Kouvola, Municipal center in Kymenlaakso, Finland
Kouvola is a municipal center in the Kymenlaakso region of southeastern Finland, covering an area with extensive forests and about 450 lakes. The settlement sits along the Kymi River and forms a key junction for transport and industry.
The settlement grew into a transport hub during the 1870s, when the railway line between Riihimäki and Saint Petersburg was built through the area. This connection turned a small stop into a center for freight and trade.
This Finnish town draws its name from kouvo, an Old Finnish term for the bears that once roamed these forests before roads and rails crossed the land. The connection to wildlife reflects how deeply the natural surroundings shaped early life here.
The site features a modern rail and road terminal designed to handle long freight trains. Visitors will find mostly industrial and logistics areas here, rather than tourist facilities.
The municipality includes the Verla groundwood mill, a UNESCO World Heritage site showing early Finnish papermaking methods. The old mill sits in a forested valley, separate from the main industrial zones of the town.
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