Exploring Kainuu’s Kettle Hole Terrains – Get the Best Tips for Next Summer’s Kainuu Orienteering Week!

Published: 27.02.2026

Kettle hole terrains (suppamaasto) in Kainuu are familiar to many orienteers from previous Kainuu Orienteering Weeks (KOW). In this article series, we introduce their unique characteristics and share expert training tips.

This spring, Kainuu Orienteering Week’s channels will take a closer look at two classic types of Kainuu orienteering terrain: kettle hole (suppa) and fell (vaara) terrains.

In our first feature, we dive into kettle hole terrains guided by Pasi Jokelainen. This terrain type and the course setting at KRV are very familiar to Jokelainen, as he has been involved in mapping and course planning for Kainuu Orienteering Week for nearly 30 years.

Over the years, KRV has visited numerous kettle hole and pine ridge areas. Among the favorites for many participants are Joutenlampi in Kajaani and Tipasoja in Sotkamo. Next summer, the event moves to Säynäjä in Suomussalmi, where orienteers will have the chance to conquer a brand-new competition area for the first time.

"Joutenlampi and Tipasoja are considered elite-tier terrains among Finnish orienteers. If an orienteering terrain could be a pilgrimage site, Joutenlampi and Tipasoja would be exactly that," says Pasi Jokelainen. (Map samples: Kainuu Orienteering Week / Mapline Oy)

What defines a kettle hole terrain?

Kainuu’s kettle hole terrains are typically fast-paced pine forests with excellent visibility. The kettle holes (in finnish called "suppa or supat") are depressions formed during the melting phase of the Ice Age, and they can be found in high density throughout the terrain. A defining feature of these areas is the dominance of downward-sloping landforms.

According to Jokelainen, these types or terrains are usually very popular and engaging for orienteers.
"Kettle hole terrains are relatively rare both in Finland and globally, which perhaps gives them a certain exotic appeal and the charm of a unique landscape," he says.

Challenges for the orienteer

Even for experienced orienteers, kettle hole terrains can cause headaches. There are often no clear cliffs or boulders, meaning orienteering relies almost entirely on the brown contour lines of the map.

Understanding whether a contour is going up or down is particularly challenging for beginners. Jokelainen notes that the first step is to grasp the dominant landforms from the map.

"There are almost always ridges between the kettle holes that are easy to follow, allowing you to avoid constant climbing up and down. These ridges might create a slightly winding route, but they offer relatively level and easy-to-traverse ground."

Jokelainen points out that the good visibility of the terrain helps with reading the contours. Even a beginner can understand the connection between the map and the ground when the field of vision is wide, allowing for long-distance comparisons.

How to prepare

It’s a good idea to master kettle hole terrains through advance practice. Jokelainen suggests forming a mental image of the area by studying old competition maps, LiDAR-generated maps (in finnish called "pullautuskartta"), or 3D terrain shaded relief images. Focus on memorizing dominant chains of kettle holes and the leading ridges.

"Doing this kind of 'homework' helps you interpret the direction of the contours more instinctively during the actual race," Jokelainen says.

In Kainuu, these terrains are often a mix of kettle holes, ridges, and flatter pine forests. Next summer in Suomussalmi, you can expect all three – see you in Säynäjä!

The 58th Kainuun Rastiviikko will be held in Säynäjä, Suomussalmi, from June 28th to July 3rd, 2026. The next early bird entry fee deadline expires tomorrow, Saturday, February 28th, 2026, at 23:59.

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