

600 inhabitants

meaning “Bear Hill” in English

SAVIRANTA

meaning “Clay Shore” in English

this village was founded after the Great Wrath in early 1700’s

MIESLAHTI

here is Kainuun Opisto, a pietist college for adults and emigrants
about 300 inhabitants

Mieslahti was founded in the 1550’s, so it is one of the oldest villages in Lake Oulujärvi area

meaning “Man’s Bay” in English

LUMIKYLÄ

often counted as a part of Mieslahti

meaning “Snow Village” in English, place where people are living with lots of snow

UURA

the River Kiehimä flows through Uura which is situated close to Ristijärvi

there is a power station called “Leppikoski” on the river

IIJÄRVI

“Lake Ii” in English

KIEHIMÄ

actually the center of the municipality of Paltamo today

the River Kiehimänjoki flows through Kiehimä village

2100 inhabitants

KORPIMÄKI

“Backwoods Hill”

VAARANKYLÄ

a small village northeast of Kiehimä

often a part of Melalahti

meaning “Hill Village” in English

MELALAHTI

one of the oldiest villages in Lake Oulujärvi area

meaning “Oar Bay” in English

OIKARILA

Oikarila comes from Oikarinen family, a place where Oikarinens have lived in the past

HAKASUO

meaning “Hook Swamp” in English

there was an iron mill in the 1800’s, iron was get from swamp ore

the local men got unemployed after the iron mill was shut down, then these men became “pirates of Lake Oulujärvi”

these pirates robbered tarboats in the 1860’s before they were caught by Russian Cossacks and the rural police

VARISKYLÄ, sometimes also VARISNIEMI

meaning “Crow Village” in English

PEHKOLANLAHTI

meaning “Bush Bay” in English

KIVESJÄRVI

meaning “Stone Lake”, actually Finnish word “kives” can be understand also as “testicle”

KONGASJOKI

“River Kongas”

KIVESLAHTI

“Testicle Bay”

PALTANIEMI (PALTAMO)

The former village with the church

Palta means “Sandy Bank” in English. So, Paltaniemi is the same as “Sandy Bank Cape”

On 1^st January 1954 Paltaniemi, Uusikylä and Kirkkoaho were annexed to Kajaani rural district.

However, the old wooden church of Paltamo (1726) is still owned by the Paltamo Lutheran parish.

UUSIKYLÄ (NAKERTAJA)

”New Village” which changed name as Nakertaja “Gnaw Village” in 1957,

People working in the Kajaani Paper Mill factory built up their own village close to the mill.

In 1954 Uusikylä became part of Kajaani rural district.

KIRKKOAHO

”Church’s clearing” had own school since 1952.

From the beginning of year 1954 Kirkkoaho was removed from Paltamo to Kajaani rural district.

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