Post code: SF-87100
Telephone code: 8
Kajaani, chief town of the Kainuu district (roughly half way between the Gulf of Bothnia and the Russian frontier), was founded by the Swedish governor-general, Per Brahe, in 1651 beside the castle of Kajaaninlinna (built by Charles IX of Sweden in 1605). It lies on the banks of the
Kajaaninjoki, which flows into the Oulujärvi, a large lake with an area of 1,002sq.km/387sq.mi, just northwest of the town. At the mouth of the river is a hydroelectric station.
The town is noted for the Art Museum of Kajaani featuring Finnish Modern Art and the Kajaani Town Theatre, a highly respected theatre in Finland.