Rautavaara

Rautavaara is a municipality in Finland, located in the Northern Savonia region. The area is heavily forested with numerous lakes and is characterized by rural landscapes. It has a small, dispersed population and offers outdoor activities such as hiking, fishing, and cross-country skiing. The local economy centers on forestry, small-scale manufacturing, and public services. The municipality is administered under Finland’s municipal system and maintains local schools, a church, and other municipal facilities.

Rautavaara also exists as a Finnish surname. The name is derived from the toponym Rautavaara, literally meaning “iron hill,” from rauta “iron” and vaara “hill.”

Notable people with the surname include Einojuhani Rautavaara (1928–2016), a prominent Finnish composer whose works include symphonies, operas, and choral pieces. His music is widely performed and associated with late 20th-century Finnish classical tradition.