This article is from the New Bloggers Guide To arctic Finland Book Release. (7.7.2019).

“Arctic Sea road from the city of Rovaniemi was 531 kilometers long, all the way to two ports of the Arctic Sea. The Port of Liinahamari and the Port of Petsamo. On this route, trucks handled Finland’s foreign trade for more than a year when the Baltic Sea trade route was blocked due to the war. The drivers involved in a huge transport contract tell their stories in the radio program along the Arctic Sea Road.

Finland was in a difficult situation in the spring of 1940. There was a winter war that had been lost to the Soviet Union, and there was a shortage of food from all over the country. The traditional Baltic trade route was closed due to the war that had migrated to Central Europe, and no much-needed supplies were received in Finland.

Fortunately, Finland had access to the Arctic Sea port of Petsamo and Liinahamar in the far north of Lapland. Europe’s second deepest port was still open to the Atlantic. The only problem with the Liinahamari Port was that it was located more than 500 kilometers away from the city of Rovaniemi, the nearest railway link.

The Finland government quickly realized the seriousness of the 1939 domino effect events and understood the seriousness of the national situation, and in April 1940 an Advisory Board was established to consider the issue of Arctic Sea route to the port of Petsamo. It was decided to establish a state-owned transport company Oy Pohjolan Liikenne Ab (Northern Transportation), which would take care of the transportation of imports and exports from the Arctic Sea port. Military General Paavo Talvela was the first choice to get the project completed, he was known for his strong grip on a situation, and was placed to lead the company management team.”……………….

“Before the Winter War, the port of Liinahamari had practically served only fishermen, so much needed construction and renovation work had to be carried out there to start a large freight transportation exercise. The first large cargo ship that arrived at the port was SS Greta, which had transported weapons from Spain, arrived in Liinahamar on April 14, 1940. Finnish soldiers unloaded the cargo and transported it by cars of the armed forces to Rovaniemi, just like all other cargoes in the early stages. The lack of storage facilities in Liinahamar caused major problems and began to be built at a rapid pace. Building, harbor and automobile enthusiasts needed accommodation, and the barracks were built around the daytime of almost one building. Resting places, canteens, and car repair shops were also set up along the route, as there were always 1,400 men on the route, with as many as 4,000 when the conditions got really bad with road surface pits and heavy snowstorms.

After the first ship unloading, Finnish exports started to flow again. Up to 99% of Finland’s exports were products of the wood processing industry, but according to Mikko Uola’s Petsamo 1939–1944, the wider world also went to the markets. Arabian porcelain products, Karhula glass products, Artek furniture, and Valio cheese. Swedish merchandise also passed through the Arctic Seaport, and also returned with some heavy USA military equipment that was transported on truck platforms to the city of Rovaniemi, and to further Kantalahti railway station.”

Read Bloggers Guide To Arctic Finland.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/1075188180?ref_=pe_3052080_397514860