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 since 1923

the second biggest village in Paltamo with around 600 inhabitants

meaning “Bear Hill” in English

Kontiomäki was part of Mieslahti in the earlier centuries

 

SAVIRANTA

meaning “Clay Shore” in English

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

Saviranta was part of Mieslahti in the earlier centuries

 

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

The Lappish word “ii” means ”night” in English.

 

KIEHIMÄ

the center of the municipality of Paltamo since 1906

the center of the Paltamo Lutheran parish since 1936

the River Kiehimänjoki flows through Kiehimä village

around 2100 inhabitants

 

KORPIMÄKI

“Backwoods Hill”

part of Kiehimä since 1800’s

 

VAARANKYLÄ

a small village northeast of Kiehimä

part of Melalahti village

meaning “Hill Village” in English

 

MELALAHTI

one of the oldiest villages in Lake Oulujärvi area

first settlers came to Melalahti in 1552

meaning “Oar Bay” in English

 

OIKARILA

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

Oikarila is a part of Melalahti

 

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 lake 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

a part of Kivesjärvi until 1800’s, later a part of Variskylä

 

KIVESJÄRVI

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

 

KONGASJOKI

“River Kongas”

a part of Kivesjärvi

 

KIVESLAHTI

“Testicle Bay”

a part of Kivesjärvi

 

PALTANIEMI (PALTAMO)

The former village with the church

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

On 1st 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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