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KILPISJÄRVI HISTORY
Kilpisjärvi is a very small village, and its known history is young.
The first permanent inhabitants came to the village as late as 1915.
Nothing remains from those years, since it all was demolished in the Lapland War.
The road to and from Kilpisjärvi was much improved during the war. The Village had a
crucial role as a depot of ammunition and other military materials.
This strategic meaning made Kilpisjärvi a permanent spot on a map.
1500
Kilpisjärvi was known as place to overnight for merchants on their way from Tornio to Skibotn.
Some kind of a little trail has gone thru Kilpisjärvi towards Skibotn from time immemorial.
1628
The first mention of Kilpisjärvi region as a place in Swedish-Finnish tax records. No permanent dwelling,
only as owned wilderness lot for a village down south.
1751
A treaty between Denmark, Norway and Sweden determines borderlines in this region.
Present Norwegian-Finnish borders come to be.
FOTO: Reindeer herders from a book by Johan Turin "Lappernas Liv".
1809
Sweden lost Finland to Russia. The border between Sweden and Finland was drawn.
1896
First border marker was built.
1915
First permanent inhabitants in Kilpisjärvi.
1916
The senate of then autonomous Finland, year before Finnish independency dedicated Malla as a Natural Park.
Finnish infantrymen exploded the Russian military depot of Kilpisjärvi.
First permanent building constructed close to present day customs building to
serve as a boarding house for merchants going to Norway.
1926
Present day Three Border Point was constructed to replace the older marker.
1937
Association for Finnish Travellers (SMY) build the first excursion centre.
A picture from those days.
1941
The road via Kilpisjärvi was build in co-operation between Norwegians, Finns and Germans.
1942
In 1942 Kilpisjärvi had a POW camp for Russian solders.
The campsites of the Germans were close to Kilpisjärvi and Siilasjärvi, but
bunkers and dugouts can be found in most of the close-by hills and fells.
When Germans retreated they blew up most of these constructions.
END OF AN AIRPLANE
During the autumn of 1942 a fleet of 9 Junkers-bombers came
from Norway having Russian military base Murmansk as their target.
A local resident saw one of the 9 start to smoke, most likely
the cause was some kind of engine trouble. The plane crashed to the ground somewhere
behind Saana. It seems that the bomb cargo was released before the crash to ensure
they would not go off at the time of contact with ground.
And thus surprisingly one of those onboard survived.
1943
Ahdaskuru Bridge was built. It is classified as a museum bridge.
1945
Lapland War ended. Customs, frontier guard and roadworks depot were set up and built the same year.
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