New tourism area Zeniitti developing in Kempele, Finland

A new tourism area, Zeniitti, is being developed in Kempele, Finland, blending Finnish lake landscapes with Central European beach culture. Currently, construction is underway at the site of a former open-pit quarry that will be transformed into Aurinkojärvi, a man-made lake that is gradually being filled with water. However, it will take several years for the lake to reach its intended depth of eight meters. A sculpture gallery, built seven years ago at the site, still has a piece barely visible above the water’s surface.

Construction activities include the establishment of essential infrastructure such as roads and water and electrical lines. Following this, interested businesses will be able to begin their construction projects. Miia Marjanen, the municipality’s vitality director, estimates that a bathing beach at Aurinkojärvi could be operational in about four years, with tourism services potentially emerging within a decade.

The plans for Zeniitti are ambitious, covering over one hundred hectares and proposing seven distinct zones. These will feature a sandy beach, waterfront services, vacation residences, caravan sites, business areas, event spaces of various sizes, and sports facilities. Among the proposed developments is a golf course, and both Tivoli Finland and the Meri-Oulu summer theater have shown interest in relocating to the area.

In Kempele, which has a population of about 19,000, there were even discussions about constructing a river to connect the tourism area to the Bothnian Sea, although this idea did not gain traction. Future developments also include residential areas with detached houses, townhouses, and apartment blocks planned for the 2030s. If all plans succeed, this former quarry will undergo a total transformation.