Purasjoki | Exploring Finland

The Purasjoki Frontline lies along the Raatteentie, the Raate Road, and it played an important role during the Winter War. Purasjoki is the river here, with trenches and other fortifications. These trenches along the Raatteentie lie just to the east of Suomussalmi and not many kilometers from the current border between Finland and Russia.

A Short History of Purasjoki

The fortifications at Purasjoki were built in three phases. The first pre-war phase included an extensive network of trenches and shelters. This didn’t stop the Soviets from taking the road at the beginning of the war in 1939. The second phase began in 1940 after the Finns had recaptured the Raatteentie. This phase mainly included the repair of the defensive lines to prevent a new Soviet attack. The time between the Winter War and the Continuation war is known for phase 3, when these fortifications were integrated into the Salpa Line. The Salpa Line is a 1.200 kilometer long Finnish defensive line going from the south to the north.

Things to Do and See

The Purasjoki Frontline can almost be considered an open-air museum. Parts of the trenches and shelters have been preserved and it is possible to walk around in the area, go down in the trenches and have a look inside the shelters. Nearby is also the river itself. The dense forests in the surrounding area can really make you think about how hard it must have been to fight in this area, especially during the winter.

How to Get to Purasjoki

• Flights: The closest airport in Finland is either to the north in Kuusamo or to the south in Kajaani.
• Car: Purasjoki is located to the east of Suomussalmi, along the long gravel road of Raatteentie.

The driving distance from 5 major Finnish cities, according to Google Maps:

• Helsinki – 690 kilometers (7 h 30 min)
• Turku – 752 kilometers (8 h 30 min)
• Vaasa – 497 kilometers (5 h 50 min)
• Oulu – 225 kilometers (3 h)
• Joensuu – 312 kilometers (4 h)

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