Havukkakallio hillfort is a rare cultural heritage site in the municipality of Ilomantsi. It was used as a fortification to defend the local population from invaders in the Middle Ages (1300s-1500s AD). 
Landowner: Municipality of Ilomantsi

Parking

Fireplace

Photogenic Site

Cultural heritage site

Havukkakallio

Keljonsuo is a mostly pristine 60-hectare peatland.
Landowner: Snowchange Cooperative

Restoration site

Keljonsuo

Toilet

Garbage bin

Conservation site

Patvinsuo National Park

Petkeljärvi-Putkelanharju Natura 2000 area is 3417 hectares in size. The area contains the Petkeljärvi National Park and the protected eskers of Putkelanharju.

Petkeljärvi-Putkelanharju

Juurikkasuo is a 136,5 hectare peatland which was restored in 2023 by Snowchange.
Landowner: Snowchange Cooperative



Juurikkasuo

Old-growth forest in Jaakonvaara was protected in 2022.
Landowner: Snowchange Cooperative


Jaakonvaara

Korvinniemi is 8,44 hectares of interconnected intact peatlands and recovering forests.
Landowner: Snowchange Cooperative


Korvinniemi

Ihala is a 15 hectare pristine peatland area by Nuorajärvi Lake.
Landowner: Snowchange Cooperative

Ihala

Iivananaho includes 8,81 hectares of traditional Karelian village pastures, biotopes and boreal forest situated in the biodiverse village of Ryökkylä. The traditional pastures were restored by Snowchange in 2024 and the process of maintaining iconic traditional biotopes of the site proceeds. 
Landowner: Snowchange Cooperative


Iivananaho

The rapids of Suomunjoki River in Patvinsuo National Park were restored in 2023-2024 by Snowchange. 

Suomunjoki

River restoration in Valkeajoki river started in 2023 by Snowchange.

Valkeajoki

Jokisuo is a partly pristine, 47-hectare restored peatland. Its drained parts were restored in 2022-2024.

Landowner: Snowchange Cooperative

Jokisuo

Ala-Koitajoki river is the most important spawning area of land-locked Atlantic Salmon. It is impacted by the Pamilo Hydropower Station. Snowchange restoration measures here include restoration of water mosses, review and monitoring of habitats and development of flow rate assessments and restoration plans for the near-catchment and stream itself. 

Ala-Koitajoki

Hattukoski rapids suffer from a timber floating dam that was made in 1970s. The state-owned forestry company Metsätalous and Snowchange have agreed to a process of ecological restoration of Hattukoski rapids and creation of a fish passage / addressing the dam. The site is under licensing and is expected to proceed in 2025.

Hattupuro

This ecological corridor is on state land and has been agreed to for restoration and conservation purposes. 

Keljonsuo Ecological Corridor

A nationally valuable, geologically and scenically significant, 519-hectares ridge area with old-growth boreal natural forests and pine-dominated, bright ridge forests. 


Valkeajärvi Eskers Nature 2000 Site

Kainula is a 17,55 hectare peatland, forest and esker area located close to the lake Nuorajärvi. It is an important component of Petkeljärvi-Putkelanharju EU Nature 2000 site.
Landowner: Snowchange Cooperative

Kainula

Ruotalampi Wetlands are an important tool to improve water quality in the Ruotalampi catchment. They stop organic loading and can act as bird habitat. They total 9400 square meters and were constructed in 2024 by Snowchange.

Ruotalampi Wetlands

Kerälänlahti Wetlands are an important water protection and restoration measure completed in 2024 by Snowchange. They are appr. 1 ha in total. Additionally a sedimentation pool of 150 m2 was completed to control the loading to the downstream.

Kerälänlahti Wetlands

Selkäsuo peatland was restored in 2024 by Snowchange, with peat dams and closing of the ditches.

Selkäsuo

Whitefish spawning areas in Koitajoki main river were cleaned and restored in 2023 and Autumn 2024. The main five spawning locations close to the Ala-Koita village were seined using the new river seine in Autumn 2024.

Ala Koita Spawning Areas

This is the western edge of the large peatland complex of Valkeasuo. It is on state forestry land and all in all 37 hectares are restored with main actions have taken place in Autumn 2024 by Snowchange. 


