Kemi

Kemi (Template:Lang-se) is a town and municipality of Finland. It is located very near of the city of Tornio. It was founded in 1869 by royal decree, because of its proximity to a deep water harbour.

Kemi is located in the province of Lapland. The municipality has a population of 23,424 and covers an area of 91.96 km² of which 1.25 km² is water. The population density is 256.2 inhabitants per km².

The main economic activity in Kemi is centred on two large paper and woodpulp mills and on the only chromium mine in Europe (which supplies the Outokumpu ferrochrome plant in Tornio). A polytechnic university is also situated in Kemi.

Kemi also has a claim to fame as the home of the world's largest snow castle (reconstructed every year with a different architecture). The snowcastle is usually located at the inner harbour of Kemi.

It's also the homeland of the Power Metal band Sonata Arctica.

Sights

Meripuistokatu street with the Kemi City Hall in the background.

Kemi church
The SnowCastle of Kemi - largest in the world
Gemstone gallery
Icebreaker Sampo
The Huge Venla

Economics

In April 2007, the city of Kemi laid off all of its municipal workers for 2 weeks due to the failing economy of the city. Spiraling specialist health care costs and a fleeting industry tax base are stated as the cause for the vote.[1] These are the most drastic temporary dismissals to take place in Finland since 2000.

Railway

Kemi railway station is an intermediate station on the railway between Lapland and Helsinki. It is operated by VR. The junction of the Kolari and Rovaniemi lines lies to the north of Kemi station.

Restaurants & Bars

Kemi has a varied selection of bars, pubs and nightclubs with students often filling them mid week, and locals each weekend.

The most popular bars in Kemi include Hemingways, Hullu Kukko, Koodi and several Karaoke bars all located in downtown.

Nightclubs choice is reasonably good with Corner Inn, Hullu Pohjola and Nightlife being the most popular. Corner Inn is 4 bars within one, with the rooms including Suomi Pop, Karaoke, Pub and Club, while Hullu Pohjola is particularly popular with the younger crowd. / WikiTravel Guide