”Hako” stands for a spruce tree or a tree lying in the swamp or in the water, waiting for clearing.
Hakoniemi is a coniferous peninsula in North Karelia, located in the inland archipelago of Northern Saimaa. The creative space in Rääkkylä, Oravisalo, provides a framework for working and leisure, combining creativity and nature. The 1920s old farm has got a new life as a center of creative activity where you can organize workshops, events, marketing projects and tourist and accommodation services. Hakoniemi Residence Support Association maintains a residency in Hakoniemi.
The farm was inhabited by painter Jorma Pajarinen for 16 years, and his studio and barn gallery were in the settlement. Hakoniemi with its surroundings is an ideal destination for artistic work. In addition to the lake nature of the inland archipelago, the proximity of the Russian border and the history of the region are strongly present. Nearby Salpapolku offers a piece of Finnish military history and varied archipelago nature. You can reach the archipelago via the bridges or the ferry. With the recovery of the endangered Saimaa ringed seal (Pusa hispida saimensis), there is a real possibility to spot one these chubby swimmers sun bathing on the cliffs.
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