Western Valkeasuo

Kiviniemi

Viitaranta

Siitari

Rahekangas

Concession

Kivisuo

Suomujoki Dam Removal was carried out in 2023-24 to enable native trout and grayling stocks to have free passage in the Patvinsuo National Park, and also 105 meters of spawning sites and juvenile fish habitat was restored. 
Suomujoki is one of the best streams left in the northern part of Koitere lake for salmonid fish.


Suomujoki Dam Removal

Pahkansuo wetland is approximately 5 hectare large, with springs and high natural values. It was restored as a part of the efforts in the Koitere lake watershed in 2025. It is owned by Tornator. 

Pahkansuo

Reposuo is a 79 hectare restored peatland located in Koitajoki catchment. It is owned by Tornator. It was restored in 2025-26.

Reposuo

Hiienjoki River Restoration is a major effort in northeastern corner of Koitere lake catchment. It was initiated in 2024 and continues. The restoration efforts support salmonid fish and stream ecology as well as hydrology.

Hiienjoki River Restoration

Meskenlahti is a bay in lake Mekrijärvi. It was restored in the first stage in 2025-26 with first removal of organic loading and initial assessment of enabling of hydrological comebacks. Stage 2 is being planned.

Meskenlahti

Ala-Koitajoki is the lower part of the whole Koitere and Koitajoki system. It has been since the Ice Age the spawning grounds of the unique land-locked Atlantic salmon. The Pamilo hydropower station affects the flow rate and the river in a major way.

Snowchange has taken the following actions to support the salmon and Ala-Koitajoki river:

1. Strategic land purchases along the river course to enable future rapids and flow course restoration. 
2. Inventories of fish stocks, water moss populations and gravel spawning sites in the river.
3. Stocking of salmon with with the national authorities
4. Monitoring of the smolt populations of the river with national authorities using fish traps
5. A major flow, ecological and hydrological work report that will enable steps for restoration actions, slated for release in Autumn 2026
6. Spawning grounds and juvenile fish habitat restoration for trout along the river


The 300-hectare area consists of a Natura 2000 area and a state nature reserve. The area is important for the protection of old forests, natural bogs and small bodies of water.



Koskutkangas

There are three ancient hunting pits by the Kotalampi pond. 

Kotalampi

Hiienjoki

Kauvonlahti is a stone or bronze age dwelling. 

Kauvonlahti

Ala-Koita is a small village by Koitajoki where the traditional river seining is still being practiced. 

Ala-Koita

Surinlahti

The Koitajoki River originates from small lakes in the border region on the Russian side and flows for about 50 km in Russia before reaching the northern part of Ilomantsi. From the southeastern border of the nature reserve, the river continues its course back into Russia, and later returns to Finland again in Möhkö, Ilomantsi.

Other

Russian Koitajoki

Raatosaari was used as a historical burial ground.

Raatosaari (Kontiovaara)

Stone age dwelling is located between Aittolahti and Aittolampi.

Aittolahti

Stone age dwelling is located at the western part of Jänissaari.

Jänissaari (Koitere)

Partalanlahti has two ancient tar burning pits.

Partalanlahti

Tervaslahti

Munamäki has four ancient hunting pits. 

Munamäki

Iso Vinkaransaari is a stone or bronze age dwelling.

Iso Vinkaransaari

Kurkilammit has several ancient hunting pits. 

Kurkilammit

Harmaaranta

Mösönaho is a dwelling from the iron age or middle ages. 

Mösönaho

Kirjovaara is a regionally significant protected area with old-growth forests. There is a nature trail in the forest. 

About half of the peatlands in the area have been drained and later restored in 2004 by the state.

Kirjovaara

Peatland restorations near Karitsansuo peatland are in their planning process.

Landowner: Metsätalous Oy
Date: 2020s, being prepared


Karitsansuo

The state-owned company Metsähallitus has conducted peatland restoration by ditch line clearings, and forest restoration by burning in the area. 

Landowner: Metsähallitus
Date: pre 2020


Liekkuaho - Korkeakangas

Metsälamminsalmi is a stone age dwelling. 

Metsälamminsalmi

Hilpansaari

A small wetland was established by Onkilammenpuro as a water protection measure in 2014 by Metsäkeskus.

Onkilammenpuro Small Wetland

23 hectares of drained mire was restored next to Likosärkkä in 2023 by Snowchange.
Landowener: Ilomantsi municipality

Likosärkkä

There is a stone age and bronze age dwelling in Hemminsaari.

