Finland’s northernmost outdoor pool still runs on 54-year-old technology

The Otanmäki outdoor swimming pool in Kajaani, northern Finland, operates on the same aging systems installed when it opened in 1972, posing ongoing maintenance risks, reports Yle. The facility—now facing potential closure due to high costs—remains a vital community hub, though its future hinges on meeting a visitor target of 3,600 this summer.

City officials warn the pool’s outdated infrastructure, including its original mechanical systems and deteriorating vinyl lining, could fail at any time. “We’re knocking on wood that it lasts another season without major breakdowns,” said Jussi Haapala, Kajaani’s sports facilities manager. Annual upkeep costs exceed €100,000, with the city effectively subsidizing each swimmer by over €40—far above the roughly €7 per user at the city’s indoor aquatic center.

Locals, however, refuse to abandon the pool. Heikki Tuura, chair of Otanmäki’s village association and the pool’s first swimming instructor in 1972, called past closure threats “infuriating” but expressed cautious optimism. “Maybe the city will recognize its value,” he said. Community efforts—including volunteer-built terraces, a frisbee golf course, and plans for a mini-golf range—aim to boost appeal. A proposed Google data center nearby has also sparked hope; company representatives recently toured the site and signaled interest in supporting local amenities.

For longtime swimmers like Armas Kerman, who has visited since the pool’s opening, the 25°C water on a chilly June day was worth the plunge. “I come every summer,” he said. “Why drive to Kajaani when we’ve got warmth right here?”