Iijoki

Iijoki Ijo älv
Iijoki at II
Data
Water code	FI : 61
location	Northern Ostrobothnia ( Finland )
River system	Iijoki
origin	in Lake Iijärvi in Kuusamo 65 ° 49 ′ 10 ″  N , 29 ° 19 ′ 19 ″  E
Source height	254.1  m
muzzle	at Ii in the Gulf of Bothnia coordinates: 65 ° 20 ′ 46 ″  N , 25 ° 15 ′ 13 ″  E 65 ° 20 ′ 46 ″  N , 25 ° 15 ′ 13 ″  E
Mouth height	0  m
Height difference	254.1 m
Bottom slope	0.69 ‰
length	370 km
Catchment area	14,190.7 km²
Drain	MQ	174 m³ / s
Left tributaries	Jaurakkakoski
Right tributaries	Kostonjoki , Livojoki , Siuruanjoki
Flowing lakes	Jokijärvi , Pudasjärvi
Small towns	Pudasjärvi , II
Communities	Taivalkoski , Yli-ii

The Iijoki [ ˈiːjɔki ] ( Swedish Ijo älv ) is a river in northern Finland . It rises in Lake Iijärvi in the municipality of Kuusamo and flows through the cities of Taivalkoski , Pudasjärvi and Yli-Ii and flows into the Gulf of Bothnia at Ii . With a length of 370 km it is the fourth longest river in Finland. Its catchment area covers an area of ​​14,191 km².

The Iijoki covers a height difference of 250 meters between the source and the mouth. The river has numerous rapids. Those on the lower reaches are clamped for the purposes of hydropower. The five hydropower plants Maalismaa , Kierikki , Pahkakoski , Haapakoski and Raasakka have been built since 1956 . In contrast, the upper reaches of the river are largely left in their natural state.

The Iijoki has long been an important traffic route. In the Middle Ages, both the Finns who settled on the coast of the Gulf of Bothnia and the Karelians of the White Sea coast used the river for trade trips and went hunting in the wilderness of the river valley, which is inhabited by semi-nomadic Sami . In the 16th century settled settlement spread along the Iijoki. Until the 19th century, the river was the only traffic route through which places like Pudasjärvi could be reached. Even after roads were built, the Iijoki was used for rafting , which was only stopped in 1998.

Hydropower plants

There are five larger hydropower plants on Iijoki.

Surname	completion position	Fall height in m	Power in MW	operator
Haapakoski	1963	36	36	Voima Oy
Pahkakoski	1961	20.5	34	Voima Oy
Kierikki				Voima Oy
Maalismaa				Voima Oy
Raasakka	1971	21st	58	Voima Oy

Web links

Commons : Iijoki  - collection of images, videos and audio files

• iijoki.fi

Individual evidence

1. ↑ JÄRVIWIKI - Iijärvi (61.341.1.002)
2. ↑ Finnish Ministry of the Environment - Suomen päävesistöalueet -taulukko ( Memento of the original from December 4, 2012 in the web archive archive.today ) Info: The archive link has been inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.