Swedish King Carl XVI Gustaf to visit Tornio River Valley for river restoration project exploration

Swedish King Carl XVI Gustaf is set to visit the Tornio River Valley on Thursday, engaging with both sides of the Swedish-Finnish border. His itinerary includes an exploration of the largest river restoration project in Europe, located in Pellon and Ylitornio, which aims to improve the habitat for migratory fish.

The royal visit brings joy to Eero Ylitalo, the retired municipal manager of Pellon, who is familiar with the king from numerous meetings. Ylitalo humorously recalls inviting the king to fish with him on the Tornio River, speculating that the invitation fell through because the king prefers fly fishing.

Ylitalo made a bold proposal, despite only having tried river fishing once before and having no luck then. He assured the king of the excellent fishing guides available in Pellon, encouraging him not to avoid the trip for that reason.

An avid angler, King Carl XVI Gustaf caught his first fish as a child in Öland and enjoyed sea fishing on his honeymoon in Hawaii. Before his tropical fishing adventures, he even went ice fishing with former Finnish president Urho Kekkonen in the challenging conditions of Lapland in 1970.

During Thursday’s visit, the king will be shown the outcomes of the EU-funded TRIWA LIFE project at Kattilakoski and the Tengeliönjoki River. This initiative focuses on restoring waterways and wetlands as well as removing barriers to fish migration, benefiting species like the Atlantic salmon and the river pearl mussel.

Ylitalo fondly recalls a personal encounter with the king dating back to 1970, when he showcased his Swedish language skills during a school visit. Their paths have crossed many times since, with Ylitalo noting the king’s approachable manner and shared sense of humor, particularly regarding ice hockey.