Standing tall in the middle of Suomussalmi, is a peculiar sight - the Silent People. Created by local artist Reijo Kela, this army of almost 1,000 figures have become a unique landmark and curiosity of the area. Each figure is made up of a peat-head, wooden-frame and clothes that are twice changed yearly through donations. It remains mysterious what exactly the artist's intent behind the Silent People might be, but many locals believe they represent those lost during the Winter War of 1939-1940 between the Finns and Soviet Russia. Regardless of its intended meaning, this frozen crowd silently greets visitors with an intriguing sense of mystery and beauty.

There is a café next to the Silent People, where you can get delicious delicacies such as pancakes. I always stop here when I drive by and go admire their new clothes (I drive by maybe once a year nowadays). The place always moves me almost to tears, because the Silent People remind me of the oppressed, the forgotten, the war-torn, the lonely, the depressed and those who have left this world behind.