Matkaniva, the village of the year 2009!
Matkaniva is a rural village located about 10 km to the east from Oulainen and the river Pyhäjoki is running nearby.
Countryside is not offering so many jobs and it is very usual that people of Matkaniva are working at bigger towns for their living.
Matkaniva has great paths, outdoor activities and opportunities for hobbies. Wintertime offers great views, skiing, ice-skating and fun in the snow for active children and adults. Matkaniva´s house of the village is a central place for meetings, planned activities, meetings and barbecue parties. Very close by the river Pyhäjoki is a beautiful dock and a chance to practice watersports, fishing and to go paddling. Matkaniva has an active hunting tradition and especially in the end of the moose hunting season the villagers are invited to a big event. There will be some soup of moose meat on the menu.