Colonia Finlandesa: Finnish Settlement History

Colonia Finlandesa can be explored through its founding, its former community, and the historic Picada Finlandesa. Together, these topics offer insight into the development of the Finnish settlement and the routes associated with its name.

The History of the Finnish Settlement

Colonia Finlandesa was founded in Misiones in 1906 as a Finnish settlement. Its history also includes its agricultural beginnings: land initially considered fertile proved to be barely suitable for agriculture. Between 1920 and 1929, the settlement reached its peak population; at its height, about 450 people lived there. These details place the development of the settlement in the first half of the 20th century.

The Picada Finlandesa and its Lengths

Colonia Finlandesa is also called Picada Finlandesa. The Picada is described as a 30-kilometer route between Bonpland and present-day Oberá. There is also a specific figure for an access section: the historic Picada connects the town center of Pueblo Salto with Provincial Route No. 103 in Oberá. A road project description dated July 28, 2020, gives the total length of this documented section as 2,800 meters. The two figures refer to different descriptions of the route and its access section.

The Picada is considered a historically significant route and was used by the region’s first Nordic immigrants. If you use this information to plan your route, check current road conditions before setting out.

Traces of Community Life

The Finnish club house was a place of community life in the past: dances were held there on Saturdays and religious services on Sundays. The club house also housed a post office. A cemetery with Finnish burials is considered one of the surviving traces of Colonia Finlandesa. Together, these places and institutions point to the religious, social, and everyday aspects of the settlement’s history.

More to Explore in the Wider Destination of Departamento Leandro N. Alem

The wider destination of Departamento Leandro N. Alem also offers agricultural tours. With advance reservations, Cooperativa Tabacalera de Misiones Limitada offers free tours of its tobacco, citrus fruit, and stevia processing plant. A free tour at Establecimiento Yerbatero Don Leandro shows the complete yerba mate process, from planting to packaging; advance reservations are also required. Confirm tour availability before your trip.

The department’s historical attractions include the building that now houses the Museo Histórico Temático. It was built by Jorge Tanovich; part of the building served as classrooms for Escuela Normal Superior Nº1 from 1957 to 1964.

Nature and horticulture are also represented: La Forestal is a multipurpose reserve in Leandro N. Alem. It protects more than 50 plant species representative of the flora of the region and other parts of the world, and provides habitat for resident birds, insects, and reptiles. Check visitor arrangements before your visit.

Agroturismo Ikebanas offers tea plantations, a handicrafts salon, orchid and cactus nurseries, and tastings of regional snacks; check current visitor arrangements with the provider. Cactus Jardi-Kor is a nursery for dwarf and collector cacti, as well as cacti for parks and gardens. It comprises about 400 to 450 species.

See the wider travel overview: Departamento Leandro N. Alem.