Haapavesi is a town and municipality in the North Ostrobothnia region of Finland, known for its natural beauty, rich cultural heritage in folk music, and emerging bioeconomy initiatives. With a population of approximately 6,347 as of June 2025, it ranks as the 145th largest municipality in Finland. The name "Haapavesi" translates to "Aspen Water," reflecting its location amid lakes and forests. Situated at coordinates 64°08.5′N 25°22′E, it serves as a hub in the Siikalatva sub-region, neighboring municipalities like Haapajärvi, Kärsämäki, Nivala, Oulainen, Raahe, Siikalatva, and Ylivieska.
Haapavesi spans 1,086.11 square kilometers, with 1,050.47 square
kilometers of land and 36.41 square kilometers of water, making it the
75th largest municipality by area. The landscape features lush forests,
numerous lakes, and rolling terrain typical of Northern Finland,
offering serene environments for outdoor activities. The population
density is low at 6.04 inhabitants per square kilometer.
The climate
is subarctic, with long, cold winters and short, mild summers. Annual
mean temperature is around 3.2°C, with January highs averaging -5.1°C
and July highs at 21.6°C. Record extremes include -41.3°C in winter and
32.6°C in summer. Precipitation averages 531 mm annually, peaking in
July. This weather supports winter sports like skiing and summer
pursuits such as hiking and fishing.
The oldest human finds in Aspen Water date back to the
Stone Age. In the vicinity of Ainali in particular, many finds
dating to the Stone Age have been found. Haapavesi, located around
Kalainen's Pyhäjoki River, was an important wilderness area during
the Iron Age. Permanent settlement spread to Haapavesi in the 16th
century. Residents who settled on the banks of the Pyhäjoki River
came mainly from Savo, but also partly from the coast.
The
earliest livelihoods of aspen were fishing, hunting and agriculture.
Tar burning began in the early 17th century and was at its widest in
the late twentieth century. The popularity of tar burning was mainly
influenced by the favorable location of Haapavesi, the Pyhäjoki
river, which crosses the municipality, made it easy to transport tar
to the coast. Partly due to the large-scale tar burning, Haapavesi's
industrial activities were almost non-existent for a long time. On
Spa Island in the immediate vicinity of the church village, there
was a health spa in 1887–1926, where mud and clay baths were
provided. Water from Asko's health spring was enjoyed between the
baths. The population of Haapavesi was about 4,500 in the mid-1860s.
During the great years of famine, the population of the municipality
fell below 4,000. By 1920, however, the population of the
municipality was already over 7,000.
Haapavesi is mentioned
as the chapel parish of the Pyhäjoki parish at least as early as the
1640s, when the municipality's first preaching hall was built. It
was separated as an independent parish in 1863, which, however, did
not materialize until 1874. The second church of the parish was
built in the 1690s and the third, a wooden cruciform church, burned
in 1981, in 1784. The present church of the municipality was
completed in 1984.
Haapavesi is closely related to the
history of Finnish skiing. The most well-known skiers in the region
are Aappo Luomajoki (1845–1919), winner of the first Oulu skis
(1889), Juho Ritola (1871–1959), Matti Koskenkorva (1880–1965) and
Tapani Niku, who won the first Finnish skiing Olympic medal. With
the success of Haapavesi skiers, the type of ski developed in
Haapavesi, the so-called aspen water, which soon spread widely
beyond Aspen Water. Aspen water was previously used as a so-called.
longer than the forest ski (length almost 3 m) and narrower (width
approx. 7 cm). Haapavetinen was popular with racers from the 1880s
to the 1910s.
In 1892, Sergeant Nora Pöyhönen founded the
Haapavesi School of Economics, Finland's first school of economics
for girls. The original name of the educational institution was the
Nursery and Cooking School, later the Household College, as well as
the host school. Today, the school belongs to Haapavesi Vocational
School.
After the Second World War, evacuees from Soanlahti
were settled in Haapavesi. As a result, an orthodox prayer room was
built in Kytökylä in 1961–1962 on the basis of the Orthodox Church
Reconstruction Act.
Haapavesi's economy blends traditional sectors with modern green industries. Key industries include forestry and wood processing, metal and engineering, agriculture and food processing, and construction. The bioeconomy is prominent, with initiatives like the NordFuel biorefinery, which will produce bioethanol and biogas from forest residues using Chempolis technology, representing a major investment. Liquid Wind's eFuel facility in Haapavesi aims to produce green eMethanol from biogenic CO₂, supporting circular economy and decarbonizing sectors like shipping. Recent mining exploration in the Kiimala Trend, including the Haapavesi 8 area with deposits like Ängesneva and Vesiperä, adds to economic potential. The unilingual Finnish population (96.3%) supports local services, with age distribution showing a balanced demographic.
Haapavesi is Finland's national kantele village, celebrating the
traditional string instrument through music and festivals. The annual
Haapavesi Folk Music Festival attracts musicians and visitors, filling
the town with vibrant performances. The Haapavesi Folk High School
offers education in cultural fields.
Key attractions include:
Haapavesi Old Church: A wooden cross-shaped church from 1784.
Myyrilä
Museum and Other Museums: Showcasing local history, including the School
Museum and Paakkila.
Nature Trails: Korkatti Nature Trail,
Korkattivuori viewpoint, and Harkaahonkoski.
Kylpyläsaari and
Lönninkartano: Historical sites with cultural significance.
TV Mast:
A 327-meter tall structure, one of Finland's tallest.
Haapavesi has produced influential figures in sports, politics, arts,
and more:
Skiers: Aappo Luomajoki (1845–1919), Tapani Niku, Sauli
Rytky, Matti Ritola.
Politicians: Ahti Pekkala.
Artists and
Musicians: Pasi Jääskeläinen (1869–1920), kantele maker and singer;
Martti Pokela, composer.
Others: Heikki Viranko (doctor), Juho
Luomajoki (healer), Matti Viinamaa (poet), Aapo Heikkilä (investor),
Aarne Ehojoki (architect).
In recent years, Haapavesi has focused on sustainable energy, with the NordFuel biorefinery and Liquid Wind eFuel projects advancing green methanol and bioethanol production. Mining permits in the Kiimala Trend signal potential resource development. The town continues to promote its cultural events and natural attractions, maintaining a high quality of life with excellent services. Overall, Haapavesi embodies a blend of tradition and innovation in rural Finland.