Rukatunturi facts for kids

A view from Rukatunturi

Front slopes in October 2009.

Rukatunturi is an amazing place in Finland! It's a 490-meter-high hill, also known as a fell, and a super popular ski resort. You can find it in a town called Kuusamo. Ruka is famous for its awesome winter sports, but it's also a great spot for outdoor fun all year round.

Discover Ruka's Adventures!

Ruka is a paradise for anyone who loves being outdoors. In winter, you can enjoy lots of different activities:

• Downhill Skiing: Zoom down the slopes!
• Cross-Country Skiing: Explore over 500 kilometers of tracks.
• Snowmobiling: Rent a snowmobile and ride on 600 kilometers of special routes.

Ruka is also the starting point for the famous Karhunkierros hiking trail. But that's not all! The Ruka and Kuusamo area has even more trails for you to explore:

• 160 kilometers of hiking trails for walking and exploring.
• 605 kilometers of biking routes for cycling adventures.
• 350 kilometers of paddling routes for canoeing or kayaking, including some exciting whitewater sections.
• 100 kilometers of boating routes for fun on the water.

Skiing Fun at Ruka

Ruka has a long history of skiing. The very first slope, now called "Eturinne" (which means "Front Slope"), opened way back in the winter of 1954.

Today, Ruka has 29 different slopes for all skill levels. You can get to the top using 20 ski lifts, including a fast chairlift with a protective bubble! Ruka makes sure there's always enough snow for skiing. They have almost 90 snowguns that make snow, and 5 special machines called groomers that keep the slopes smooth and ready.

Ruka: A Year-Round Destination

Ruka has grown into a lively place that welcomes visitors all year. It's not just for winter sports anymore!

In winter, Ruka often hosts big international competitions. For example, the FIS Nordic Combined season (a sport that combines cross-country skiing and ski jumping) starts in Ruka every year. There are also national competitions for alpine skiing (downhill skiing) and freestyle skiing (tricks and jumps), and sometimes international ones too!

Ruka's Super Long Ski Season

Ruka is known for having one of the longest ski seasons in Europe! It usually starts in October and can last all the way until June. That's almost 8 months of skiing!

During the main ski season, the lifts are open every day from 9:30 AM until 7:00 PM. If you love skiing under the stars, you're in luck! Ruka also offers night skiing on Fridays from 7:00 PM to 11:00 PM. This usually happens from December until mid-April.

Images for kids

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  A cottage in Ruka.

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  Ruka village