A Region of Tar Burners
The history of tar making dates back thousands of years. The technique used traditionally used in Finland was tar burning in a pit, i.e. dry distillation of wood. The tar barrels were transported to Oulu in the coast by boat. The large rapids of River Kajaaninjoki were the biggest obstacles for the oarsmen rowing tar barrels to Oulu. The canals built in the rapids of River Kajaaninjoki were the solution.