Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
SHARED TAXIS
In North Karelia the set-routekimppakyyti(shared taxi) system is a particularly useful
service given the scarcity of buses. The 'taxis' are essentially minibuses. Each route has a
different telephone number, which connects directly to the driver. You need to book a day
in advance; fares are about the same price as the bus. Tourist offices throughout the re-
gion have details.
Joensuu
013 / Pop 74,480
At the egress of the Pielisjoki (Joensuu means 'river mouth' in Finnish), North Karelia's
capital is a spirited university town, with students making up almost a third of the popula-
tion. Joensuu was founded by Tsar Nikolai I and became an important trading port follow-
ing the 1850s completion of the Saimaa Canal. During the Winter and Continuation Wars,
23 bombing raids flattened many of its older buildings, and today most of its architecture
is modern. It's a lively place to spend some time before heading into the Karelian wilder-
ness.
