Ylivieska

A commercial and administrative hub for a wide stretch of Northern Ostrobothnia, Ylivieska is a Finnish town that grew up at a railway junction on the banks of the Kalajoki river. Its name reflects its geography: "yli" means "upper" and "vieska" is thought to refer to a shallow ford. The compact centre carries a concentration of cafés and restaurants relative to its size, and the town serves as the main services base for the surrounding region.

• Population15,375
• Nearest water from center0.6 km
• Nearest mountain from center1.0 km