Welcome to join us in exploring Finland's only surviving log-floating facility, located in Akanlahti, Posio. This rare attraction is situated approximately 8 kilometers away from the village of Lohiranta and the local heritage museum.
Akanlahti's log-floating facility played a crucial role in the history of Finland's forest industry. It enabled the transportation of timber from Lake Kitkajärvi to Lake Livojärvi from the 1930s to the 1960s. The preserved structures at the facility, such as the 2-kilometer-long log chute and the transfer building on the shores of Lake Kitkajärvi, tell the story of how logs were lifted from the lake into the chute and transferred to the Iijoki river system.
The history of the log-floating facility dates back to 1892-1893 when Oulu-based trading houses built the first facility on this site. In 1909, a new facility was constructed, also known as the "Kuusamo Railway." This facility utilized steam engines and narrow-gauge railways for log transportation. It was taken out of operation in 1929.
The third log-floating facility was built by the Finnish Forest and Park Service in 1935-1936. Logs were lifted using steam power and lowered into Livojärvi with long log rafts. This facility remained in use until the 1950s.
Today, we can admire the log-built transfer building and log raft, which have been preserved as tourist attractions. This place is a part of Finland's history and provides a wonderful opportunity to explore the forest industry of bygone times. This facility is a piece of Finnish history, and it's truly remarkable that it still exists for us younger generations to see. If you happen to be in the Posio area, it's definitely worth a visit.
15 окт 2024
