Kontiolahti, municipality in the region of North Karelia in Finland
Kontiolahti is a municipality in North Karelia featuring over 180 lakes and extensive forests, located about 20 kilometers north of Joensuu. The area spreads across a large expanse, with water and green landscape creating a peaceful and open character, dotted with small villages such as Kirkonkylä, Herajärvi, and Harivaara.
Kontiolahti became an independent municipality in 1873 after being part of the Liperi parish. A defining moment came in 1859 when a dam built to control flooding at Lake Höytiäinen broke, permanently changing the region's landscape.
The name Kontiolahti means 'bear bay' in Finnish, reflecting the area's connection to wildlife and forest work that has shaped local identity for generations. This heritage appears in the coat of arms, which shows a bear holding a pike pole, a symbol of the logging traditions that remain central to how residents view their place.
The area is easily reached via Highway 6 with local bus connections linking various villages, though the former railway station no longer offers passenger services. There are 35 kilometers of marked trails around the biathlon stadium accessible year-round for walkers and cyclists.
The biathlon stadium with its cooled ski track is one of only a few facilities worldwide that allows year-round ski training and has hosted the Biathlon World Championships multiple times. This makes the small municipality a significant international center for winter sports despite its modest size.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
