Vaara-Karjala Leader in English
LAG Vaara-Karjalan LEADER (LAG Karelian Hills LEADER) is situated in the northernmost and easternmost parts of the province of North Karelia. The surface area is 11 780 km2 (water area 1 694 km2), population 38 000 and the population density only 3,8/km2. The area has 200 kilometres border with Russia in the east. Uninhabited wilderness areas, hundreds of lakes and rivers, swamp areas and hills with coniferous forest are typical to Vaara-Karjala. Strong traditions of Karelian and Kalevala heritage still remain in place here. They can be seen in the orthodoxy religion, handicrafts, architecture, cuisine, literature, music as well as in the character of the people.
Special attractions are for example the Ruunaa area in Lieksa (river area with fishing and shooting down the rapids) and the hill of Koli, 347 metres above the sea level. The landscape from the top of Koli hill is called the national landscape of Finland and it has inspired numerous Finnish artists as early as in the nineteenth century.
The first United Nation´s biosphere area in Finland (the fourth in Scandinavia) is located in Ilomantsi and Lieksa. It represents the nature of northern coniferous forest belt. The total area is about 350 000 hectares, the heart area being about 14 200 hectares and consisting of the nature park of Koivusuo, national parks of Petkeljärvi, Patvinsuo, Koli and the nature reserve of Kesonsuo.
The population development has been steadily declining in all the municipalities of Vaara-Karjala during the past twenty years. The amount of the elderly people is growing whereas the young educated people tend to move away and try to find jobs in big towns. LAG Vaara-Karjala has been LEADER -area on the LEADER II and LEADER+ periods. We have financed 256 projects on the LEADER+ period.
The theme of Vaara-Karjala LEADER+ -program was "Making the best use of natural and cultural resources" (including the local traditions and history). These resources are still the greatest strengths of our area and they will form the basis of the development work during the programme period 2007 - 2013 as well.
Karelian Hills in pdf.document
Vaara-Karjala Leader Office
Lieksa City Hall
Rantalantie 6
81720 Lieksa
Finland
Tel +358 40 1044 906
e-mail leader(at)lieksa.fi
Contact person
Mr. Jouni Korhonen
LAG Manager
GSM +358 40 1044 905
e-mail jouni.korhonen(at)lieksa.fi
