Kuttanen Kuttanen village is situated along the Muoniojoki River on Enontekiö’s western border. The village can be reached by Highway 20, which heads towards Kilpisjärvi, lying 130 km away. Kuttanen is situated in Finland’s armpit (Finns believe their country is shaped like a young dancing lady - the northwestern pan handle being her arm), and is part of the Fell Lapland district. There are some twenty houses in Kuttanen. On the opposite river bank, in the Swedish half, is situated the village Kuttainen.
According to old legend, Pekka Antinpoika Kuttainen, from the village of Haapakylä in Ylitornio, arrived in the present day village of Kuttainen - formerly Tullinkisuvanto - in year 1650.
History:
In war time, the Germans burnt most of Lapland, and such was also the case in Kuttanen village, where no original houses remain. After the war, came the arduous task of rebuilding the houses and villages. Kuttanen village rose slowly up from the ashes, with about five houses, a shop and a building for the forest ranger and customs officials. The most important reason for such authority in Kuttanen was that Kuttanen was one of Enontekiö’s busiest border crossing areas at that time. It was used by many people, from Kautokeino, Leppäjärvi, Palojärvi and Hetta, for trading in the Swedish half, from where they fetched grocery supplies and transported reindeer produce. In summer they crossed the river by boat, in winter along the ice road. Locals made their living from reindeer herding, farming, handicrafts and illegal exports or imports, a very popular means of living in those days.