Valkeala - the gateway to nature.s barren wilderness
Valkeala is situated in the midst of the beautiful lake region of the northern Kymen river valley. The town has about 11,500 inhabitants and a total area of 1,104 square km, of which 861 km2 is land and 143 km2 is water. The landscape is dominated by rock bluffs and glacier-formed ridges, of which the more famous being Salpausselkä I and II. In Valkeala alone, there are said to be about 246 lakes of over two hectares (about four acres) in size. Valkeala spreads over the Kymijoki and Vuoksi drainage areas. Many lakes are quite secluded and contain very clear water. The largest and deepest of these being near the service site, Vuohijärvi, having a surface area of 86 sq. km. and depth of 75 meters. More information about the town of Valkeala may be found on their webpages.
In the vicinity of the summer service site is also the Repoveden kansallispuisto (National Park). Its nature is especially barren for southern Finland. This popular hiking area is nestled among dozens of beautiful lakes, high hills, and steep rock cliffs forming a very picturesque area. Backpackers may enjoy the wide variety of marked hiking trails of varying difficulty. For more information about the Repovesi area, visit Finland.s nature web pages at www.luontoon.fi
The summer service site is situated between the villages of Selänpää and Vuohijärvi. Selänpää is one of oldest inhabited parts of Valkeala. It is a traditional county village, offering a peaceful living environment. In the earlier years, most of its inhabitants earned their living by farming. Nowadays, the number of farms has diminished and many are employed by the Vekarajärvi military base or jobs in Kouvola. The countryside scenery also contains some more modern features. In Selänpää, there is a very active glider and motorized glider airport, which is the very center of the 2007 summer services. The airport is operated by the Kouvola community flying club. The area surround the airport belongs to the Vekarajärvi military base, serving as some of the training grounds for the Karjala brigade.
| Distances to the service site from: | |
|---|---|
| Verla manufacturing museum | 10 km |
| Vekaranjärvi military base | 12 km |
| Repovesi national park | 15 km |
| Jaala | 18 km |
| Valkeala town center | 20 km |
| Kouvola | 30 km |
| Lahti, Lappeenranta | 90 km |
| Helsinki | 160 km |