Every design for Ii

At the mouth of the Iijoki, where the river meets the Bothnian Bay, lies the place with the shortest name in Finland and one of the shortest anywhere. Ii (Ijo in Swedish) takes its name from the river, and the meaning remains open: it may come from a Sámi word for night, suggesting a place to stay overnight, or be of Germanic origin. The Iijoki, the Olhavanjoki and the Kuivajoki were once vital routes inland, and the coast was settled early by wilderness men from Satakunta.

Iin Hamina is where the story gathers. The marketplace at the river mouth grew into one of the most important trading spots on the Gulf of Bothnia and was known around the Baltic, full of storehouses, shops and craftsmen's homes. The Iin Wanha Hamina museum and the Uittomuseo, devoted to log floating, keep that past close, and the Kala- ja maatalousmuseo covers fishing and farming. Since the ART Ii Biennale began, sculptures such as Aika palaa and Edelläkävijät have joined the scenery, and the municipality has set itself the goal of becoming the first zero-waste town in the world.

Iin Hamina is a fine reason to carry this map: a small place that has been trading with the wider world for centuries.