Hemminsaari

Bog restorations near Laamansuo are in the planning process.

Landowner: Metsätalous Oy
Date: 2020s, being prepared


Laamansuo

Rutnikkaniemi used to be an iron processing site.

Rutnikkaniemi

Pitkänniementyvi is a stone age dwelling.

Pitkänniementyvi

Piitsonsuo peatland, 350 hectares in size, was restored in 2021-2023 by Hiilipörssi Oy. 
Landowner: Tornator Oyj

Piitsonsuo Peatland

Rahesuo protected area is 255 hectares in size.

Rahesuo Protected Area

Ala-Metsälampi

Kotaniemi

Repolahti

The river Syväysjoki is a nationally valuable, protected bird habitat, especially important for waders. The area is also a significant stopover during bird migration. The river belongs to the EU Nature 2000 network. 

Syväysjoki 

Hyypieniemi is a graveyard that has been used in the iron age or the middle ages. 

Hyypienniemi

Penttinen is a 0,6-hectare wetland which was completed in 2014 as a water protection measure by Metsäkeskus.

Penttinen Wetland

Viluvedenjuoksu

Majahiekka

Kalmotranta

Ruotinniemi

Issakka Wetlands were completed in 2014 as a water protection measure by Metsäkeskus.

Issakka Wetlands

Selkäkangas is a part of Kesonsuo, Palokangas - Selkäkangas - Syväysjoki Nature 2000 area.

Selkäkangas 

The drained Kurkisuo peatland was restored in 2023 by Snowchange. The size of the restored area is approximately 24 hectares.

Kurkisuo

Issakkalansärkkä is a stone age dwelling. 

Issakkalansärkkä

The Koitajoki Natura 2000 area is 7561 hectares in size. The area is the easternmost Natura area of the EU.

Northern, eastern and southern bird species occur in the Koitajoki area. Many peatlands have been restored in the area.

Koitajoki Nature 2000

Sikrenlahti

Koitere is a large lake with 451 islands, sandy beaches and intact peatlands. 

Lake Koitere

Lahnavaara is a protected old-growth forest area within the Koitajoki Natura 2000 area.

Lahnavaara

There is a stone age dwelling in Risulahti

Risulahti

Heittosuo is a small wetland which was created in 2014 as a water protection measure.

Heittosuo small wetland

Vuotsanlahti

165 hectares of drained Rahesuo peatland was restored by Snowchange in 2022. 50 more hectares will be restored in 2025.
Landowner: Tornator Oyj

Rahesuo Restored Area

Kissaniemi

A 73-hectare area of Niittysuo and Tervasuo is restored between 2023-2025 by Snowchange. 


Niittysuo & Tervasuo

Myllypuro is a reconnected stream which was rewilded in 2021 by Snowchange.

Myllypuro Stream

Möhkö is the easternmost village in Finland, by River Koitajoki. The village started to form around the Möhkö Ironworks, one of the biggest in Finland, in the 1840s. The ruins of the blast furnace, a massive waterwheel and unique, restored canals in the area tell stories of the Möhkö Ironworks in the old days.

Möhkö village

Kuoppaniemi

Akkarimpi Wetland is a water protection measure which was created in 2014 by Metsäkeskus.

Akkarimpi Wetland

Laajalahti-Jokivarsi is a stone age dwelling. 

Laajalahti-Jokivarsi

Puohtiinsuo is a state-owned, biodiverse peatland which was restored in 2018 by Metsähallitus.

Puohtiinsuo

The small wetlands of Akanlampi were created by Metsäkeskus in 2014 as a water protection measure.

Akanlampi Small Wetlands

Meroja Wetland is a 0,75 hectares wetland chain completed in 2021.

Meroja Wetland

The drained Reposuo peatland was restored in 2024-2025 by Snowchange. The total area is over 100 hectares.
Landowner: Tornator Oyj

Julunlahti Wetlands are a complex of several small wetlands constituting appr. 1 hectares, made in 2014 by Metsäkeskus. The wetlands serve as water protection measures. 

Julunlahti Wetlands

Several peatlands have been restored nearby Mustapuro stream. The methods of restoration have been the blocking and damming the ditches. Some of the sites have also had trees removed.

Landowner: Metsähallitus
Date: pre 2020


Restorations at Mustapuro

Tytinniemi

Tielammit is dwellign from the stone or bronze age. 