Soppela
Teuvo Karjalainen, President of the Soppela Village Association
contact: tel. 050 303 2652, e-mail: teuvo.karjalainen@caverion.com
The village of Soproda is located about 14 km from the centre of Kemijärvi towards Peräposio. Our village is surrounded by magnificent lake and mountain landscapes. Through the village you can reach Perä-Posio and Suomutunturi. The distance from the centre of Kemijärvi to Suomu is about 10 km shorter via the village of Soppela. Our village received wide publicity when in June 2005 the Lapland Regional Museum and the Kemijärvi Community College started archaeological excavations in our village. The archaeologists believe they have discovered the remains of the Vihtala winter village of the Forest Sami, the existence of which has been disputed by researchers for two and a half centuries.
Beach
The village beach is located near the school in Soproda. The beach is ideal for beach volleyball, and has been praised as the best in Lapland for its sheltered location.
Marina
The harbour is in the centre of the village and is easy to get to. A roadbank facing Jumisko protects boats from the strongest winds. There are 10 berths + a jetty for smaller boats. You can ask the town of Kemijärvi about renting boat places at Sortteeri.
Seurantalo
The Soppela restaurant was built in 1947 and was designed by Eino Livistee. The house was built in the ‘spirit of the Winter War’ by the villagers with the help of voluntary labour, and the villagers also donated timber from their forests for the construction.
The house was used for many events; evenings, dances, films, hen parties, weddings, etc. Today, the most famous of the events held at the restaurant is the Beach Fish Festival in mid-July.
The latest example of volunteer work was the replacement of windows. The original windows were replaced in June 2005 with a grant from the Finnish Heritage Society. The building is 290 m² in size, comprising a ballroom, a stage, a café, indoor toilets and a foyer. In the courtyard there is also a canopy/performance stage, completed in 2003.
The house is used from spring to autumn.The house is mainly rented to the villagers but also to external parties for various events. A large pavilion tent is part of the house’s equipment and can also be rented.
For more information, please contact tel. Teuvo Karjalane p 050 303 2652.
You can rent from the village club:
- restaurant, rent 150 €
- pavilion tent, size 6×3 m, removable walls and large windows, rent 50 €
- ant, diameter approx. 110 cm, rent 30 €
- for members at member prices
