Vaala is a municipality in Eastern Oulu region, Finland.
Understand
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Vaala centre lies where the river Oulujoki starts, at Oulujärvi, which is the fifth largest lake in Finland. Niskanselkä, the part of the lake north of Manamonsalo (about a third of it) belongs to the municipality.
Get in
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Regional road 800 (called Vaalantie) runs through the village centre of Vaala. The nearest highway is the national road 22 between Oulu and Kajaani, passing 2 km to the north-east.
There are also trains. The 1 Vaala railway station in the town centre has several trains daily, but no other services.
There is a marina in the south part of the centre, at Saharanta. 1.5-m boating route from Sotkamo, 1.8-m fairway from Kajaani, 3,5-m fairway from Paltamo.
Get around
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By bus
[edit]Coaches passing by can be used, see Matkahuolto.
By taxi
[edit]- Smartphone apps: Valopilkku, 02 Taksi
See
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- 1 Vaala Church (Vaalan kirkko), Järvikyläntie 3 (in the centre). The church of the municipality from 1961, designed by Dag Englund.
- 2 Säräisniemi Local History Museum (Säräisniemen kotiseutumuseo), Säräisniementie 345 (a 15-km drive south of the centre).
- 3 Kassu Halonen Art House (Kassu Halosen taidetalo), Kivarinperäntie 24 (on the Manamansalo island 23 km to the south-east; 50 km by roads).
- 4 Lamminaho Farm Museum (Lamminahon tila), Lamminahontie 231 (8 km north-west of the centre).
Do
[edit]- 1 Lumman reitti, Jylhämäentie (starts across Oulujoki). A hiking trail with a length of 5.3 km.
- 2 Oulujärvi Hiking Area (Niskanselkä). 24 hr daily. Hiking and boating area including several islands and shores of Niskanselkä, including part of Manamonsalo (with camping, shelters and trails) and some islands 4 km from Vaala centre. Free.
- 3 Rokua National Park (a 20-km drive west of the centre). National park with a compact collection of glacial formations. Family-friendly trails over wooded sandhills with lichen-covered ground. Part of the northernmost UNESCO Geopark (as of 2022).
- 4 Saharanta Beach (Saharannan uimaranta), Saharannantie (on the shore of Lake Oulujärvi, in the south part of the centre).
Buy
[edit]- 1 S-Market Vaala, Kolehmaisentie 1 (in the centre). M–Sa 07:00 – 21:00, Su 09:00 – 21:00. A grocery store.
- 2 K-Market Tervaportti, Vaalantie 26 (in the centre). M–Sa 07:00 – 22:00, Su 09:00 – 22:00. A grocery store.
- 3 Pänikkä ja Piironki, Vaalantie 25 (in the centre), ☏ +358 44 984 6906, [email protected]. M–Th 10:00–15:00, F 10:00–17:00, Sa 10:00–14:00. A local general store.
Eat
[edit]- 1 Finlandiano Pizzeria, Vaalantie 22 (in the centre). M–Th 10:30–21:00, F 10:30–22:00, Sa 11:00–22:00, Su 12:00–21:00.
Drink
[edit]Sleep
[edit]- 1 Siitari, Vaalantie 12 (in the centre), ☏ +358 8 563-9000, [email protected]. A hotel and restaurant. For one person: €49/day; for two people: €69/day.
- 2 Gasthaus Vaala, Vaalantie 13 (in the centre), ☏ +358 400-60-0345. €55/day.
- 3 Taikaloora, Haminatie 4 (at Saharanta), ☏ +358 50-587-0814.