Kainuu Fisheries Research Station
Location
The Kainuu Fisheries Research Station is located c. 320 km south of the Arctic Circle, 135 km east of Oulu, 55 km west of Kajaani and c. 120 km west from the Russian border. The station lies in the commune of Paltamo, Finland (64°24’ N, 27°30’ E) and is situated on the bank of the River Varisjoki which flows into the Lake Oulujärvi.
History
The history of the Kainuu Research Station started when the aquaculture activities was initiated in 1935. The main parts of the present station were built in 1994. Since 2002 the station was equipped to focus on experimental fish and aquatic ecology research. The station operates and is open for visitors throughout the year. The station has 14 beds, a laboratory, an auditorium, workshops, and internet access.
Research
The station provides excellent opportunities to carry out ecological, environmental or management related research in laboratory and on a semi-natural scale. The research facilities include both indoor and outdoor set-ups of streams, indoor pools, outdoor pools, and combined stream-pool systems with video arrays and PIT-telemetry devices for observing and monitoring purposes. Water (max 750 l/s) for the streams and pools is taken from Lake Kivesjärvi (surface area 27 km2, mean water pH 6.7, oxygen 9.2 mg/l, total P 17.0 µg/l, and conductivity 3.5 mS/m).
Biodiversity
The natural landscape of Kainuu is exceptionally diverse consisting of fells, forests, water areas, and wetlands. Lake Oulujärvi (surface area 928 km2) is Finland’s fourth largest lake. The island of Manamansalo is situated in the centre of the lake and is a national recreational area. The nature of the area attracts various fauna including predators like lynx, bears, and wolfs. Fish species present in the area are (in alphabetical order) bleak, bream, brown trout, bullhead, burbot, crucian carp, dace, eel, ide, minnow, nine-spined stickleback, northern pike, perch, pike-perch, roach, ruff, salmon, smelt, stone loach, vendace, and whitefish. Continental and oceanic climate meet in Kainuu, which usually means dry, warm summers and cold, snowy winters. Ice cover season lasts from early November until mid-May.
Human Presence
The municipality of Paltamo, consists of different villages. The closest village with stores and services is called Paltamo and lies 16 km from the research station. There are about 3500 inhabitants in Paltamo and c. 80000 in the whole Kainuu area. The main livelihoods are information and communication technologies together with electronics and businesses focusing on natural resources and tourism.
Access
The Kainuu Research Station can be reached by car, bus, or train to Paltamo (16 km), or by plane to Kajaani (62 km) or Oulu (139 km) year-round.
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